Roll of Honor
James Elliot
Incident
On Friday, July 17, 1908, convicts at the Dewalt Farm in Fort Bend County and the Clemens Unit in Brazoria County executed a concerted escape plan. A gang of 10-12 convicts at the Clemens Unit attacked Guard James Elliot, and beat him up with a hoe. He died later that night. When Elliot was overpowered, the convicts took his gun away from him. The convicts – Will Howard, Will Westphal, Austin St. Louis and Will Dow - kidnapped a man named George Johnson, and fearing he would give information that would lead to their capture, shot and mortally wounded him. Austin St. Louis, about 22 years of age, is the one who killed Elliot and Johnson.
On Saturday, July 25, 1908, the decomposed body of Austin St. Louis was found near Hinkle’s Ferry in Brazoria County not far from the prison. An inquest determined that he died from gunshot wounds received during the escape. St. Louis was wearing a suit taken from George Johnson and a handkerchief containing $4 stolen from Johnson. The dead convict also had $26 taken from Guard Elliot.
No death certificate was recorded for James Elliot. He was reported to be 30 years of age and lived in Houston at one time. He was single and had a sister living in Springfield, Louisiana, and a brother living elsewhere in Louisiana.. He was buried in the Cheetham Cemetery in Colorado County. While his name was reported as "Elliott" in all newspaper accounts, his tombstone spelled his name as "Elliot."
Thank you for your service and please know that no passage of time will ever erase your sacrifice. Rest in peace always.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) July 17th, 2020
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Elliot served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Thank you for your service to the Huntsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Elliot.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard James Elliot is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, 31 of 124 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Elliot's cause is highlighted.
How James Elliot Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Elliot is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Elliot was killed by blunt object.
Others Who Wore This Badge
123 officers from Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
