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Federal Prohibition Agent

Charles Edward Howell

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch July 17, 1921
Age 42
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 41 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Federal Prohibition Agent Ed Howell was ambushed and shot to death in Limestone County, Alabama, shortly after raiding a still the day prior. Agent Howell received a tip about a moonshine still at Limestone Creek at the mouth of the Tennessee River. At 10:30 p.m., when he reached the location with two deputies, they were fired upon. Agent Howell was shot over 40 times, one of the deputies was wounded, and the third was able to summon help. When officers returned for Agent Howell's body, there was no still in production. Fourteen men were arrested in a conspiracy to stop raids in the area by killing Agent Howell, but were released due to insufficient evidence. One man was convicted of murder and escaped prison in November 1921. It is unknown if he was captured. Agent Howell had served with the United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit and previously served with the City of Albany Police Department (Alabama), present-day Decatur Police Department.

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Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Federal Prohibition Agent Howell gave the United States Department of the Treasury 5 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Federal Prohibition Agent Howell.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtirspufed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 17, 1921
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 42
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1921, 248 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Charles was 42. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Charles had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit has 59 officers remembered here, Charles among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Federal Prohibition Agent Charles Edward Howell

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit · End of Watch July 17, 1921

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 1-W

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