Roll of Honor
Incident
City Marshal Clint Early arrested L.T. Barnett on a warrant out of Wichita Falls, charging Barnett with forgery by check in the amount of $800.00. Marshal Early left Bellevue about noon with Barnett to take him to Henrietta, the county seat of Clay County. Marshal Early's daughter reported him missing that night when he did not return home. Early's body was found about 9:00 a.m. the next morning in a dry creek bed north of Henrietta. He had been shot twice. His pistol was missing.
Barnett was charged and tried in Clay County for murder. He was sentenced to fifty years in prison. However, in 1966, Barnett was given a full pardon. Marshal Early had served as the Constable of Precinct 1 in Denton County from 1926 to 1928. The City of Bellevue no longer has a police department. He was survived by his wife and two daughters. He was buried in the Bellevue City Cemetery.
Barnett was charged and tried in Clay County for murder. He was sentenced to fifty years in prison. However, in 1966, Barnett was given a full pardon.
Marshal Early had served as the Constable of Precinct 1 in Denton County from 1926 to 1928. The City of Bellevue no longer has a police department. He was survived by his wife and two daughters. He was buried in the Bellevue City Cemetery.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
City Marshal Early gave the Bellevue City Marshal's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bellevue community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Early.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal Dewitt Clinton Early is one of 17,558 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,585 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.4 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dewitt Clinton Early's cause is highlighted.
How Dewitt Clinton Early Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dewitt Clinton Early is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dewitt Clinton Early was killed by handgun.