W. W. Dundon
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

W. W. Dundon

Felonious
End of Watch September 3, 1873
Age 25
The Vigil Panel 4 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff W.W. Dundon and Sheriff George Law 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 town.

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.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-21251272
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

153 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Dundon served with the Callaway County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Fulton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— 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 September 3, 1873
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Deputy Sheriff W. W. Dundon 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 97,772 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 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. W. W. Dundon's cause is highlighted.

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

How W. W. Dundon Compares

Age at Death
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. W. W. Dundon is highlighted in Sep.

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. W. W. Dundon was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

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