Deputy Sheriff Henry C. Owen

Henry C. Owen

Deputy Henry Owen was shot and killed near Cleveland by a man he was attempting to arrest for disturbing the peace. When the suspect was captured a short time later it was discovered that he was wanted for shooting and wounding another Rowan County deputy in 1891.

The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and hanged on July 25, 1895. This was the last public hanging in Rowan County. More than 15,000 people attended.

Deputy Owen was survived by his wife. He was a Civil War Veteran, having served with the North Carolina 6th Regiment, Company G, until he was captured at Rappahannock Station, Virginia, in November of 1863.