Roll of Honor
Incident
At approximately 12:00 noon, City Marshal James W. Brooks arrested Z. T. Trice for failure to pay a court fine, issued six weeks earlier. Trice was in his buggy with his wife, and on his way to Fort Worth to have his foot treated. After making the arrest Brooks had Trice sit down in a chair. Brooks was then apologizing to Trice's wife when Trice came up behind Brooks and cut him across the abdomen, and stabbed him in the heart. Brooks fell to the sidewalk and was pronounced dead by a doctor within two minutes.
Trice was arrested, and charged with the murder. On October 26, 1906, a Grayson County jury acquitted Trice. Brooks was survived by his wife, Nannie. He had seven children, of which four survived him. No cemetery records were located for him.
Trice was arrested, and charged with the murder. On October 26, 1906, a Grayson County jury acquitted Trice.
Brooks was survived by his wife, Nannie. He had seven children, of which four survived him. No cemetery records were located for him.
Survivors
Brooks was survived by his wife, Nannie.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-967E324E- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
City Marshal Brooks served with the Collinsville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Collinsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Brooks.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal James W. Brooks 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James W. Brooks's cause is highlighted.
How James W. Brooks Compares
Offender Outcome
Suspect acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James W. Brooks is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James W. Brooks was killed by edged weapon.