Arthur M. Bateman

Sumter County Sheriff's Dept. — Sumter, SC

Felonious

End of Watch May 4, 1913

Age 38

The Vigil Panel 27 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Rural Police Officer Arthur Bateman succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day while seizing four gallons of liquor.

He had stopped a man on the highway near Dalzell and was placing the contraband liquor in his buggy when the man shot him. The man who shot him was arrested later in the day.

In December of 1913 the suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 12 years. The next day the citizens of Sumpter County were shocked when he was pardoned by Governor Cole L. Brease. Governor Brease refused to give the reason for his decision. The suspect was shot and killed by his brother in 1932.

During his term as governor, Governor Brease pardoned between 1500 and 1700 prisoners. Some were murderers or had been convicted of other serious crimes. He said he wanted to give the poor devils a chance. His political enemies said he was paid lots of money for his actions.

Officer Bateman was survived by his wife and children.

Survivors

Officer Bateman was survived by his wife and children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-E3AFB655
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.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Rural Police Officer Bateman served with the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Sumter community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Rural Police Officer Bateman.

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

Agency

Department Sumter County Sheriff's Dept.

Location Sumter, SC

Platform Identity scso.sumter.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 4, 1913

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Pardoned in 1913

Rural Police Officer Arthur M. Bateman 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Sumter County Sheriff's Dept., 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Sumter County Sheriff's Dept.

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious