Full Name

William C "Dub" Williams

End of Watch

04/16/1930

On Wednesday, April 16, 1930, at approximately 6:45 p.m., Deputy William C. “Dub” Williams, Jr., and a group of deputies left the Criminal Courts Building in downtown Houston to execute a search warrant for whisky out on Hempstead Highway. Deputy Williams was riding in the first car with deputies C.R. Emley, Joe Trapolino, Legion, and their informant. Deputies Henderson, Andrew, Bernard, Payne, Beer, and the son of the informant occupied the second car. The plan was for the informant to direct them to where the illegal whisky still was being operated. It was said to be in a barn near the community of Satsuma. According to the statement made by Deputy Emley, when he and the other officers arrived on the scene the informant pointed out the barn where the raid was to take place. Deputies Emley, Trapolino, Legion, Williams, and the informant, who was armed with a rifle, walked up to the door. Deputy Trapolino identified themselves as officers and told the occupants in the barn to “Stick’em up!” Deputy Emley stated that he and Trapolino jumped into the barn and handcuffed one of the suspects. Deputy Legion followed and handcuffed the other suspect. Deputy Williams stayed behind in an effort to apprehend anyone trying to escape the scene. As the two suspects were being handcuffed together Deputy Emley said he heard a shot. Deputy Trapolino rushed to the door and said, “My God, he shot Dub!” Deputy Emley stated he bent over and raised the head of Deputy Williams, but he did not respond. Deputy Emley then ran about a quarter of a mile to the car and drove to where Deputy Williams lay. They loaded Deputy Williams into the car and drove to the nearest telephone in Satsuma and called for an ambulance. Deputy Trapolino stated that at the time he heard the shot he looked around and saw the informant standing in the doorway pointing a rifle at Deputy Williams who was laying on the ground about three or four feet away. According to the informant, he was standing near the doorway, which was still half open. The informant began to look around for other suspects when he noticed a figure in the shadows about ten feet away. The figure he had seen was that of Deputy Williams, but he had no way of knowing that. Deputy Williams had walked up to the barn after the arrest was made and stood in the open doorway. The informant turned and ordered the man in the shadows to halt, but instead, the man (Deputy Williams) raised his flashlight and shined it into the informants face. Frightened, the informant jumped back and fired once. The shot pierced Deputy William’s hand and entered his chest, killing him. The informant was charged with the death of Deputy Williams and placed in the county jail. W. C. “Dub” Williams Jr. was born in Houston, Texas on November 29, 1907 to his parents, W. C. Williams Sr. and Bessie E. Williams. He was single and living with his parents and his brother, Eugene Williams. His father was a veteran officer with the Houston Police Department. Deputy “Dub” Williams had been employed with the Sheriff’s Department for a period of two years and was 23 years old at the time of his death. He was the 4th deputy to die in the line of duty.