Incident
The Border-Wall feud divided San Augustine County into two warring factions. The patriarch of the Wall family was W. A. (Uncle Buck) Wall, declared himself pro-Union during the Civil War. This was an unpopular position in deep East Texas. Four of Wall's five sons became embroiled in the feud with the Border-Broocks family who were pro-Confederacy Democrats.
Lycurgus "Curg" Border and the four Wall brothers were all men who had been involved in shooting incidents, but each had been acquitted alleging self defense. The feud deepened in 1894 when the People’s Party swept the county and Uncle Buck Wall was elected county commissioner and his son, George, was elected sheriff.
The feud reached its peak when Curg Border shot Sheriff George W. Wall in the back with a shotgun in front of witnesses on April 21, 1900 in downtown San Augustine. Sheriff Wall was shot through the lungs and bowels and died from the wounds. Sheriff Wall had arrested Border for disorderly conduct a few months earlier and had refused to allow Border’s friends to make his bond.
George W. Wall was elected sheriff on November 6, 1894 and re-elected on November 3, 1896 and November 8, 1898. He was survived by his wife, Jane, and his daughter, Mary. His place of burial is unknown at this time.
Curg Border was indicted, but never tried in the death of Sheriff Wall. One month later, Eugene Wall, the sheriff's brother, shot and killed Border’s cousin, Ben Broocks. On June 4, 1900, Border and three of Broocks’ brothers wounded Sheriff Noel Roberts, Wall’s nephew, and killed his two brothers, at the courthouse. Border was never tried for those two murders. Eugene Wall was acquitted for killing Ben Broocks, but was assassinated by unknown persons on October 25, 1901. In November 1902, Border was elected sheriff, but was removed in March 1903 for stealing tax money. On May 7, 1904 Border threatened to kill then Sheriff Sneed Noble. Sheriff Noble shot Border in the head and killed him.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, Jane, and his daughter, Mary.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TX-AA1EFE47- Stewardship
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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.
Sheriff Wall gave the San Augustine County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Augustine community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Wall.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff George W. Wall 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 San Augustine County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 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. George W. Wall's cause is highlighted.
How George W. Wall Compares
Offender Outcome
Indicted but never tried
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George W. Wall is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George W. Wall was killed by shotgun; 12 gauge.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from San Augustine County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.