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William B. Saylor
Incident
Federal Prohibition Agent Willie Saylor was shot and killed in Pineville, Kentucky, when the father and brother of a prisoner he was transporting attempted to free the man. On February 23rd, 1924, Agent Saylor had made an arrest while breaking up a moonshine still. He was accompanied by his brother, Rusaw Saylor, at the time of the incident. While transporting the prisoner, Agent Saylor's car tire went flat near Gibson Station. As he was repairing the flat tire, the father and brother of the prisoner approached them, blocked the car with their vehicle, and requested that the prisoner be released, offering to pay. Agent Saylor refused. The father, a local justice of the peace, had a drawn shotgun and Agent Saylor tried to take the gun away. Agent Saylor was the first person shot, but it is unclear if it was by the shotgun or another weapon. The father and both sons were killed, and Agent Saylor was taken to a hospital where he died the following day. A grand jury hearing cleared all agents by the federal court in London, Kentucky, regarding involvement in the shootings. Agent Saylor had served with the Internal Revenue Service for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Federal Prohibition Agent Saylor gave the United States Department of the Treasury 2 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Federal Prohibition Agent Saylor.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit has lost 59 officers; 47 of them killed feloniously.
William is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
William is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1924, 2 officers at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 7 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 14.
In 1924, 6 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
In 1924, 225 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1924, 228 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
William was 34. Of the 37 killed feloniously at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit whose age is recorded, half were between 36 and 48; the middle age was 41. William had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 3.9 years.
William was 34. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36. William had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
William was 34. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 34. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. William had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 8.5% of these deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit; December holds the most, 19.1%. Sundays: 19.1%.
February holds 8.6% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Sundays: 14.9%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 79.7% of all 59 deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 70.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 35% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit has 59 officers remembered here, William among them.
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William Daniel Dorsey
Jun 13, 1920
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Frank Matuskowitz
Jun 30, 1920
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Stanton E. Weiss
Aug 28, 1920
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James Holland Rose
Oct 25, 1920
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Kirby Frans
Nov 20, 1920
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Wiliam B. Anderson Dec 2, 1920
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Richard D. Griffin Dec 6, 1920
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Richard W. Jackson
Dec 16, 1920
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James Francis McGuiness
Dec 24, 1920
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Ernest Walter Walker
Mar 5, 1921
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Stafford E. Beckett
Mar 21, 1921
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Jacob F. Green
Apr 1, 1921
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Irby U. Scruggs
Apr 30, 1921
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John Watson
May 2, 1921
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Charles Edward Howell Jul 17, 1921
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John Harvey Reynolds
Aug 26, 1921
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John T. Foley
Oct 26, 1921
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Jesse R. Johnson Nov 21, 1921
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John O'Toole Feb 17, 1922
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Joseph William Floyd
May 17, 1922
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Charles O. Sterner Jun 25, 1922
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Howell J. Lynch
Jul 6, 1922
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Howard Henry Fisher
Jul 22, 1922
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Cary Dorsey Freeman Jul 22, 1922
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Ernest George Wiggins
Aug 6, 1922
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Glenn Henry Price Sep 3, 1922
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Grover C. Todd Sep 3, 1922
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Joseph Owen
Sep 6, 1922
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John Van Waters
Oct 4, 1922
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Robert E. Duff, Sr. Dec 9, 1922
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Elmer Guy Cole
Dec 15, 1922
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Atha Carter
Dec 24, 1922
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Burdette M. Huffaker Jan 12, 1923
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Jesse Leroy Youmans
Apr 3, 1923
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Robert G. Anderson Apr 16, 1923
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George H. Stewart
Nov 11, 1923
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William B. Saylor
Feb 24, 1924
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Bert R. McMichael May 23, 1924
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Horatio J. Stetson
Jun 29, 1924
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Daniel S. Cleveland Jul 10, 1924
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Theodore Harrison Chunn Nov 19, 1924
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William Paul Spigener Dec 9, 1924
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Malcolm Malachi Day
Feb 14, 1925
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James Edmund Bowdoin
Feb 16, 1925
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William Edwin Collins
Mar 6, 1925
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Harold Vincent Mooring
Apr 1, 1925
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Clyde L. Taylor
May 11, 1925
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William Frank Porter
Jun 20, 1925
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John M. Mulcahy
Sep 3, 1925
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Murdock E. Murray
Oct 20, 1925
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Dallas Adelbert Roberts Jan 20, 1926
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Remus W. Buckner May 12, 1926
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Thomas Bright Lankford May 26, 1926
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Vaughn Eccles Grant Jun 1, 1926
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George Hamilton Wentworth Nov 24, 1926
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Jacob P. Brandt
Dec 9, 1926
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Walter Chapman Mobray Dec 9, 1926
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Horace Thorwaldson
Dec 19, 1926
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George W. Dykeman Jan 14, 1927
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 17-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
