Prev Next

Private

Eugene B. Hulen

Texas Rangers — Austin, TX

Felonious

End of Watch May 24, 1915

Age 36

Tour of Duty 2 mo

The Vigil Panel 30 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 121

Incident

Private Eugene Hulen and Customs Agent Joe Sitter of the United States Customs Service 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.

Survivors

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

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: neuraspine_01krbxtnjamd0jtmmj2s7hd86m
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Eugene. 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.
Private Hulen served with the Texas Rangers.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private Hulen.

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

Agency

Department Texas Rangers

Type Other

Location Austin, Travis County, TX

Platform Identity tr.travis.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 24, 1915

Tour of Duty 2 mo

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

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

Who

Eugene was 36. 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. Eugene had served 0.2 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

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; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded