Roll of Honor
Incident
On Thursday, February 10, 1898, Fannin County Precinct 1 Constable Thomas E. Milstead and Fannin County Deputy Sheriffs C. B. "Charley" Bridge, Dailey Parish, and June Riddling went to the community of Mulberry in northern Fannin County to arrest two subjects for selling illegal whiskey and carrying pistols.
Constable Milstead and Deputy Sheriff Bridge knocked on the front door and advised the subject that there was a warrant for his arrest when he opened the door. The subject drew a pistol and began firing at the officers. Constable Milstead was struck in the face by the gunfire but drew his gun, charged into the house, and killed one subject. The constable then engaged in a hand-to-hand struggle with the other subject. Constable Milstead, who was weak from the loss of blood, was thrown down on a bed, and the subject was trying to shoot him when Deputy Sheriff Bridge came to Milstead's rescue and shot and killed the subject.
Constable Milstead was mortally wounded with five gunshot wounds and died four days later on February 14, 1898. Deputy Sheriff Bridge was seriously injured by the gunfire but did not die from his wounds.
Constable Milstead was survived by his wife and an unknown number of children.
He was buried in the Willow Wild Cemetery, Bonham, Fannin County, Texas.
Constable Milstead and Deputy Sheriff Bridge knocked on the front door and advised the subject that there was a warrant for his arrest when he opened the door. The subject drew a pistol and began firing at the officers. Constable Milstead was struck in the face by the gunfire but drew his gun, charged into the house, and killed one subject. The constable then engaged in a hand-to-hand struggle with the other subject. Constable Milstead, who was weak from the loss of blood, was thrown down on a bed, and the subject was trying to shoot him when Deputy Sheriff Bridge came to Milstead's rescue and shot and killed the subject.
Survivors
Constable Milstead was survived by his wife and an unknown number of children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Milstead served with the Fannin County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bonham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Thomas E. Milstead 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 Fannin County Constable's Office - Precinct 1, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas E. Milstead's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas E. Milstead Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas E. Milstead is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas E. Milstead was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Fannin County Constable's Office - Precinct 1 are honored on badge.nw.
