John Burt McAdams

Anderson County Sheriff's Office — Anderson, SC

Felonious

End of Watch February 20, 1909

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 23 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Deputy Constable John McAdams was shot and killed outside of Anderson, South Carolina, while responding to a disturbance in the Orr Mill employee village.

One of the mill workers had become drunk and was firing his gun in the village. Deputy Constable McAdams was speaking to the man in an attempt to calm him when the man suddenly shot him.

The subject was arrested a short time later by two other mill employees. The man was convicted of first-degree murder on May 22nd, 1909.

Deputy Constable McAdams had been appointed as a deputy constable by the Anderson County Sheriff to keep order at the mill. Deputy Constable McAdams also served as a Deputy United States Marshal with the United States Marshals Service.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-E6F1A108
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 John. 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Constable McAdams served with the Anderson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Anderson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Constable McAdams.

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

Agency

Department Anderson County Sheriff's Office

Location Anderson, SC

Platform Identity acso.anderson.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 20, 1909

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Deputy Constable John Burt McAdams 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 Anderson County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.

Anderson County Sheriff's Office

of 9 officers

55.6% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious