Constable Hampton Patterson

Hampton Patterson

Constable Hampton Patterson was killed when his service revolver fell from its holster and discharged when it struck a rock.

He and another constable were returning from Greenville, where they had dropped off a prisoner, when they stopped on the Greenville-Reidville Highway to get a drink of water from a natural spring. As Constable Patterson stooped down to get a drink from the spring his .32 caliber revolver fell from its shoulder holster and discharged. The round struck him in the chest.

The other constable and a citizen took him to a local hospital where he died a short time later.

Constable Patterson had served as a constable for 2 years and had previously served as a guard for a chain gang. He was survived by his wife and eight children.