William B.M. Barbee
Agency patch
Deputized Civilian

William B.M. Barbee

Felonious
End of Watch May 24, 1857
Age 35
Tour of Duty
The Vigil Panel 2 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Burleson County Precinct 3 Constable John Johnson called upon Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace William B.M. Barbee to accompany him to arrest John Carroway. Carroway was characterized by the newspaper as a notorious thief and outlaw. He was suspected of stealing a mule from the widow of John Nunn. Constable Johnson had a writ for Carroway’s arrest. Johnson and Barbee tracked Carroway to a house on Yegau Creek. They searched the house and did not find Carroway. Barbee went to search the smokehouse, and while looking between the logs was shot from inside with a rifle. The bullet grazed Barbee’s forehead and knocked him down. As Barbee attempted to rise, Carroway shot him again in the bowels with shotgun loaded with buckshot. Carroway ran from the smokehouse, but was shot by Constable Johnson. It was reported that Carroway died several hours later and Barbee died three hours later.

The newspaper reports Barbee as a respected citizen about 35 years of age who was survived by his wife and a child.

Survivors

The newspaper reports Barbee as a respected citizen about 35 years of age who was survived by his wife and a child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-86CBF405
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

169 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputized Civilian Barbee served with the Burleson County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Caldwell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Caldwell, TX
Platform Identity bccop3co.burleson.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 24, 1857
Tour of Duty
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun

Deputized Civilian William B.M. Barbee 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Burleson County Constable's Office - Precinct 3
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% 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. William B.M. Barbee's cause is highlighted.

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

How William B.M. Barbee Compares

Age at Death
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William B.M. Barbee is highlighted in May.

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. William B.M. Barbee was killed by shotgun.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Burleson County Constable's Office - Precinct 3 are honored on badge.nw.