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Joseph Russell Sitter
Agency patch
Customs Agent

Joseph Russell Sitter

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch May 24, 1915
Age 51
Tour of Duty 28 yrs
The Vigil Panel 30 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 93

Incident

Customs Agent Joe Sitter and Private Eugene Hulen, of the Texas Rangers, were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a gang who had previously attacked him and murdered Inspector Jack Howard. In 1912 Agent Sitter had arrested Francisco "Chico" Cano and members of his gang for horse and mule stealing. On February 10th, 1913, Agent Sitter, Inspector Jack Howard, and a brand inspector again arrested Cano. As they transported him through the rugged mountains in Pilares Canyon, the man's brothers and friends ambushed the three lawmen. Inspector Howard was killed, while Agent Sitter and the brand inspector were wounded. On May 24th, 1915, Agent Sitter gathered a posse that included a fellow United States Customs Service inspector, along with three Texas Rangers, to capture Cano and his gang. When the posse arrived at Pilares Canyon they could see some stolen horses in the canyon. A disagreement arose amongst the lawmen as to whether it was an ambush. Agent Sitter decided to split the group and enter the canyon. One of the groups started up one side of the canyon when they came under heavy fire and retreated. They could see Agent Sitter and Private Hulen pinned down across the canyon and tried five times unsuccessfully to reach them. The three officers walked four miles to a ranch and summoned help. The next day a posse arrived and found Agent Sitter and Private Hulen stripped naked, shot scores of times, and their faces unrecognizable from having been beaten with large stones. Agent Sitter was buried in the Valentine Cemetery in Jeff Davis County. He was survived by his wife and at least six children. Cano was indicted for the murder of Agent Sitter and Private Hulen but he was never prosecuted. He became a captain in the revolutionary Mexican army. He retired to his ranch in Mexico and died there on August 28th, 1943. Agent Joe Sitter was a veteran lawman on the Texas-Mexico border. He had served with the United State Customs Service for at least 20 years and had als

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and at least six children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

28 years. You could have gone home.
Customs Agent Sitter gave the United States Department of the Treasury 28 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Customs Agent Sitter.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtuscsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 24, 1915
Tour of Duty 28 yrs
Age 51
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1915, 152 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 26th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 51. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 28 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service has 94 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Customs Agent Joseph Russell Sitter

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service · End of Watch May 24, 1915

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-E

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