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VARIOUS ARTICLES

JOSEPH WYATT LUNSFORD

SHERIFF'S DEPUTY

1925 - 1931

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The Supreme Sacrifice

 

(Sheriff's monument erected at Lauderdale County Courthouse, Ripley, Tennessee)

 

Introduction

 

 Joseph Wyatt "J. W." Lunsford was the son of Stephen T. Lunsford and Eliza Ann Spain. 

He was born October 3, 1867 in Dyer County, Tennessee, and was the grandson of William Lunsford and the first wife of William. He married Emma M. Byrn in Lauderdale County,

 who preceded him in death in 1902.  Emma was the daughter of George Byrn and Hannah Lunsford Byrn.  He married Lillian Bragg Lightfoot in 1908.

 

J. W. Lunsford was a sheriff's deputy and was shot in the line of duty on August 2, 1931 and died in Memphis, Tennessee on August 5, 1931. He was buried at Grace Chapel Cemetery in Lauderdale County, Tennessee.

 

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LAUDERDALE COUNTY ENTERPRISE - RIPLEY, TENNESSEE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1925

 

---LOCALS---

Marshall LAWRENCE, and deputy sheriff LUNSFORD arrested Francis

MITCHELL, colored, as he was getting off the train at the depot Sunday

night with 5 gallons of whiskey.  He was tried before Mayor FOLTS, fined $50, and bound over to Circuit Court.

 

 

LAUDERDALE COUNTY ENTERPRISE - RIPLEY, TENNESSEE

 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1930

 

            Deputy Sheriffs John S. EVANS, J. W. LUNSFORD and V. T. LIGHTFOOT captured and destroyed a 50 gallon still and about 200 gallons of mash on Coal Creek above Davenport Ford Sunday afternoon.  The plant was still warm, showing it had been in operation, but the "birds" had flown as usual.

 

 

LAUDERDALE COUNTY ENTERPRISE - RIPLEY, TENNESSEE

 FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1930

 

---- CAPTURED SUNDAY ----

            After a long trip to Island 34, Sheriff COUGHLAND and deputies L. W. LAWRENCE, Jr., J. E. WILSON, Tom DENNIE, L. E. CRIHFIELD, J. W. LUNSFORD and Henry MURPHY made the biggest haul of illegal liquor paraphernalia in the history of this county.  As they approached the spot where corn liquor was being made, the outfit loomed up like a miniature castle.  Three negroes were keeping vigil and when officers approached, they made chase, followed by several shots from the bevy of officers detailed to the job.  In the raid, 850 gallons of liquor was confiscated, 21, 000 gallons of mash, a 2,000 gallon capacity copper cooker and upright boiler.  It is estimated that the outfit was worth at least $5,000.00, and is believed to be the property of a Memphis bootlegger.

 

 

LAUDERDALE COUNTY ENTERPRISE - RIPLEY, TENNESSEE

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1930

 

Deputies LUNSFORD and DENNIE, assisted by Press CROSS, of Island 34, destroyed a still on the island near Butler, Ark., Monday afternoon.  It was a 1500 gallon cooker, had nine 1000 gallon vats, three of which were full of mash.  Officers secured 700 pounds of sugar and two sacks of meal.  Three men were reported in charge of the still, but were given a tip when the officers were detected crossing the chute about a half mile below the still so nobody was present to give the officers the “glad hand” when they arrived.

 

 

LAUDERDALE COUNTY ENTERPRISE - RIPLEY, TENNESSEE

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1931

 

Deputy Sheriffs John S.EVANS, J.W. LUNSFORD and V.T. LIGHTFOOT captured and destroyed a 50 gallon still and about 200 gallons of mash on Coal Creek above Davenport Ford Sunday afternoon. The plant was still warm, showing it had been in operation, but the “birds” had flown as usual.

 

 

 

LAUDERDALE COUNTY ENTERPRISE - RIPLEY, TENNESSEE

FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1931

 

---- KILLED BY SHOT THROUGH WINDOW ----

Ollie BRATCHER, 26, was shot and instantly killed while he was seated in his home near Edith Saturday night.  The load from a shotgun, entering through his right side, was fired through a window at close range.  Deceased in survived by his wife and baby.  He lived on the J. T. BEARD farm.  Sunday, J. W. LUNSFORD and L. E. CRIHFIELD, sheriff's deputies, arrested Everette HARRISON, 26 years, and place him in jail.  No charge has been made against him, but he is being held for questioning.

 

---- LOCALS ----

Ashley TURNER, who was home on a 30-day furlough and refused to return to the Veterans’ Hospital at Gulfport, Miss., was carried back to that institution last week by Mr. J. W. LUNSFORD.

 

 

  

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THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL - MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 5, 1931

 

IN BAPTIST HOSPITAL - J. W. LUNSFORD of Ripley

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THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL - MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST 6, 1931

 

DEPUTY SHERIFF DIES AS RESULT OF WOUND

J. W. LUNSFORD Was Shot Sunday By Hale's Point Man

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            Deputy Sheriff J. W. Lunsford, 62, who was shot by Clyde ARWOOD at Hale's Point near Ripley, Tenn. Sunday night, died at 2:30 o'clock last night at Baptist Hospital, after his left arm had been amputated when gangrene developed.

            Mr. LUNSFORD and Deputy Sheriff C. A. BORDERS went to Hale's Point Sunday night after ARWOOD had gone to the home of his brother, Cornelius ARWOOD and given his sister-in-law a severe beating, breaking her arm because she would not give him a pistol, officers said.  ARWOOD was drunk at the time.

            ARWOOD resisted arrest but he finally agreed to talk to Mr. LUNSFORD.  As LUNSFORD approached, ARWOOD fired with a shotgun.

            Deputy LUNSFORD had been four years in the employ of Sheriff J. T. COUGHLAN.  He is married and Mrs. LUNSFORD is at present teaching school in Arkansas.

            ARWOOD is in jail in Ripley and will be charged with murder this morning.

 

 

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THE MEMPHIS PRESS SCIMITAR  - MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

THURSDAY  EVENING , AUGUST 6, 1931

 

PLACE MURDER COUNT AGAINST RIPLEY SLAYER

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Drink-Crazed Farmer Kills Deputy, Wounds One

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WOMAN SERIOUSLY BEATEN

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Killer Opens Fire When Arrest Attempted

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A deputy sheriff at Ripley, Tenn., is dead, a second is wounded, and a woman is in a serious condition Thursday as the result of a beating and shooting at Hale's Point Sunday.

Clyde ARWOOD is in jail at Ripley, formally charged with the murder of Deputy Sheriff J. W. LUNSFORD, 62, who died here at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at Baptist Hospital of

bullet wounds.

Deputy Sheriff J. E. WILSON is recovering from a bullet wound in his right leg.  He was with LUNSFORD at the time ARWOOD opened fire on both of them.

 

WOMAN BADLY INJURED

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Mrs. Clara ARWOOD, sister-in-law of ARWOOD, is in a serious condition at her home at Hale's Point, suffering from a broken arm and bruises extending from her feet to her head.

According to Sheriff J. T. COUGHLAN at Ripley, Mrs. ARWOOD was beaten with a club by her brother-in-law Sunday morning.

Mrs. ARWOOD told deputies, the sheriff says, that ARWOOD came to her home Sunday morning in a drunken condition and demanded she give him a pistol.  When she refused, she told deputies, ARWOOD went out and got a club.

"He returned and started beating me.  I put up my arm to protect my face and the club stuck it, breaking it", she told deputies.

 

SLAYER ARRESTED

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Mrs. ARWOOD was beaten unconscious.  Neighbors went to Ripley to get a doctor and called deputies.  LUNSFORD and WILSON went to get ARWOOD.

ARWOOD at first resisted arrest and then consented to talk to LUNSFORD.  As LUNSFORD started toward him, ARWOOD opened fire with a shotgun.

LUNSFORD fell to the ground.  One of the shots struck WILSON.  The two deputies were taken back to Ripley.

Sunday afternoon Sheriff COUGHLAN went to ARWOOD's home and arrested him.

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