Superintendent Joseph Claudius McLawhorn

Joseph Claudius McLawhorn

Superindentent Joe McLawhorn succumbed to injuries he received on February 16, 1916, when he was struck over the head with a pick axe during a prison work crew escape.

Five miles outside of Greenville, around 4:00 p.m., an inmate approached Superindentent McLawhorn from behind and bludgeoned him with a pick axe. He took Superintendent McLawhorn's gun and fired at other guards, allowing him and eight other inmates to escape.

While searching for the inmates, Superintendent Reddin Smith was slain by the suspect on March 1, 1916.

The suspect was shot and killed when he fired at posse members attempting to apprehend him.

Superindentent McLawhorn was survived by his parents and 11 siblings.

He is buried at the David McLawhorn Cemetary in Winterville, North Carolina.