Posseman

William Beck

Felonious
End of Watch April 16, 1872
Age 38
The Vigil Panel 4 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Posseman William Beck and seven other deputy marshals were shot and killed as he a group of ten marshals attempted to arrest a man for murdering a married couple. The suspect was being tried in an Indian court since the murdered woman was Indian. As the deputies approached the courthouse, which was being held in a schoolhouse, several Indians exited and opened fire on them, killing eight of the ten marshals. The incident was named the Going Snake Massacre. Deputy Marshal Owens succumbed to his injuries several hours after the incident. Several Indians were arrested and charged with murder. The U.S. Government dropped all the charges due to a lack of evidence and witnesses refusing to testify.

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

154 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Posseman Beck served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 16, 1872
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1872, 32 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 154th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

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.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years

Posseman William Beck

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch April 16, 1872

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 2-E

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