William Arnot Anderson
Agency patch
Deputy Collector

William Arnot Anderson

Felonious Veteran
End of Watch April 13, 1910
Age 38
The Vigil Panel 24 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Alabama Weapon: Rifle Offender: Sentenced to 20 years

Deputy Collector William Anderson was shot and killed from ambush near Oakman, Alabama, as he and a posseman were en route to raid an illegal distillery.

The buggy they were driving had to go past the moonshiner's house. The subject believed that the two were coming to arrest him and opened fire from a concealed spot, killing Deputy Collector Anderson and wounding the posseman.

The man, along with three others, were arrested and charged with Deputy Collector Anderson's murder. Two of the men were sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. The third man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and a juvenile was sentenced to 10 years at the Federal Reform School. The actual shooter was released from prison after serving only 15 years.

Deputy Collector Anderson was a veteran of the Spanish-American War.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-FCCD85CC
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Deputy Collector Anderson served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtoirfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 13, 1910
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle
Offender Sentenced to 20 years

Military Service

William Arnot Anderson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Collector William Arnot Anderson is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue, 25 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.6% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue
25
of 27 officers
92.6% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,419 officers
53.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Arnot Anderson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How William Arnot Anderson Compares

Age at End of Watch
38
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 20 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Arnot Anderson is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Arnot Anderson was killed by rifle.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location