Sheriff Louis B. Hutchison

Louis B. Hutchison

Sheriff Louis Hutchison was shot and killed at the Clinch River Bridge while pursuing three bank robbers.

The three men had robbed a bank about one hour earlier and had been involved in a shootout with a bystander. Sheriff Hutchison and a special deputy had been alerted to the incident and headed toward the bridge to set up a roadblock.

As they crossed the bridge they passed the suspects driving in the opposite direction. The deputy turned around and began to follow the suspects, who suddenly stopped on the bridge. As Sheriff Hutchison and the deputy approached the suspects opened fire, killing the sheriff.

The suspects fled the scene and were the subjects of a large manhunt. Later in the evening they shot and wounded a posse member who was tracking them with bloodhounds. The shooter was eventually captured and executed on April 8, 1937.

Sheriff Hutchison was serving his third term as sheriff. He was survived by his wife.