Roll of Honor
William Fountain Beattie
Incident
Sheriff W.F. Beattie was shot and killed while attempting to arrest an escaped prisoner who had shot a constable several days earlier.
The subject had been arrested for burglary in Crawfordsville by the constable and was held overnight. Several visitors were permitted to see him and one of them provided him a revolver, which he then concealed. The following day the constable and another man were taking the prisoner to Marion on horseback, when the man suddenly opened fire on them, wounding the constable. He was able to escape.
Sheriff Beattie formed a posse and went to the man's home cabin near Crawfordsville. Sheriff Beattie entered the cabin by himself and was immediately shot in the head and killed. The man then wounded a deputy before fleeing again. He was arrested several days later in Augusta, Arkansas. He was convicted of Sheriff Beattie's murder, sentenced to death, and executed by hanging on June 10th, 1881.
Sheriff Beattie was a Civil War veteran of the Confederate Army.
Survivors
He had served as sheriff for approximately three years and was survived by his parents and two siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-B3999349- 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 Beattie gave the Crittenden County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the West Memphis community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Fountain Beattie served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Sheriff William Fountain Beattie 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 66.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Crittenden County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Fountain Beattie's cause is highlighted.
How William Fountain Beattie Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Fountain Beattie is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Fountain Beattie was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
William Fountain Beattie served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit William Fountain Beattie’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Crittenden County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
