Roll of Honor
Incident
County Policeman Lee Cape was shot and killed while investigating possible moonshining activities. He was shot several times while attempting to search a vehicle.
One of the men then drove his body to Bartow County. His decapitated body was located by a hunter three days later.
Four suspects were apprehended. Two were convicted of accessory to murder and sentenced to one year on the county chain gang. The brother of the presumed shooter, age 22, and another, age 38, were sentenced to life in prison. On August 8, 1929, the brother of the shooter escaped while working with a road crew. A car stopped where he was working; he jumped in and was not seen again until 1934 when he was captured in Pickens County. Six months later, he escaped from a prison work farm and was recaptured in 1940. He was pardoned in 1941. The other lifer escaped from prison in 1934, and it is believed that he died homeless in Arizona in 1957. The presumed shooter escaped and was never apprehended but was convicted of Policeman Cape's murder. It is thought that he changed his name and died in California in 1982.
Policeman Cape had served in law enforcement for 40 years. He had previously served with the United States Marshals Service.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-FB88875B- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
40 years. You could have gone home.
County Policeman Cape gave the Pickens County Police Department 40 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Jasper community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, County Policeman Cape.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
County Policeman William Lee Cape 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Lee Cape's cause is highlighted.
How William Lee Cape Compares
Offender Outcome
Pardoned in 1941
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Lee Cape is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Lee Cape was killed by gun; unknown type.