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Deputy Sheriff

Mark Mason

Benton County Sheriff's Office — Ashland, MS

Felonious

End of Watch September 8, 1933

The Vigil Panel 67 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Mark Mason was shot and while attempting to serve a warrant on a man for larceny.

Deputy Mason had gone to the man's home in Hickory Flat but was told the man wasn't there. As Deputy Mason prepared to leave, the man emerged and fatally shot him.

The subject was arrested following an eight-hour manhunt. He was convicted of Deputy Mason's murder in November 1933 and sentenced to death. On August 13, 1934, while waiting for the results of an appeal, an angry mob seized him from the county jail and hanged him from a tree near the spot where he killed Deputy Mason.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-954098D2
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.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Mason served with the Benton County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Ashland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Mason.

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

Agency

Department Benton County Sheriff's Office

Location Ashland, MS

Platform Identity bcso.benton.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 8, 1933

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Lynched

Deputy Sheriff Mark Mason 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Benton County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Benton County Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

MS — Statewide

242

of 349 officers

69.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Mark Mason Compares

Offender Outcome

Lynched

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Mark Mason is highlighted in Sep.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Mark Mason was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Benton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.