Everett Adams
Incident
Prohibition Officer Everett Adams was shot and killed by four men who had held a grudge against him due to his work as a prohibition officer.
Officer Adams was walking along a road in the Harts section of Logan County when he was accosted. One of the men held him at gunpoint as a second disarmed him. The armed man then opened fire on him, striking him four times as he attempted to flee. He was taken to a nearby house where he succumbed to his wounds the following day.
A man was later apprehended, charged and tried for his murder. On July 15, 1929, he was released from jail under a $10,000 bond when his trial ended with a hung jury. A date was set for a second trial which there is no record of.
Officer Adams had served with the West Virginia Department of Prohibition for only a few months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three children, and six siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-0A120950- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Everett. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Prohibition Officer Adams served with the West Virginia Department of Prohibition.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Prohibition Officer Adams.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Prohibition Officer Everett Adams 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At West Virginia Department of Prohibition, 12 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Everett Adams's cause is highlighted.
How Everett Adams Compares
Offender Outcome
Arrested
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Everett Adams is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Everett Adams was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from West Virginia Department of Prohibition are honored on badge.nw.


