William Fountain Beattie

In the spring of 1881, a palpable sense of duty hung heavy in the air for William Fountain Beattie, the sheriff of Crittenden County, Arkansas. A man of standing in the community, he had moved to the area and established himself as a cotton planter before taking on the mantle of law enforcement. His tenure as sheriff began in early 1878, first by appointment from the governor to fill a vacancy, and later that same year, affirmed by the vote of the people.

On a fateful day in April, specif ...

Sheriff William Fountain Beattie

Sheriff Tracks Down Story of Forgotten Lawman