Last Rites For Slain Sheriff
Hundred Unable To Enter Church For Funeral Cleve Daugherty
The largest crowd which ever attended a funeral in Clinton gathered here Saturday morning to pay a last tribute to the memory of Sheriff Cleve Daugherty, slain by a rum runner when seeking to make an arrest in Piney Valley. Sheriffs from the following counties were present, Hamilton, McMinn, Loudon, Cumberland, Morgan, Knox and Campbell.Previous to funeral services, the body of the slain sheriff lay in the front room of the family home at at the county jail, where hundreds of friends passed by the bier to take a last look at the still face of the officer who gave his life in an effort to protect the law abiding citizens of the county from lawlessness.
It was nearly 30 minutes after the hour set for the services at the First Baptist Church that the procession began to move from the county jail to the church, three blocks distant.For nearly an hour before the time for the funeral traffic officers kept the block in front of the church clear of heavy traffic.
Legionaries Precede Cortege
A company of American Legion aires preceded the funeral party to the church, which was filled to capacity an hour before the time set for the services. The hearse was followed by cars carrying members of the immediate family and friends, while hundreds walked the short distance to the church. The side walk were lined for two blocks as the procession preceded slowly along. Hundred were unable to get inside the church, and stood around the doors and out in the street, yards and porches were filled by other hundreds who could catch from time to time a few words of the services.
Preceding the scripture reading a quartet composed of Mrs. T.L. Wilson, Mrs. S.F. Miller, Paul Burkett and T.S. Seeber sang,
“Some Day,” It Won’t Be Long”, and later sang “The Old Rugged Cross” with Miss. Reba Gentry at the piano. Mrs. T.L.Wilson sang
“When They Ring The Golden Bells”.
The scripture lesson was read by Rev. E.L. Wilson,pastor of Brown’s Chapel, who led in prayer, as the audience fanned in the church to relieve the exessive heat. Standing in front of the casket, which was banked high with floral rememberances, Rev. H.L. Smith, pastor of the church, spoke for 30 minutes, while the audience gave the closet of attention.
Thousand Pass Casket
Following the sermon, the casket lid was removed again and 1,000 or more persons passed by. Services at the cemtery were in charge of the Masonic Lodge, of which Sheriff Daugherty was a member. Active pallbearers were: George R. Rector, H. C. Cooper, K.A. Hollingworth, Joe Wilson, W.F. Hutchinson and Clifford Seeber. Honorary pallbearers: Congressman J. Will Taylor, Jess Rogers, Judge J.H. M Morrison, Judge H.B. Brown, R.A. Smith, J.S. Holt, Judge J.S. Wallace, J.H. Underwood, W.H. Disney, J.C. King, Estel Byrge, Dan Byrge, C.S. Hicks, Herman Robinson, Judge W.A. Brown and H.V. Alexander.
In paying a tribute to the memory of Sheriff Daugherty, H.L. Smith said in part:
In the slaying of Cleve Daughtery sin has played its roll again.In his death we see some things that sin does even for those who are law-abiding and upright citizens. By this tragedy this county suffers, his friends suffer and his home in torn and broken. Four children are left orphans, suffering because liquor and sin took the law in its own hands. “The more I see of the evils of liquor, the suffering and and sorrow, the grief and disappointment that is the direct cause of this underworld tool of sin, I am made to see more clearly reasons why officers like Sheriff Daughtery was so bitterly opposed to the damuable sad life-taking stuff.
Called Upright Citizens
“Mr. Daugherty lived as he was taught from younth, an open life. The criminals and underworlds as well as the best citizens know where he took his stand. He was an upright citizen of the highest tribute that can be paid to any man is that he loved by his fellows. Truly this can be said of the deceased.”He kept the law himself and urged others to keep the law. He urged his deputies to keep the law. By exampled word he urged the citizens of Anderson county to live by the law. Mr. Daugherty was a school teacher in early life and there he realized full well that the laws were only for the disobedient and the destructive.”It was the destructive and disobedient he was seeking and those who do not care for character or law or human kind so long as they profit by an evil that destroys the very foundations of men, when a lawbreaker-a boy, who having been taught by his father, took the law into his own hands and shot in cold blood the sheriff of this county.Through an eternity this evil of this boy will rest on the shoulders of his father.The blood of the sheriff of Anderson county will not only be on the hands of the boy who slew him, but the father who taught him to be a law breaker will have no less a burden to bear.
Record Is Praised
“Sheriff Daugherty was a law enforcement officer whose record could be well coveted by thousands of law officers of the state. He was fearless in enforcing the law.I hardly suppose any sheriff of Anderson county ever tried to enforce the law with more vigor and earnestness than did mr. Daughtery. He was no respector of persons in the matter of enforceing the law .He was honored more genernily than any only sheriff with whom i have come in contact.He arose from an humble home, where Christain character was instilled into him, to place prominence in his county. He will live in the records of Anderson county as an excellent enforcement officers murdered for the cause of righteousess and in protecting the best citizenship.I have always thought I would like to pass away at the post of duty like he did.”Mr. Daugherty made a profession of faith when a young man and served as Sunday school superintendent and was always ready to lead in public or private prayer. He was a member of the Petros Baptist church.
“Vengeance Is Mine”
“To his widow, four children, father and mother and two sisters, may we say that “Vengeance is mine. saith the Lord“. God and the law will care of the crimnal.Justice will be rendered in due season.It seems that life was a journey upward and now he pitched his tent on higher ground.He did his work well and only a few have any criticism to offer.He was not a perfect,but he was good.
“Instead of mouring we may say in the words of the poet:”
“Thy day has come, not gone
Thy sun has risen, not set
Thy life is now beyond”
The reach of death or change,
Not ended, but begun.
O noble soul, O gentle heart
Hail and farwell”
Anderson County News July . 28, 1933
[Transcribed by Susie Bullock]