Bill Lewis
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Bill Lewis

Clay County Sheriff's Office — Manchester, KY
Felonious
End of Watch September 2, 1899
The Vigil Panel 15 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Bill Lewis was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest man wanted for murdering Deputy James Stubblefield two months earlier.

Both were killed as a result of the Philpott-Griffin Feud. Their killer, Mart Smith, was reportedly shot and killed by another famous feudist, General May, in Knox County in 1909. As a result of the Philpott-Griffin Feud several men including law enforcement were killed in 1899.

It is important to note that many feuds occurred in Kentucky, and information about officers who lost their life as a result of them, is often confusing, contradictory, and refuted by others.

I reiterate my previous reflection with today being your day of sacrifice. You will never be forgotten.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) September 2nd, 2020

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-05AC4BB0
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
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 Sheriff Lewis served with the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Manchester community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Manchester, Clay County, KY
Platform Identity ccso.clay.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 2, 1899
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Deputy Sheriff Bill Lewis is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Clay County Sheriff's Office, 8 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 88.9% of this agency's fallen.

Clay County Sheriff's Office
8
of 9 officers
88.9% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Bill Lewis's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Bill Lewis Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Bill Lewis is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Bill Lewis was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909