Roll of Honor
Norton R. Moody
Incident
Dave Taylor held a dance at his home in the Woden community in southeast Nacogdoches County. Deputy Sheriff Will Alders deputized a private citizen, Norton R. Moody, to accompany him to maintain the peace. Deputy Alders and the deputized citizen attempted to arrest a man at the party. Dave Taylor told the lawmen not to enter the yard, and if they did they would be killed. Deputy Alders tried to explain that the men inside the house creating a disturbance had to be arrested. As Deputy Alders entered the yard, Dave Taylor pulled a revolver and shot Alders in the breast. Deputy Alders shot Dave Taylor two times, killing him. Moody went to aid Alders but was shot and instantly killed by Dave Taylor’s brother, Farmer (also reported as Palmer) Taylor. Farmer Taylor fled the scene but was arrested and jailed. In April 1907, Farmer Taylor was tried in Nacogdoches County and found not guilty.
The newspaper reported that Moody was buried at the cemetery at Pea Ridge. Unable to locate the cemetery or the place of burial.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, Cora Moody, and children Azzie, Elsie, Norman, Allen, Dave and Jesse.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-C319E300- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Deputized Civilian Moody served with the Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Nacogdoches community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputized Civilian Moody.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputized Civilian Norton R. Moody 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 97,756 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 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Norton R. Moody's cause is highlighted.
How Norton R. Moody Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Norton R. Moody is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
