Son of Andrew Gassaway & Ellender Dillard.

He was a deputy sheriff killed in the line of duty by a mass murderer, William Reynolds, in Tuscumbia, AL where the high school is today. For details of all the murders, see Find A Grave Memorial# 39545261.

(Ref. to location of murders: my father, Sidney J. Anderson Jr. who was six years old and lived very near the location. where the murders took place, told me about them.. -Harry F. Anderson)
∼Deputy Sheriff William Gassaway
Colbert County Sheriff's Department
Alabama
End of Watch: Monday, April 7, 1902

Biographical Info
Age: Not available
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Monday, April 7, 1902
Weapon Used: Rifle; Winchester
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

Deputy Gassaway, the sheriff, and four other deputies were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect.

Sheriff Charles Gassaway and five Colbert County deputies were shot and killed when the sheriff attempted to arrest a suspect for obtaining goods under false pretences. The suspect informed the sheriff that he would be ready to go in a moment but arrived at the door with a Winchester rifle. The suspect immediately shot Sheriff Gassaway, who was in the doorway, and the sheriff's brother, Deputy William Gassaway, who was standing a distance away.

The suspect then barricaded himself in the house as other deputies arrived at the scene. Firing from inside the house, the suspect shot and mortally wounded Deputy Bob Wallace, Deputy Pat Prout, Deputy James Payne, and Deputy Jesse Davis.

The suspect was eventually shot and killed after authorities opened fire using a Wheeler rifle with over 1,000 rounds. The suspect's body was then thrown into his burning house, that had been set on fire in an attempt to smoke him out.

Son of Andrew Gassaway & Ellender Dillard.

He was a deputy sheriff killed in the line of duty by a mass murderer, William Reynolds, in Tuscumbia, AL where the high school is today. For details of all the murders, see Find A Grave Memorial# 39545261.

(Ref. to location of murders: my father, Sidney J. Anderson Jr. who was six years old and lived very near the location. where the murders took place, told me about them.. -Harry F. Anderson)
∼Deputy Sheriff William Gassaway
Colbert County Sheriff's Department
Alabama
End of Watch: Monday, April 7, 1902

Biographical Info
Age: Not available
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Monday, April 7, 1902
Weapon Used: Rifle; Winchester
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

Deputy Gassaway, the sheriff, and four other deputies were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect.

Sheriff Charles Gassaway and five Colbert County deputies were shot and killed when the sheriff attempted to arrest a suspect for obtaining goods under false pretences. The suspect informed the sheriff that he would be ready to go in a moment but arrived at the door with a Winchester rifle. The suspect immediately shot Sheriff Gassaway, who was in the doorway, and the sheriff's brother, Deputy William Gassaway, who was standing a distance away.

The suspect then barricaded himself in the house as other deputies arrived at the scene. Firing from inside the house, the suspect shot and mortally wounded Deputy Bob Wallace, Deputy Pat Prout, Deputy James Payne, and Deputy Jesse Davis.

The suspect was eventually shot and killed after authorities opened fire using a Wheeler rifle with over 1,000 rounds. The suspect's body was then thrown into his burning house, that had been set on fire in an attempt to smoke him out.