Joseph Washington Morton

Walker County Sheriff's Office — Lafayette, GA

Felonious

End of Watch March 18, 1922

Age 66

The Vigil Panel 42 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Joe Morton was shot and killed after being confronted by two known moonshiners. The suspects, brothers 14 and 18, had approached him and asked if he had a warrant for their arrest. When Deputy Morton responded that he did not, they assaulted him.

A struggle ensued in which the older brother pulled a gun and fatally shot Deputy Morton three times. He was convicted of murder and executed by hanging on September 1, 1922. His brother was sentenced to life but paroled on April 15, 1933.

Deputy Morton was survived by his wife and eight children.

Survivors

Deputy Morton was survived by his wife and eight children.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Deputy Sheriff Morton served with the Walker County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Lafayette community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Morton.

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

Agency

Department Walker County Sheriff's Office

Location Lafayette, GA

Platform Identity wcso.walker.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 18, 1922

Age 66

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Executed in 1922

Deputy Sheriff Joseph Washington Morton 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%.

At Walker County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Walker County Sheriff's Office

of 9 officers

66.7% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious