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James Jebty Pipes
Incident
Special Officer James Pipes was shot and killed in Houston, Texas, while protecting railroad property and employees during a strike.
Shortly after midnight, as the special officers were being escorted into the railroad shop enclosure near the Hardy Street crossing, a crowd of about 100 strikers surged around them to dissuade the men whom they believed to be strikebreakers from going to work. Railroad special officers were stationed inside and outside the enclosure. As Special Officer Pipes entered the shop yard gate he was shot and instantly killed. Three other officers were wounded and injured during the incident.
One of the wounded officers said the shots came from inside the rail yard by guards who mistakenly believed the special officers were strikers trying to enter the yard. The official company report stated the guns used by the special officers were of a larger caliber than the .32 caliber bullets that killed Officer Pipes. The local justice of the peace conducted an investigation and held that the shots most likely came from company guards inside the yard.
Officer Pipes was survived by his wife, daughter, and son. He was buried in the Athens City Cemetery.
Survivors
Officer Pipes was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Officer Pipes served with the Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Pipes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department has lost 23 officers; 8 of them lost to accidents.
James is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
James is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
James is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1911, 1 officer at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1911, 5 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 68th heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 1911, 29 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 115th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1911, 42 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 114th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
James was 40. Of the 7 lost to accidents at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 40; the middle age was 40.
James was 40. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35.
James was 40. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
James was 40. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
October holds 12.5% of these deaths at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department; July holds the most, 25%. Mondays: 12.5%.
October holds 8.6% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 14.6%.
October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
October holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 34.8% of all 23 deaths at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.2% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department has 23 officers remembered here, James among them.
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Samuel S. Leffler Nov 29, 1891
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Lenard Harris
May 16, 1894
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John Luckie Elsberry
Aug 16, 1895
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John Thomas Montague Jan 5, 1905
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Edward Shay Jul 13, 1909
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Joel Robert Dubose Sep 5, 1910
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James Jebty Pipes
Oct 2, 1911
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M. A. Moore Aug 30, 1912
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Scott Percy Yolton
Jan 6, 1918
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Edward Baker Sep 15, 1920
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James Nathaniel Malone
Jul 8, 1924
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Eveleigh Bollman Bates
Nov 8, 1924
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Printess Jackson Varnon
Mar 7, 1928
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George Durst Farmer
Jan 19, 1929
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William M. Schuldt Jul 2, 1930
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Henry Clyde Hatcher
Sep 23, 1931
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Lester E. Roland Aug 23, 1934
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John Baptist Bradberry Mar 16, 1935
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Jose Sancedo Aug 11, 1937
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Owen McManus
Mar 31, 1938
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George Richard Kebort Jul 8, 1949
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Oliver Columbus Grems
Apr 23, 1955
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Brice Leon Woody
Jul 23, 1965
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
