Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman Hilton was shot and killed by a man who was attempting to free a prisoner.
The officer had arrested a man for the theft of a watch and pistol. He was walking him to jail when he was confronted by one the man's friends. When Policeman Hilton refused to release the prisoner, the man suddenly produced a .38 caliber revolver and shot him. He was killed instantly.
The suspect fled Wise County and was tracked to Memphis, Tennessee, by a private detective, who arrested him. The suspect was a notorious criminal in the region and was believed to have murdered as many as two dozen men. He was returned to Virginia where he was convicted of Policeman Hilton's murder and sentenced to death. The Virginia Supreme Court upheld the conviction and the suspect was hanged at the Wise County Courthouse on September 2, 1892.
Policeman Hilton had only been appointed as a special policeman a short time before being murdered.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-BFC577B3- 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
135 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Policeman Hilton served with the Norton Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Norton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Policeman Enos B. Hilton 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 VA, 395 of 654 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 Norton Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Enos B. Hilton's cause is highlighted.
How Enos B. Hilton Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1892
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Enos B. Hilton is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Enos B. Hilton was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Norton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
