James Holland "Hol" Howard

South Carolina State Constable — Columbia, SC

Felonious

End of Watch January 31, 1924

The Vigil Panel 46 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

State Constable Hol Howard was shot and killed while raiding an illicit still on Hogback Mountain, in Greenville County, with a federal prohibition agent. As the two approached the still two suspects opened fire, shooting Constable Howard five times.

The prohibition agent was able to chase and arrest one of the men. The second suspect, who was the arrested man's father, turned himself in later. Both were sentenced to death but later pardoned.

Constable Howard was survived by his wife and 11 children. One of his sons, Clarence, was shot and killed during a prohibition raid on April 21, 1930, while acting as a contract chauffeur to the federal prohibition agents.

Survivors

Constable Howard was survived by his wife and 11 children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-A033AC05
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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
State Constable Howard served with the South Carolina State Constable.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, State Constable Howard.

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

Agency

Department South Carolina State Constable

Location Columbia, SC

Platform Identity scscco.richland.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 31, 1924

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Pardoned

State Constable James Holland "Hol" Howard is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At South Carolina State Constable, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

South Carolina State Constable

of 6 officers

83.3% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious