J. Holman Leatherwood
Agency patch
Deputy Collector

J. Holman Leatherwood

Felonious
End of Watch May 22, 1875
Age 27
The Vigil Panel 5 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Alabama Weapon: Rifle Offender: Arrested

Deputy Collector Holman Leatherwood was shot and killed in Etowah County, Alabama, while investigating an illegal still near Keener.

He was on horeseback approaching a shed that contained the still when he was shot from ambush. The subjects involved with his murder concealed his body and then took his horse several miles away, where it was discovered at the Etowah County sheriff's home the next morning. A body believed to be that of Deputy Collector Leatherwood was located in the Coosa River one month later.

Three men were eventually arrested and charged with Deputy Collector Leatherwood's murder, but the outcome of the trial is not known.

Deputy Collector Leatherwood was survived by his parents.

Survivors

Deputy Collector Leatherwood was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-A13B0AC7
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

151 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Collector Leatherwood 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

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtoirfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 22, 1875
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle

Deputy Collector J. Holman Leatherwood 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue, 25 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.6% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue
25
of 27 officers
92.6% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,418 officers
53.2% 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. J. Holman Leatherwood's cause is highlighted.

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

How J. Holman Leatherwood Compares

Age at Death
27
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. Holman Leatherwood is highlighted in May.

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. J. Holman Leatherwood was killed by rifle.

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

Incident Location