Roll of Honor
Middleton Pierce Harwell
Incident
Location: Georgia Weapon: Handgun; .41 caliber Offender: Died in prison
Special Officer Middleton Harwell was shot and killed when he surprised two men attempting to break into a railroad freight car under the Forsyth Street Viaduct in the Western and Atlantic Railroad yards. He was moving between two railroad cards when he was shot twice in the back of the head and killed. Nearby railroad workers heard the shots and discovered his body, still clutching his revolver.
A month later two men sold a large amount of tobacco to a local store owner. Police and a railroad detective discovered the same amount of tobacco had been stolen from a freight car the previous night. The two were arrested and jailed. Two months later one of the men told jail officials his partner shot and killed Officer Harwell as they were breaking into the freight car. His partner admitted that he fired the fatal shot. On October 25, 1905, both were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. On August 4, 1906, one, 32, was shot and killed by a guard when he tried to escape. The other subject, 26, died in prison on January 29, 1907.
Officer Harwell had served with the Western and Atlantic Railroad Police for at least 15 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-RR-2C1AAD10- 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.
Special Officer Harwell gave the Western and Atlantic Railroad Police 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Harwell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Officer Middleton Pierce Harwell 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. Middleton Pierce Harwell's cause is highlighted.
How Middleton Pierce Harwell Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Middleton Pierce Harwell is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Middleton Pierce Harwell was killed by handgun; .41 caliber.