John S. H. "Jack" Howard

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch February 12, 1913

Age 41

Tour of Duty 12 yrs 1 mo

The Vigil Panel 27 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 93

Incident

In February 1913 mounted Customs Inspector Jack Howard and Inspector Joe Sitter, along with a brand inspector with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, were scouting along the Rio Grande near the settlement of Pilares. They found Francisco "Chico" Cano, one of a band of Mexicans who had been smuggling horses and mules. The officers arrested Cano and left the next morning to take their prisoner to Marfa to appear before the United States commissioner. They had gone about a mile and a half and were riding single file through a deep canyon. Hidden behind the boulders were five or six Mexicans, members of the gang of smugglers, two of them brothers of the prisoner. When Inspector Howard reached a point directly below them, the men opened fire at a range of about fifty yards. Inspector Howard was hit in the chest and his horse was killed. Inspector Sitter and the brand inspector were shot off their horses. The brand inspector was shot through the left thigh while Inspector Sitter took a grazing bullet that entered above his left temple and exited behind the ear. Despite their wounds, the officers drew their weapons. Inspector Howard retrieved his rifle from his dead horse but was too badly injured to use it. Inspector Sitter and the brand inspector were able to return fire, although they couldn't spot their attackers among the boulders. The battle lasted for about 30 minutes before the attackers finally left along with Cano. The three wounded lawmen lay in the mountains for 15 hours until they were transported to a general store in Pilares. A posse and a doctor arrived the next day. Inspector Howard died on the night of February 12th, 1913. Inspector Sitter and the brand inspector survived. Inspector Howard was survived by his wife. He was buried in the Howard Cemetery in Boerne, Kendall County, Texas. On May 24th, 1915, Customs Agent Joe Sitter and Private Eugene Hulen, of the Texas Rangers, were shot and killed in the same area by the same bandits led

Survivors

Inspector Howard was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Inspector Howard gave the United States Department of the Treasury 12 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Howard.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usdtuscsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 12, 1913

Tour of Duty 12 yrs 1 mo

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Never apprehended

Inspector John S. H. "Jack" Howard 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, 47 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service

of 94 officers

50% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious