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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Walter Collins was shot and killed while investigating a gambling house, known as the Cattle Exchange, located at North 1st Street and Pine Street in Abilene.
The proprietor of the gambling house was a known gunslinger who had previously attempted to murder two deputies just for notoriety. In 1878 at the Flat, the riotous civilian settlement below Fort Griffin in Shackleford County, he and some other cowboys had planned to kill two special deputies for nothing more than notoriety. One of the deputies disrupted the plot by hitting the man in the head with his pistol before any lawmen were killed.
Deputy Sheriff Walter Collins and his brother, Frank, entered the man's saloon. New gambling ordinances were in place that had upset the gambling house owners. Words were exchanged between the Collins’ brothers and the man before a gunfight erupted. Deputy Collins and the subject were killed outright and Deputy Collins' brother, Frank Collins, was mortally wounded. Frank died on Friday, March 14th, 1884.
Deputy Collins was buried in the Abilene City Cemetery. No wife or children were reported in the 1880 census. He was a private in the Frontier Battalion of the Texas Rangers between the years of 1878 and 1880.
Another of Deputy Collins' brothers, Patrolman James Collins, was shot and killed in the line of duty while serving with the Meridian, Mississippi, Police Department on October 28th, 1888.
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142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Collins served with the Taylor County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Abilene community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Taylor County Sheriff's Office has lost 2 officers; 2 of them killed feloniously.
Walter is one of 1,461 officers killed feloniously in TX, 60.3% of the 2,422 remembered there.
Walter is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Walter 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 1884, 11 officers in TX were killed feloniously, the 44th heaviest of 180 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 19.
In 1884, 52 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 137th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1884, 54 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 136th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Walter was 28. Of the 1,330 killed feloniously in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 37.
Walter was 28. 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.
Walter was 28. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
January holds 7.2% of these deaths in TX; December holds the most, 10.4%. Tuesdays: 11.2%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 2 deaths at Taylor County Sheriff's Office. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.3% of all 2,422 deaths in TX, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 22.3% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Taylor County Sheriff's Office has 2 officers remembered here, Walter among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 16-W
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Taylor County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
