George Washington Law
Agency patch
Sheriff

George Washington Law

Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch August 23, 1873
Age 44
Tour of Duty 10 mo
The Vigil Panel 4 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff George Law and Deputy Sheriff W.W. Dundon were shot and killed while escorting a prisoner from the courthouse to jail after the man was convicted of a crime. An angry crowd on horses attacked the carriage on Court Street in front of the courthouse and fired into it. Sheriff Law and Deputy Dundon were both mortally wounded. The men then took the carriage and drove it to Mexico Road just north of Jameson Cemetery. A passerby stopped the carriage and was able to convince the crowd to allow him to take Sheriff Law back to down. Sheriff Law died nine days later and Deputy Dundon died 19 days later. A suspect was charged with both murders but was acquitted at his trial seven months later. Sheriff Law was a Confederate Army Lieutenant Colonel who served under General Sterling Price. During the Vicksburg Campainge in 1863 he lost his left arm. He returned to duty and served until the end of the war. He was survived by three children. He was preceded in death by his wife and eight children.

Survivors

He was survived by three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-2EADBCD2
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sheriff Law served with the Callaway County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Fulton community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Fulton, Callaway County, MO
Platform Identity ccso.callaway.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 23, 1873
Tour of Duty 10 mo
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

George Washington Law served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Sheriff George Washington Law is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Callaway County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Callaway County Sheriff's Office
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
MO — Statewide
516
of 813 officers
63.5% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George Washington Law's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How George Washington Law Compares

Age at Death
44
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George Washington Law is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George Washington Law was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

George Washington Law served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit George Washington Law’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Callaway County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.