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Incident
Deputy Royce Cline was shot and killed from ambush while attempting to arrest a bootlegger near Carrier Mills. On Friday, August 14, 1925 at about 8:45am, Sheriff Small sent Deputies Royce Cline, Silas Rude and Hubert Hawkins to the “Pond” settlement about two and a half miles south of Carrier Mills, where a large supply of alcohol was reported to be hidden. The Deputies arrived at the “Pond” settlement about 11:00am and entered a thicket that was very dense with briars, brush and vines, with limited visibility. After a short distance, the deputies found a path and followed it to a small clearing where barrels of mash had been hidden by a bootlegger. At about 11:30am, as the deputies lay in wait, they heard someone coming through the thicket. Deputy Cline rose and moved in front of Deputy Rude and crouched down on one knee with his Colt .45 pistol drawn. They waited for the party to approach. The man approached with a .12 gauge single barrel shot gun that was cocked and in both hands ready to fire. Just as the man saw the head and face of Deputy Cline he took aim and fired into his face. Deputy Cline fell back into the arms of Deputy Rude. The shooter dropped the gun and ran off; Deputy Rude fired at the fleeing suspect, but missed. Deputy Cline was horribly mutilated. His mouth, nose and ears were torn off and he was blinded in one eye. Deputy Rude rushed to get help. Deputy Cline was rushed to Lightner Hospital in Harrisburg where Drs. Lightner and Gaskins stopped the bleeding. Deputy Cline’s wife, Nellie, was summoned to the hospital and arrived just a few minutes before he died at about 2:30PM. Harrisburg was in an uproar over the murder of Deputy Cline. Determined and angry men and law officers formed up in possies to capture the suspect. A man-hunting German police dog was brought in from Sebree, Kentucky to aid in the search. For two days and nights the hunt continued. The suspect was finally captured in a corn field on the day of Deputy Cline's funeral. The
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Cline served with the Saline County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Harrisburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Cline.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Saline County Sheriff's Department has lost 5 officers; 2 of them killed feloniously.
Royce is one of 842 officers killed feloniously in IL, 63.9% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Royce is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Royce 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 1925, 22 officers in IL were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1925, 208 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1925, 209 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Royce was 45. Of the 762 killed feloniously in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 45; the middle age was 38.
Royce was 45. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Royce was 45. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
August holds 9.4% of these deaths in IL; July holds the most, 10.3%. Fridays: 14.6%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 40% of all 5 deaths at Saline County Sheriff's Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.9% of all 1,318 deaths in IL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 30.6% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Saline County Sheriff's Department has 5 officers remembered here, Royce among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Saline County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
