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George Ratliff
Incident
Location: Virginia Weapon: Rifle Offender: Sentenced to 10 years
Deputy Collector George Ratliff was shot and killed while raiding moonshine stills near Swords Creek in Russell County, Virginia.
Deputy Collector Ratliff had been deputized to assist another deputy collector and other possemen when he became separated from the group in the mountains.
He was ambushed and shot multiple times. The other posse members heard the shots but were unable to save Deputy Collector Ratliff. The suspects fled the scene but were arrested several weeks later by private detectives.
Five men were convicted of Deputy Collector Ratliff's murder and were each sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
Deputy Collector Ratliff had previously served as the town sergeant of Richlands, Virginia.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and several small children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Collector Ratliff served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue has lost 27 officers; 25 of them killed feloniously.
George is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
George is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
George is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1899, 1 officer at United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 20 years on record. The heaviest was 1875, with 3.
In 1899, 7 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 30th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
In 1899, 90 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1899, 92 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
When
June holds 4% of these deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue; December holds the most, 16%. Thursdays: 8%.
June holds 6.4% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Thursdays: 13.7%.
June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
June holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 92.6% of all 27 deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 28% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 10.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue has 27 officers remembered here, George among them.
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William Henry Fowler Aug 10, 1867
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Ellis T. Jenkins Feb 15, 1871
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Clinton Gilbert
Jul 16, 1871
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Jerome E. Goodner Jan 26, 1875
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J. Holman Leatherwood May 22, 1875
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Elisha Graham Johnson
Jul 21, 1875
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George W. Stebbins Apr 18, 1878
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John Hutson Cooper Aug 9, 1878
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Samuel Waite Seawell Feb 26, 1879
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Thomas L. Brayton Jul 20, 1881
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James M. Davis Mar 13, 1882
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Henry Foote Walker Feb 10, 1883
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William Henderson Foote
Dec 29, 1883
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James N. Hamilton Oct 18, 1886
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Frank Weller
Aug 14, 1889
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Frank Weir
Sep 19, 1890
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Ralph Izard Barnwell
Mar 20, 1891
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Stephen D. Mather Oct 7, 1892
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Joe L. Spurrier
Oct 27, 1892
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Eli Abijah Moffitt
Dec 4, 1896
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Marion Asher Braddock Tatum Oct 19, 1897
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George Ratliff Jun 29, 1899
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John F. Lanier Dec 24, 1900
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John Carver Jan 10, 1905
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John Walter Hendrix
Dec 20, 1907
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William Arnot Anderson Apr 13, 1910
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John Savage West
Feb 10, 1915
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
