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John Luckie Elsberry
Incident
Location: Texas Weapon: Rifle Offender: Acquitted
Night Watchman John Elsberry was shot and killed in Valentine, Texas, while responding to a robbery.
During the night two masked men entered the general store in Valentine in Jeff Davis County. Asleep inside the store were U.S. Customs Inspector E.E. Townsend, a store employee and a railroad brakeman. The armed men took $325 from the safe. Unbeknownst to the robbers, a witness saw the men wearing pulled-up bandanas and carrying rifles as they entered the store. The witness ran to the railroad section house and summoned Night Watchman Elsberry, the railroad company’s experienced night watchman and a former senior Captain of the Southern Pacific Railroad’s watchmen in El Paso.
Night Watchman Elsberry went to the back door and knocked. The store employee hinted that they were being robbed so he fired one round to warn the robbers and alert the men around the store. The two robbers fled out the back door, directly at Watchman Elsberry, and started firing as they ran. The posse of eight citizens also opened fire. The men heard a cry of pain and Watchman Elsberry call out, “Oh my God! I’m shot!” Upon investigation Watchman Elsberry was found shot through the body by the robber’s .40-82 Winchester rifle. He died within minutes at the scene. The two robbers escaped into the night.
Two brothers were arrested and indicted. One produced an alibi, but the other was convicted of the robbery and sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, he was acquitted of Watchman Elsberry's murder. He appealed the robbery conviction and was later acquitted. The crime remains legally unsolved.
Night Watchman Elsberry was survived by his wife and three children. His place of burial remains unknown.
Survivors
Night Watchman Elsberry was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Night Watchman Elsberry served with the Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department has lost 23 officers; 15 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
John is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1895, 1 officer at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1895, 4 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 101st heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1895, 74 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 95th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1895, 77 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 95th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 41. Of the 15 killed feloniously at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 42; the middle age was 38.
John was 41. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35.
John was 41. 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.
John was 41. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
August holds 20% of these deaths at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department; March holds the most, 20%. Fridays: 20%.
August holds 9% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15.1%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 65.2% of all 23 deaths at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 13.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 8.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department has 23 officers remembered here, John 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 44-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.
