Roll of Honor
Incident
Assistant Jailer Hilton Smith was shot and killed while escorting a prisoner to the city jail.
Jailer Smith lived with his family in a cottage on the grounds of the jail at 1425 Lincoln Street. On the night of May 17th a woman came to his cottage and reported that she had been beaten by her husband. Jailer Smith accompanied the woman to her home where he arrested the man for assault.
As he escorted the man to a police call box to summon a patrol wagon the man attacked him in the area of Taylor Street, between Gadsden Street and Lincoln Street, and gained control of his service revolver. The man shot him, inflicting a wound from which Jailer Smith died the following day.
The subject was apprehended, convicted of Jailer Smith's murder, and sentenced to life in prison. South Carolina's governor commuted the sentenced to 20 years in January 1915. The man escaped from a Richland County chain gang in 1924 but was recaptured.
Hilton, On today, the 110th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Columbia.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol May 18th, 2020
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-617568C4- 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.
Assistant Jailer Smith gave the Columbia Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Assistant Jailer Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Assistant Jailer Hilton Theodore Smith 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Columbia Police Dept., 5 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hilton Theodore Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Hilton Theodore Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hilton Theodore Smith is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Hilton Theodore Smith was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Columbia Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
