Customs Inspector

Alden McLaughlin

Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch August 31, 1871
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Texas Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Not available

Customs Inspector Alden McLaughlin was shot and killed in Live Oak County, Texas, by a group of smugglers who were attempting to keep him from testifying against them at an upcoming trial.

He had left San Antonio on August 20th, 1871, to return to Corpus Christi. His decomposing body was found by a rancher between Rockey and Oakville.

He had previously seized 200 mules from a group of smugglers and it is believed he was murdered in retaliation.

Inspector McLaughlin was survived by his wife. He was a Civil War Veteran who served with the 1st Texas Calvary, Company F.

Survivors

Inspector McLaughlin was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Customs Inspector McLaughlin served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtuscsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 31, 1871
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Military Service

Alden McLaughlin served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Alden is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1871, 33 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 152nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Alden was 30. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

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

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service has 94 officers remembered here, Alden among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Customs Inspector Alden McLaughlin

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service · End of Watch August 31, 1871

Military Service

Alden McLaughlin served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Alden McLaughlin’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 8-E

Also Remembered

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