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James A. Wallen
Agency patch
Inspector

James A. Wallen

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch March 6, 1923
Age 45
The Vigil Panel 105 · Column 3 · Line 15 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 93

Incident

Inspector Jim Wallen was stationed at Del Rio in Val Verde County on the Texas-Mexico border. Between 10:30 pm and 11:00 pm, shortly before closing the International Bridge for the night, Inspector Wallen allowed two Ford cars to pass over from the Mexican side. The first car was driven by I. B. Baker, accompanied by his wife, and the second car by Mrs. C. O. Carruthers, mother-in-law of Baker, and her 5-year old and 10-year old children. The cars parked a short distance from the ferry. Inspectors Wallen and Watkins started driving to town when they had a flat and pulled to the side of the road. The first vehicle with Baker driving passed them, but the second car driven by Mrs. Carruthers turned around started back towards the border. Being suspicious, Inspector Wallen went to investigate on foot. Inspector Watkins was unarmed and stayed to fix the flat. Within minutes Watkins heard a volley of gunfire and saw flashes from the muzzles. They heard the children in Mrs. Carruthers’ car start crying. A woman shouted, “I told you so.” Mrs. Carruthers drove past the disabled customs vehicle at a high rate of speed. Inspector Wallen was found bleeding profusely from a bullet wound to his chest. He was reported to have died at 11:15 p.m. Officers from Del Rio arrested Baker and Mrs. Carruthers. Mrs. Carruthers claimed two rum runners did the shooting when Inspector Wallen came upon them loading illegal liquor into her car. Inspector Wallen shot one of the smugglers [later identified as Bob Bates] two times and had discharged his pistol four times. Bob Bates was later arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to five years in prison. He appealed the conviction, alleging he should have been charged with manslaughter because of his self-defense argument. Bates alleged Inspector Wallen fired first, but witnesses testified Bates shot Inspector Wallen first. The appeals court reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial because Bates was not allowed to make the argument of

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Inspector Wallen served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Wallen.

— 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 March 6, 1923
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1923, 199 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 45. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Inspector James A. Wallen

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service · End of Watch March 6, 1923

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 64-E

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