Charles Thomas "Tom" Rushing

Robertson County Sheriff's Dept. — Franklin, TX

Felonious

End of Watch September 21, 1913

Age 39

The Vigil Panel 28 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Several men were playing cards at a house in Petteway, a community about 8 miles from the county seat in Bremond in Robertson County. The men got into a disagreement. Will Davis shot and killed Luther Hodge. Davis then shot and wounded Tom Maxwell as he fled. Deputy Sheriff Tom Rushing, who was riding his horse nearby, rode to the home and told Davis to give him his gun. Davis then shot Deputy Sheriff Rushing in the stomach. Deputy Sheriff Rushing dismounted and pulled his pistol, but before he could shoot, Davis fired again, hitting him in the heart, and killing him instantly.

A large posse of citizens located Davis, and lynched him from a nearby tree after he admitted to the murders.

Tom Rushing was survived by his brother, Robertson County Sheriff Will Rushing. He is buried in Walnut Creek Cemetery in Bremond, Texas.

Survivors

Tom Rushing was survived by his brother, Robertson County Sheriff Will Rushing.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-7F9C43F1
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Rushing served with the Robertson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Franklin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Rushing.

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

Agency

Department Robertson County Sheriff's Dept.

Location Franklin, TX

Platform Identity rcso.robertson.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 21, 1913

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender lynched by posse

Deputy Sheriff Charles Thomas "Tom" Rushing is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Robertson County Sheriff's Dept., 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Robertson County Sheriff's Dept.

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious