Roll of Honor
Incident
A posse of Texas Rangers and sheriff's deputies had been searching for five days in the heavy thickets near Hemphill in Sabine County in East Texas for an outlaw family named Conner. The posse split up near dawn, and one group wandered into an ambush set up by Willis Conner and his three sons, Bill, Fred and John.
The Conner gang opened fire. The rangers returned fire killing Bill Conner. Private Moore was shot through the heart and killed almost instantly. Captain William Scott, Sergeant John Brooks and Private John Rogers were all shot and seriously wounded. Fred Conner was wounded, but escaped. Over 100 rounds were fired at less than 50 feet in a matter of minutes. Fred Conner was shot and killed resisting arrest on October 25, 1887. Willis Conner and a grandson were killed during an arrest on November 15, 1887. John Conner was never heard from again. John Brooks and John H. Rogers later became famous Texas Ranger captains.
Private Moore was assigned to Company F, Frontier Battalion. He was buried in the Hemphill Cemetery in Sabine County. His tombstone reads: James H. Moore, Texas Ranger, Killed by Outlaws, March 31, 1887.
A posse of Texas Rangers and sheriff's deputies had been searching for five days in the heavy thickets near Hemphill in Sabine County in East Texas for an outlaw family named Conner. The posse split up near dawn, and one group wandered into an ambush set up by Willis Conner and his three sons, Bill, Fred and John.
Rest in Peace Ranger Private James Moore. Your tour has ended all too soon. Thank You for your Service and Sacrifice.
I pray for Peace for your Family, Friends and Co-Workers. I also Pray that the hounds of hell forever gnaw at the flesh of your murderers. May they rot in despair and turmoil for eternity.
Amen.
Sr. Special Agent B.L. Sherwood Port Terminal Railroad Police March 31st, 2016
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
139 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Private Moore served with the Texas Rangers.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Private James H. Moore 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 Rangers, 104 of 122 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James H. Moore's cause is highlighted.
How James H. Moore Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James H. Moore is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James H. Moore was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
121 officers from Texas Rangers are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
