William Robert White, aged 43, was the Chief of Police in Williamston, North Carolina. On August 15, 1911, he was shot and killed in an ambush. The incident occurred as he was returning home from a visit with a friend, walking along Main Street between the Courthouse and Watts Street. He was hit with a load of buckshot by a man he had arrested several weeks earlier for selling liquor without a license.
The suspect, Brad Bagley, hid the shotgun behind a house and fled the scene.
However, he was arrested by the county sheriff a short time later at his house. Bagley was convicted of first-degree murder and subsequently executed in the electric chair on May 17, 1912.
Chief White had served as the Chief of Police with the Williamston Police Department for three years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters. His death was a significant event in the community, and efforts were made to erect a memorial in his honor.
The case was notable for the swift arrest and conviction of the suspect, reflecting the community's strong stance against lawlessness and support for law enforcement.
