William Tripp (November 29, 1817 probably in Bethel, Maine – March 29, 1878 in Dakota Territory) was an American politician, lawyer, soldier, and surveyor.
At the beginning of the Civil War, he became the commander of Company B of the 1st Dakota Cavalry, serving under General Alfred Sully on the frontier.
However, while working for William's half-brother Bartlett, Sullivan forged an order for a suit of clothes and fled when his crime was discovered.
He was once more captured, while trying to use another forged order, this time from William Tripp, brought back, convicted, and sent to prison in December 1871.
[5] William Tripp and his half-brother Bartlett were both defense lawyers in the 1874 trial of Peter Wintermute for the murder of acting governor Edwin Stanton McCook.