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Incident
Deputy Sheriff John J. Conway and Sheriff William T. Cate were shot and killed when a prisoner they were transporting escaped.
Sheriff Cate and Deputy Conway were on a train transporting three prisoners who had just been convicted of murder. When the train stopped in Sweet Water, Tennessee, three men entered the train car. One man was the brother of one of the prisoners. He approached Deputy Conway from behind, drew a pistol and shot and killed Deputy Conway. The suspect then took the keys from Deputy Conway's pocket and unlocked his brother and the other two prisoners. Sheriff Cate rushed the men, but was shot several times and killed.
The three men who entered the train and the brother then jumped into the engine car, and at gunpoint, ordered the motorman to start moving the train. The train went through three towns without stopping before the four suspects jumped from the engine and fled on horses.
When the train stopped at Knoxville, the other two prisoners, who were not involved in the escape, surrendered to officers.
The shooter was re-captured and executed on November 23, 1883.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
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Tributes
144 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Conway served with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Chattanooga community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office has lost 16 officers; 12 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 498 officers killed feloniously in TN, 64.8% of the 769 remembered there.
John is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1882, 2 officers at Hamilton County Sheriff's Office were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 9 years on record. The heaviest was 1923, with 3.
In 1882, 2 officers in TN were killed feloniously, the 78th heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 12.
In 1882, 45 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 143rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1882, 51 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 142nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 30. Of the 12 killed feloniously at Hamilton County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 50; the middle age was 39.
John was 30. Of the 449 killed feloniously in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 50; the middle age was 41.
John was 30. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
John was 30. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
September holds 33.3% of these deaths at Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, more than any other month. Thursdays: 33.3%.
September holds 9% of these deaths in TN; December holds the most, 10.2%. Thursdays: 12.7%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 75% of all 16 deaths at Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; pistol, in 16.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 64.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; pistol, in 2.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; pistol, in 0.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; pistol, in 0.5% of these deaths.
His people
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office has 16 officers remembered here, John among them.
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William T. Cate
Sep 14, 1882
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John J. Conway
Sep 14, 1882
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George G. Gibson
Apr 2, 1890
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Hugh Rievley
Jun 10, 1908
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Oscar Leonard Nance
Sep 22, 1912
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John Oliver Bachtel
Jan 18, 1923
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John A. Snyder May 13, 1923
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William B. Gober
Dec 22, 1923
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John A. Griffith Oct 30, 1927
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John Bell Jones Aug 13, 1933
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John Asberry Gillespie
Nov 10, 1942
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Jerry J. Hensley Mar 3, 1955
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Charles E. Garfield
Jun 2, 1961
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Lyle Armon Sneed
Dec 6, 1989
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Donald Kenneth Bond
Sep 6, 2001
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Landon Faulkner
Apr 10, 2026
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Hamilton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
