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Stafford E. Beckett
Agency patch
Federal Prohibition Agent

Stafford E. Beckett

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch March 21, 1921
Age 31
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 40 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Federal Prohibition Agent Stafford Beckett and Narcotics Inspector Arch Wood were shot and killed near El Paso, Texas, while raiding a still with seven other agents. Federal officers received a tip that a load of 23 cases of liquor was to be sent across the border to a hog ranch in the lower valley about five miles from El Paso. On the night of March 21, 1921, agents approached the ranch and stopped a car driven by the ranch owner's father father, but found no liquor. The agents and the driver went to the ranch house in their cars. The father started for the house, but came back for his gun. The officers let him get his shotgun out of his car. They started towards the house with father in the lead when a volley of shots rang out. Agents Beckett and Wood were mortally wounded. The remaining officers returned fire. When the agents were able to enter the house, the gunmen were gone in the darkness. The man and three of his sons were indicted and charged with the murders. The family alleged the federal officers fired first. There was a mistrial in June 1921. In September 1921, three of the men were re-indicted for having resisted federal officers, but they were found not guilty. On April 24, 1922, a U.S. District Court judge dismissed the indictment against the family on the grounds that it failed to state on what authority prohibition agents raided the Ranch. Agent Beckett was survived by his wife, 8-year-old son, 6-year-old daughter, and parents. He is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in El Paso, Texas. Agent Beckett began his federal service in March 1916 as a temporary Mounted Watchman in El Paso with the U.S. Immigration Service, which at the time was a part of the Department of Labor. He was promoted to Immigrant Inspector in December 1918. He enlisted as a Texas Ranger in Company B on October 4, 1919. He returned to federal service as a Federal Prohibition Agent one year prior to his death.

Survivors

Agent Beckett was survived by his wife, 8-year-old son, 6-year-old daughter, and parents.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Federal Prohibition Agent Beckett gave the United States Department of the Treasury 5 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Federal Prohibition Agent Beckett.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtirspufed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 21, 1921
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Stafford is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1921, 248 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Stafford was 31. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Stafford had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit has 59 officers remembered here, Stafford among them.

Across the years

Federal Prohibition Agent Stafford E. Beckett

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit · End of Watch March 21, 1921

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-E

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