Charles Ledwith

Anderson County Sheriff's Department — Palestine, TX

Felonious

End of Watch October 15, 1913

Age 34

The Vigil Panel 28 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Around noon, John T. Groves was in Opperman's Saloon in Palestine, where for no apparent reason, Groves severely cut a Mr. McCullough. Groves then left the saloon. Policeman W. M. Micheaux notified Deputy Sheriff Charles Ledwith of the assault. Deputy Ledwith went to Groves' residence to make the arrest. Groves shot and killed the deputy on the front porch. The medical report stated the deputy was shot in the back. Groves was arrested and charged with murder of Ledwith and assault to murder of McCullough. On January 10, 1914, Groves was found not guilty of murder and the assault to murder charge was dismissed two weeks later.

Deputy Ledwith was survived by his mother, father and a brother. He was buried in the Jasper City Cemetery in Jasper County.

Survivors

Deputy Ledwith was survived by his mother, father and a brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-99083DEC
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 Ledwith served with the Anderson County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Palestine community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ledwith.

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

Agency

Department Anderson County Sheriff's Department

Location Palestine, TX

Platform Identity acso.anderson.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 15, 1913

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Deputy Sheriff Charles Ledwith 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Anderson County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Anderson County Sheriff's Department

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious