Lewis Ory's 23-year tenure as sheriff of St. Charles Parish tragically ended on Jan. 26, 1903.
Sheriff Ory, 56, was attempting to arrest a fugitive from neighboring Jefferson Parish when he was shot in the temple. He died instantly. According to a local newspaper account, a sheriff's posse hunted down the murderer. The suspect's body was found riddled with bullets.
Lewis Ory was the first lawman, and only St. Charles Parish Sheriff, to be killed in the line of duty. His memory is honored at the
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. on panel 42E-20.