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Deputy U.S. Marshal

William H. Anderson

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch November 8, 1878

Age 38

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 6 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 312

Incident

William Collins was a member of the Sam Bass gang. On April 10, 1878 he took part in the robbery of the train station at Mesquite, Texas in Dallas County. Collins was arrested later that month and taken to Austin to stand trial. In June he was transferred to Dallas and housed in the county jail under a $15,000 bond. A landowner named John Cole posted the bond. Collins immediately fled Texas and a bench warrant was issued. William H. Anderson was appointed a deputy U.S. Marshal in 1872. He began tracking the movements of Collins. Anderson learned that Collins was working as a bartender in Pembina, North Dakota. Anderson staked out the post office. Collins entered the post office while Anderson was seated inside. Anderson ordered Collins to throw up his hands. Collins started talking and lowering his hands. Anderson grabbed his left arm and asked a bystander to grab the other. Collins pulled away and reached for his pistol and Anderson fired at Collins. The slug tore through Collins right thumb, then passed through his coat and shoulder holster before lodging in his left shoulder. Collins fired and missed as Anderson took cover behind a stove. Anderson started to fire again when Collins shot him in the chest. Collins and Anderson both died at the scene. Anderson was survived by his wife and two children. He was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Dallas.

Survivors

Anderson was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

148 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Anderson gave the United States Department of Justice 6 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

Type Federal Agency

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 8, 1878

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1878, 51 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 139th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

William was 38. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month

By day of the week

How

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.

Every cause

Weapons recorded