Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Isham Fate Elder was shot and killed along with his brother, Deputy Sheriff Bud Elder, and Deputy Sheriff Jack Bailey. Local citizens Hiram and Henry Pullin were also killed while Deputy Sheriff V.O. Barfield, Deputy Sheriff William G. Butler, Deputy Christopher P. Dailey, and County Attorney F. R. Graves were wounded in the exchange of gunfire.
Shortly before noon on Monday, September 6, 1886, Sheriff Elder was sitting outside a polling place at Daileyville. Sheriff Elder observed two men ride into town, one of whom was wanted in connection with a murder that had occurred at Floresville in Wilson County. The two men dismounted and each took a Winchester rifle from a saddle scabbard. It was a violation of the law for carrying firearms within one-half mile of a polling place by anyone except lawmen.
The two men were employed by a wealthy rancher who believed Sheriff Elder had assisted in the killing of his son some 20 months earlier. The two immediately began shooting at Sheriff Elder. The sheriff drew his pistol and attempted to fire, but his pistol misfired. Another son of the rancher approached the sheriff from behind and fired a shot into the back of his head. Sheriff Elder fell to the ground dead.
Deputy Bud Elder was then fired on by the two men and seriously wounded but was able to wound the rancher. An unknown person then walked up to Deputy Elder and shot him in the head, killing him instantly.
Deputy Jack Bailey realized the bad tactical situation he was in and ran for the cover in a yard near the store with his pistol in his hand. As Deputy Bailey was in the yard, someone shot him and he fell. As Deputy Bailey was laying face up on the ground, he was then shot two more times. It later was determined that Deputy Bailey had never fired his gun. He had been shot in the right leg, and his knee was shattered, so doctors had to amputate his leg. He died from his wounds the following day.
Sheriff Elder had served as sheriff for 20 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-039887D0- 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
140 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Elder gave the Karnes County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Karnes City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Isham Lafayette "Fate" Elder 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 Karnes County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 7 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. Isham Lafayette "Fate" Elder's cause is highlighted.
How Isham Lafayette "Fate" Elder Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Isham Lafayette "Fate" Elder is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Karnes County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
