Frank N. Clark - TAPS: December 13, 1924
Date of Birth: January 4, 1879
Entered on Duty - INS: August 5, 1924
TITLE: Patrol Inspector
DETAILS: While patrolling in company with another officer near Cordova Island, El Paso, Texas, on the evening of December 13, 1924, Patrol Inspector Clark was shot and killed by smuggler's spotters who were concealed at a strategic point on the American side of the international boundary line for the purpose of warning and protecting the smugglers should the presence of officers be detected. When the smugglers were challenged by the Patrol Inspectors, the spotters opened fire from ambush, and one of the shots hit Patrol Inspector Clark causing immediate death. Other officers quickly took positions in concealment surrounding the scene of the action and remained there through the night. They found sacks, which contained illegal liquor, and took into custody a Mexican family that was found on the scene searching the premises in the early morning. One of these Mexicans, Eulalio Aguilar, was subsequently indicted on charge of murder, convicted and given a 1O-year sentence.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
James F. Mankin - TAPS: September 14, 1924
James F. Mankin - TAPS: September 14, 1924
Date of Birth: April 5, 1902
Entered on Duty - INS: July 28, 1924
TITLE: Patrol Inspector
DETAILS: At about 4:30 p.m., September 14, 1924, Patrol Inspector James F. Mankin was killed by the accidental discharge of a Service rifle. The accident occurred about 18 miles northeast of Laredo near the Rio Grande River where Patrol Inspector Mankin, along with Patrol Inspectors Buck West and Ralph R. Dockum, were patrolling in a government vehicle. The officers, upon reaching the banks of the river, alighted from the car to determine whether or not any crossings had been made. Upon returning to the car, Patrol Inspector Mankin, who had been driving, entered the vehicle and seated himself behind the steering wheel. Patrol Inspector Dockum prepared to enter the back seat of the car from the left side and Patrol Inspector West was to enter the back seat from the right side of the automobile. There were two rifles in scabbards in the back of the car along with camping gear and other articles. The two officers were rearranging the items in the back of the car, in order to make more room for themselves, when a .30 caliber government rifle slipped out of the car, the hammer striking the running board and discharging the gun. The bullet struck the back of the front seat about six inches below the top. After splitting in two, one part ricocheting to the left, striking the bow over the back seat and passing within a few inches of Dockum's face. The other part of the bullet ricocheted to the right through the upholstering of the front seat, striking Inspector Mankin behind the right ear. Inspector Mankin died less than thirty minutes after the accident.
Date of Birth: April 5, 1902
Entered on Duty - INS: July 28, 1924
TITLE: Patrol Inspector
DETAILS: At about 4:30 p.m., September 14, 1924, Patrol Inspector James F. Mankin was killed by the accidental discharge of a Service rifle. The accident occurred about 18 miles northeast of Laredo near the Rio Grande River where Patrol Inspector Mankin, along with Patrol Inspectors Buck West and Ralph R. Dockum, were patrolling in a government vehicle. The officers, upon reaching the banks of the river, alighted from the car to determine whether or not any crossings had been made. Upon returning to the car, Patrol Inspector Mankin, who had been driving, entered the vehicle and seated himself behind the steering wheel. Patrol Inspector Dockum prepared to enter the back seat of the car from the left side and Patrol Inspector West was to enter the back seat from the right side of the automobile. There were two rifles in scabbards in the back of the car along with camping gear and other articles. The two officers were rearranging the items in the back of the car, in order to make more room for themselves, when a .30 caliber government rifle slipped out of the car, the hammer striking the running board and discharging the gun. The bullet struck the back of the front seat about six inches below the top. After splitting in two, one part ricocheting to the left, striking the bow over the back seat and passing within a few inches of Dockum's face. The other part of the bullet ricocheted to the right through the upholstering of the front seat, striking Inspector Mankin behind the right ear. Inspector Mankin died less than thirty minutes after the accident.
Charles Gardiner - TAPS: October 22, 1922
Charles Gardiner - TAPS: October 22, 1922
Date of Birth: February 5, 1882
Entered on Duty - INS: August 15, 1918
TITLE: Mounted Watchman
DETAILS: Mounted Guard Gardiner was shot and killed without warning by the driver of a wagon, loaded with smuggled liquor, which he was approaching to inspect. The report indicated that he approached a one-horse wagon containing two Mexicans for the purpose of questioning them as to their immigration status and that they jumped from the wagon and immediately fired upon him from close range.
Date of Birth: February 5, 1882
Entered on Duty - INS: August 15, 1918
TITLE: Mounted Watchman
DETAILS: Mounted Guard Gardiner was shot and killed without warning by the driver of a wagon, loaded with smuggled liquor, which he was approaching to inspect. The report indicated that he approached a one-horse wagon containing two Mexicans for the purpose of questioning them as to their immigration status and that they jumped from the wagon and immediately fired upon him from close range.
Charles Lloyd Hopkins - TAPS: May 8, 1919
Charles Lloyd Hopkins - TAPS: May 8, 1919
Date of Birth: February 23, 1881
Entered on Duty - INS: December 24, 1912
TITLE: Mounted Watchman
TAPS: May 8, 1919
DETAILS: On May 8, 1919, at 10:15 p.m., Mounted Watchman Charles Lloyd Hopkins was shot by smugglers on the banks of the Rio Grande River, near Laredo, Texas. He died three hours later in Mercy Hospital, Laredo. Reportedly, the shot which killed Mounted Watchman Hopkins was the first shot fired in a general gun battle between smugglers and federal officers in which a United States Public Health Service Guard, Ira Hill, and several of the Mexican smugglers were also killed.
Date of Birth: February 23, 1881
Entered on Duty - INS: December 24, 1912
TITLE: Mounted Watchman
TAPS: May 8, 1919
DETAILS: On May 8, 1919, at 10:15 p.m., Mounted Watchman Charles Lloyd Hopkins was shot by smugglers on the banks of the Rio Grande River, near Laredo, Texas. He died three hours later in Mercy Hospital, Laredo. Reportedly, the shot which killed Mounted Watchman Hopkins was the first shot fired in a general gun battle between smugglers and federal officers in which a United States Public Health Service Guard, Ira Hill, and several of the Mexican smugglers were also killed.
Clarence M. Childress - TAPS: April 16, 1919
Clarence M. Childress
TAPS: April 16, 1919
Date of Birth: January 21, 1877
Entered on Duty - INS: February 16, 1918
TITLE: Watchman [Mounted]
DETAILS: At 3 a.m. on April 13, 1919, Mounted Watchman Childress and his partner, Mounted Watchman Leroy D. Straw, were on duty near Monument 9, known as "The Island", near El Paso, Texas. The officers observed a man come near the line on the Mexican side and a few seconds later three men ran from the United States side into Mexico and joined the man waiting there. The group then moved several hundred feet into Mexico and a few minutes later seven men came to the line which at that point was marked by a barbed wire fence. Two of the seven held down the barbed wire fence with their feet while the other five, with sacks on their backs, crossed to the American side. The officers made a challenging run at the smugglers and the two who had remained on the line immediately opened fire while the other five dropped the sacks they were carrying and ran toward Mexico. The officers returned the fire and all seven of the smugglers ran further into Mexico, disappearing over the mesa. While the officers were pursuing the smugglers, Childress said, "I am hit and going to telephone." Officer Straw proceeded to the point where the smugglers had abandoned their contraband where he remained, expecting Childress to return. When Childress failed to return to the scene within a reasonable time, Mounted Watchman Straw became concerned and proceeded to a house where a telephone was available. There he learned that Childress had been seriously wounded and was being cared for pending the arrival of an ambulance. An emergency operation was performed on Mounted Watchman Childress but he failed to recover. Death occurred at 9:10 a.m. on the morning of April 16, 1919.
TAPS: April 16, 1919
Date of Birth: January 21, 1877
Entered on Duty - INS: February 16, 1918
TITLE: Watchman [Mounted]
DETAILS: At 3 a.m. on April 13, 1919, Mounted Watchman Childress and his partner, Mounted Watchman Leroy D. Straw, were on duty near Monument 9, known as "The Island", near El Paso, Texas. The officers observed a man come near the line on the Mexican side and a few seconds later three men ran from the United States side into Mexico and joined the man waiting there. The group then moved several hundred feet into Mexico and a few minutes later seven men came to the line which at that point was marked by a barbed wire fence. Two of the seven held down the barbed wire fence with their feet while the other five, with sacks on their backs, crossed to the American side. The officers made a challenging run at the smugglers and the two who had remained on the line immediately opened fire while the other five dropped the sacks they were carrying and ran toward Mexico. The officers returned the fire and all seven of the smugglers ran further into Mexico, disappearing over the mesa. While the officers were pursuing the smugglers, Childress said, "I am hit and going to telephone." Officer Straw proceeded to the point where the smugglers had abandoned their contraband where he remained, expecting Childress to return. When Childress failed to return to the scene within a reasonable time, Mounted Watchman Straw became concerned and proceeded to a house where a telephone was available. There he learned that Childress had been seriously wounded and was being cared for pending the arrival of an ambulance. An emergency operation was performed on Mounted Watchman Childress but he failed to recover. Death occurred at 9:10 a.m. on the morning of April 16, 1919.
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