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William Oscar McCarty
Incident
On Saturday, April 11, 1942, around 9:45 p.m. Burnet County Precinct 4 Constable William Oscar McCarty, 57, attempted to quiet a disturbance outside a motion picture theater in Marble Falls, Burnet County, Texas. He asked Robert Felder, 35, to leave the front of the theater. Felder and the constable exchanged words. Felder and Constable McCarty each fired two rounds at each other. McCarty was shot in the heart and died at 10:05 p.m. A stray bullet struck a female bystander in the hand. Felder fled the scene and surrendered to sheriff deputies at the county seat in Burnet. On June 25, 1942, Felder was convicted in a one-day trial and sentenced to two to 25 years in the state prison. His appeal was denied. He was paroled on January 20, 1948.
William Oscar McCarty had been elected Constable of Precinct 4 on November 5, 1940 and commissioned on February 17, 1941. His earlier occupation had been listed as a farmer. He was survived by his wife, Katie, and four children – Mary, William, Josephine and Oscar. He was buried in the family plot in the Marble Falls Cemetery in Burnet County.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, Katie, and four children – Mary, William, Josephine and Oscar.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Constable McCarty gave the Burnet County Constable's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Burnet community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable McCarty.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
William is the only officer of Burnet County Constable's Office - Precinct 4 remembered here.
William is one of 1,461 officers killed feloniously in TX, 60.3% of the 2,422 remembered there.
William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1942, 5 officers in TX were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 180 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 19.
In 1942, 82 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 79th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1942, 120 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 49th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
William was 57. Of the 1,330 killed feloniously in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 37. William had served 1.1 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
William was 57. 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. William had served 1.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 57. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. William had served 1.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 7.3% of these deaths in TX; December holds the most, 10.4%. Saturdays: 16.6%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Burnet County Constable's Office - Precinct 4. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.3% of all 2,422 deaths in TX, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 22.3% 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, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 59-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Burnet County Constable's Office - Precinct 4 are honored on badge.nw.