Roll of Honor
William Henderson Foote
Incident
Location: Mississippi Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Not available
Deputy Collector William Foote was shot and killed by an angry mob after being taken from the county jail in Yazoo City, Mississippi.
Deputy Collector Foote was attending church on Christmas Eve when a citizen notified him that three white men were trying to whip an African American man. Deputy Collector Foote immediately went to the scene and placed himself between the aggressors and the victim.
Shots were fired during the ensuing confrontation and all three of the aggressors were killed. Deputy Collector Foote and three other African American men were arrested by local authorities and held in connection with the deaths. The original victim who Deputy Collector Foote was protecting was later shot and killed by a posse while attempting to arrest him.
On December 29, 1883, a mob of citizens stormed the jail and, in an act of extrajudicial punishment, killed all four detained men. Deputy Collector Foote was shot several times in the head.
Deputy Collector Foote had served with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (a legacy agency of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) for about three years. He had previously served in other local law enforcement and political positions since 1869. He may have served in the Civil War as an Independent for the Confederate Army.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-57FD63C7- 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 Foote gave the United States Department of the Treasury 14 years.
Thank you for your service. 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 Henderson Foote served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Collector William Henderson Foote 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Henderson Foote's cause is highlighted.
How William Henderson Foote Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Henderson Foote is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Henderson Foote was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
