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Our current Sheriff is Gary Perkins (2006) 

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Did you know*   Dueling in Tennessee was "Outlawed" in 1801

1819-27, known as Linkumpinch. Tennesseans fought two famous duels here. General Sam Houston, in September 1826, severely wounded General William White. Houston later Gov. of Tenn., U.S. Sen., and Gov. of Texas. March 1827, attorneys R. M. Brank and C. M. Smith dueled. Brank was killed. Smith disbarred by Tenn. court action which brought end of dueling here.

Sanford Duncan Inn - Built about 1819, as stage coach inn, by Sanford Duncan, a large land owner and leader in forming Simpson County. Most of original structure remains. Linkumpinch, a famous dueling ground on Duncan's land, one mile south. Tennessee had outlawed dueling and during 1819-27 Inn was frequently host to notable antagonists, including General Sam Houston.

Sheriffs' and Deputies of Campbell County Tennessee

Our current Sheriff is Gary Perkins (2006)

Tennessee Law; The Early Days

M.A. Fine, Chief of Police, was early on the scene and notified the entire department to have every available hose belonging to department in immediate readiness for use, he himself rushing into the most dangerous places.  The fire had not long been in progress when one of the firemen in passing through room number 10, which is located on the second floor of the hotel and near the stairway, stumbled over the fallen form of a human being.  The fireman at once caught hold of the body and with assistance of another fireman brought forth the almost lifeless form of Mr. Fine.  He was carried across the street into the Riggs Drug store and placed in charge of physicians, who did all possible to restore life, but to no avail, he dying in a few minutes. Mr. Fine was one of the best officers LaFollette has ever had and his efficient service will be a great loss to our city, but it can be truthfully said that he died at his post.  Mr. Fine leaves a wife and eight small children, the oldest of which is only about fourteen years of age. The funeral took place today at the new cemetery in LaFollette. M.A. Fine was a member of the B.P.O. Elks at Knoxville, Knights of Pythias and other secret orders in all of which he was a faithful member.
The loss of the fire is estimated by some as not exceeding $10,000.00 including damages done the building, the fixtures, furniture and stock. $10,000.00 insurance was the valuation placed on the entire building and stock, not including the furniture owned by Mrs. Prince the hotel proprietors, who it is claimed, sustained a complete loss of all her property, she having it only partially insured. Mr. Fine who died as a result of the fire, was one of the first to be attracted by the cry of fire.  With others he ran to the nearby hose house, and pulled one of the hand hose reels to the scene of the fire and assisted in laying a line of hose to the burning building.  Water from the local waterworks which has a fine pressure, was soon plying upon the building.
Submitted By Joan Hanson

Middlesboro Daily News, Middlesboro, KY, Apr 4, 1923

JELLICO CHIEF IS SHOT BY BROTHER OF SLAIN RUNNERS
Everett Perkins, 15, Takes revenge on Chief of Police Heatherly -- Victim On Crutches, Assialed From Rear
REPORTS SAY PERKINS' MOTHER CARRIES GUN FOR OFFICERS
JELLICO, Tenn., Apr 4 -- Chief of Police George W. Heatherly was shot and perhaps fatally wounded at 2:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon by Everett Perkins, 15 year old brother of Walter and George Perkins, who were slain March 2, in a battle with a prohibition posse, of which Chief Heatherly was a member. Chief Heatherly was shot three times, first in the right heel, then in the right breast and the third time in the right arm. His boy assailant is believed to be at the home of his parents near here, but no effort has been made to arrest him.
The chief was going down Main street by the aid of his crutches. Fifty yards in front of him was Everett Perkins, the 15 year old brother of the slain Perkins brothers. The boy say the chief and stepped into a restaurant until Heatherly had passed, then followed. When he had shortened the distance which at first was about 50 feet, witnessess say, the boy drew a revolver and fired at Chief Heatherly, the ball hitting Heatherly in the right heel.
In an instant Heatherly had swung around on his crutches and had drawn his own revolver. As he wheeled the Perkins boy fired again, the shot taking effect in Heatherly's right breast about on a level with his heart. Although weakened by the shot and by his old wounds, Heatherly was able to keep his feet under him, and began firing at the youth, who dodged behind a brick building. The next bullet from the boy's pistol hit Heatherly in the right arm. The next bullet from Heatherly's gun smashed a plate glass window near the Perkins boy, who beat a retreat along a cross street towards the mountains.
It is generally understood in this vicinity that Mrs. Perkins, the mother of the two brothers who were killed and of the third boy who shot Chief Heatherly yesterday, had carried a pistol herself cince the shooting March 2. She is said to have declared that she was on the lookout for the officers and would shoot them if she saw them.
Chief Heatherly had been warned of possible death if he returned to Jellico and Everett Perkins is said to have made threats against Heatherly but on account of his youth Chief Heatherly did not take the matter seriously. The first public appearance here of Chief Heatherly after his return from Knoxville was at the reivval at the Baptist church, of which he is a member, conducted by Rev. F. F. Brown of Knoxville. The wounded chief has a wife and three children.

GAYLOR NAMED
JELLICO CHIEF

Succeeds George W. Heatherly, Twice Wounded Seriously - Officials Listed Jellico, Tenn., Jan 31. At a meeting of the new city council last week, Joe Gaylor was elected city marshal and J.C. Rogers, assistant, only the two being balloted on. The salary of the marshal was fixed at $125 a month, and of the assistant at $110. Mr. Gaylor succeeds Chief George W. Heatherly, who was almost killed when in a fight with rum runners, and who as he was recuperating after a long stay in a Knoxville hospital was wounded, all but fatally, by Albert Perkins, brother of two rum runners slain during the fight in which Heatherly was wounded the first time, after being sentenced to spend five years in a state reformatory on account of his youth, made his escape from the Jacksboro jail recently and is still a fugitive. The following is a roster of the officials of the city, named by the council: A.B. Hargis, superintendent of waterworks; R.K. Tramell, recorder and treasurer; C.A. Templeton; city attorney, Dr. Thomas Jennings, health officer; Joe Gaylor, city marshal; J.C. Rogers, deputy marshal.

Source: Middlesboro Daily News, Middlesboro, KY, January 31, 1924
Submitted By Angela Meadows

A Sheriff Murdered
His Brother and Official Predecessor
Also Assassinated

KNOXVILLE, Tenn, May 10
A telegram from Montgomery, W.V., tells of the probable fala! shooting of Sheriff
Burnett of Campbell county. Tenn., at that place. One year ago Sheriff John Burnett of Campbell county, was on a Knoxvilie and Ohio passenger train near this city, while trying to arrest an
escaped prisoner named Jones, who had been rescued from him on the previous day by the Smith brothers. In the riot that followed on the train, besides Sheriff Burnett, one of the Smiths was killed and a half a dozen others were injured.  The affair took place on a Saturday, next day one of tbe Smiths, who had been placed in jail at Jacksboro was lynched. The other one,  Jim Smith, however, escaped. He was located a few days ago in West Virginia by Sheriff Bud Burnett,
Campbell county, who was appointed to fill out the unfinished time of his brother, and had gone to West Virginia to make the arrest.

Source:  News, Frederick, Maryland, May 10, 1894

Submitted By Angela Meadows

Both Were Killed.
Knoxville, Tenn., Feb. 21 James Shumate,
chief of police of LaFollette, Tenn.,
attempted to arrest William Rutherford,
who was drunk. The latter shot the
officer and in the melee both were killed.

Source:  Daily Review, Decatur, Illinois; February 22, 1898

Submitted By Angela Meadows

Three Men Lynched.
Williamsburg, Ky.. Dec. 8.— Two negroes and one white man were lynched yesterday morning, at 3:30 o'clock, by a mob from Jellico, Tenn. The men were taken from the custody of the sheriff and hanged to trees.  They had outraged and brutally murdered, a white girl named Mildred Bryant near Jellico. They cut her throat and threw her body into a culvert, where it was found.

Source:  Daily Advocate, Newark, Ohio, December 8, 1892

Submitted By Angela Meadows

EVENING TELEGRAM, ELYRIA, OHIO, FEB 16, 1909
SHERIFF RAIDED BLIND TIGERS
Pistols Were Drawn and a Bloody Riot was Narrowly Averted Williamsburg, KY, Feb 16.  The
blind tiger keepers who have been evading arrest by technicalities of the law on the Kentucky-Tennessee border line in Whitely County were broken up and captured yesterday.
Sheriff Crowley with seven deputies, County Attorney Steel and private detectives made the raid, capturing 14 white men, three women and three negroes.  The detectives had been
purchasing liquor on the Kentucky  side from several of those captured for some time.  Pistols were drawn and a bloody riot was narrowly averted. The blind tigers have a national
reputation, the buildings being half in Tennessee and half in Kentucky with counters running parallel with the state line.  The keepers, many of whom have grown immensely
wealthy, sell Tennessee people whisky from the Kentucky side, while the Kentucky people sell from the Tennessee side, thereby evading processes of either state.

Submitted By Angela Meadows

CHIEF OF POLICE KILLED BY NEGRO
Assailant Then Shot to Death by a Pursuing Posse.
By The Associated Press Jellico, Tenn. April 13. --- Tom Bowlin chief of police of Jellico, was shot to death near the city late tonight by a negro, Jim Evans, who in turn was shot to death less than a half hour later by a pursuing posse. chief Bowlin had gone to Evans' home to arrest him on a charge of drunkenness and disorderly conduct, and was shot down. The negro using a rifle, and shooting the officer three times. A deputy went to aid the chief and wounded the fleeing negro. He then raced to a local hardware store, procured a rifle, ammunition and organized a posse, who came within firing distance of Evans less two miles from Jellico, where he was shot down. About 50 bullets being fired into his body.

Frederick Post, Frederick, MD, Apr 14, 1925
Submitted By Angela Meadows

Kill Deputy - Two Years
Williamsburg, Ky., Jan. 25-
Howard Goins was given two years for killing Deputy Sheriff James Bowlin in
Jellico Dec.4. The deputy had gone to arrest Goins on a warrant from a
squire's court.

The LaFollette Press, Thursday, January 26, 1933
Volume XXIV -Number 4
Submitted By Misty at Mistys' Tree

Mansfield News, Mansfield, OH, Mar 3, 1923

THREE KILLED AND FIVE ARE WOUNDED IN WHISKEY FIGHT
Officers and Moonshiners Battle in Mountain Pass In Tennessee
BOOZE TOTERS MEET DEATH IN ENCOUNTER
Clash Comes When Illicit Caravan Is Intercepted By Raiding Party Jellico, Tenn., Mar. 3 -- Three men were dead today, two in a Knoxville hospital seriously wounded, two others are suffering from pistol wounds, and another, said to have been shot, a fugitive, as a result of a mountain moonshine battle near here last night. Officers attempted to intercept an alleged caravan of liquor runners and were fired upon. A battle at close range folled, three of the alleged shiners falling dead and the fourth (Steve Ayers) escaping after being shot. Four of the officers were wounded, two seriously. The dead:
MORRISON AYERS. alleged leader of the gang (Marson Ayers)
GEORGE PERKINS. and his brother.
WALTER PERKINS.
The wounded:
W. S. James, federal prohibition agent shot three times, taken to Knoxville hospital, may recover.
George W. Heatherly, city marshall of Jellico, shot through neck and shoulder, may die.
Jeff Covey, deputy sheriff, shot through abdomen, may die.
M. Perry, deputy sheriff, slightly wounded.
An unidentified man, a member of the liquor party, wounded. He escaped after all other participants were down.
the battle took place in a mountain gap, known as "No Business" through which the liquor men had to pass in order to reach this city. Every member of both sides were either killed or wounded.
Deputy Sheriff Perry managed to spread the alarm and soon hundreds of citizens were coming from all directions to aid the officers.

Trace Yablonski Case Pistol to Tennessee

By STEPHEN MORROW CLEVELAND (UPI)—One of the murder weapons used in the killing of Unied Mine Workers official Joseph A. "Jock" Yablonski and two of his family may once have been the
property of a Tennessee sheriff. Sheriff Rose Kitts of Campbell County, Tenn., said he sold the
weapon, a nickel-plated, pearlhandled Smith & Wesson revolver, to a Dr. Lee J. Seargent of Knoxville in 1952. The pistol was stolen from the doctor within the last year. "I'm not supposed to say anything, but there's a good chance the weapon is the same one," the sheriff said in
Jacksboro, county seat of Campbell County. Jacksboro is about five miles from La Follette, Tenn., home of Silius "Sol" Huddleston, father-in-law of Paul Gilly. Gilly is one of three men
indicted Thursday in the killing of Yablonski, shot to death with his wife and their daughter in
their Clarksville, Pa., home, Dec. 31. The pistol was fished out of the Monongahela River by
Navy scuba divers along with an Ml carbine. Both are undergoing tests by the FBI. According to reports from the scene, Yablonski was shot five times with 38 caliber revolver bullets. His wife was shot twice and his daughter twice, also with .38 caliber bullets. Huddleston and two other
men from the La Follette area are staying in Cleveland over the weekend, preparatory lo
resuming their secret testimony before the grand jury. Huddleston, who served a prison term for robbery between 1946 and 1949, according to Sheriff Kitts, is a former organizer for District 19 of the UMW, which includes Harlan County, Ky., and Tennessee. One of his two companions,
registered with him in a triple room at a downtown hotel, is Guy Windle, 36, recording
secretary of the local that includes La Follette. The other man jn the party, as yet unidentified, also is reported to be a UMW member from the La Follette area. The group continued to refuse
to answer questions.
Valley Independent, Monessen, Penn.; January 31, 1970

Submitted By Angela Meadows

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