William A. Weiss, a 31-year-old male police officer in Houston, Texas, was shot and killed on July 30, 1901. Officer Weiss was born on March 7, 1870, and was a native of Houston. He was survived by his wife and two small children.
The incident occurred after two brothers, John T. Vaughn and Newton Vaughn, were arrested several days earlier by another officer. The Vaughn brothers were seen talking to Officer Weiss before shooting him.
During the exchange of gunfire, John Vaughn was shot and killed by another officer, while Newton Vaughn was arrested.
An inquest concluded that another officer's shots probably killed Officer Weiss. The Vaughn brothers had been involved in an earlier altercation with Officer Herman Youngst, who had arrested John Vaughn for discharging a firearm. After being released on bond, John Vaughn and his brother met Officer Weiss to discuss the return of Vaughn's missing watch and $25. The situation escalated, leading to the fatal shooting.
Officer Weiss was highly regarded by his colleagues and the community. His funeral services were held at his residence, and he was buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston. The original marker for Officer Weiss reads: "There was an angel choir in heaven that was not quite complete, so God took our darling Willie to fill the vacant seat."
The tragic death of Officer William A. Weiss remains a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty.
