Incident
Deputy Marshal Carl Etherington was lynched by an angry mob because of his enforcement of prohibition laws.
Licking County, Ohio, had voted to become a dry county, which angered many residents of Newark. Many politicians, including the county sheriff, ignored the law and refused to serve warrants issued for violations of liquor laws. As a result, the Granville mayor deputized numerous deputy marshals, giving them county-wide jurisdiction.
As Deputy Marshal Etherington and other officers attempted to serve a warrant at a saloon they encountered an angry mob. As the deputy marshals attempted to escape for their own protection the group of men captured Deputy Marshal Etherington. To protect himself he shot and killed one of the men, who was a former police officer with Newark. The mob severely beat Deputy Etherington, who was then arrested and beaten further by Newark police officers.
He was taken to the county jail where a mob of approximately 5,000 citizens learned of the shooting. They removed him from the jail and hanged him from a telephone pole near the intersection of 2nd Street and South Park Place.
Twenty citizens were eventually arrested and convicted of his murder.
It was later learned that Deputy Marshal Etherington was only 17-years-old.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents and one sibling.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-OH-27041584- Stewardship
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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 Marshal Etherington served with the Granville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Granville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Marshal Etherington.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Marshal Carl Mayes Etherington 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 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. Carl Mayes Etherington's cause is highlighted.
How Carl Mayes Etherington Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Carl Mayes Etherington is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Carl Mayes Etherington was killed by person.