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Deputy U.S. Marshal

John P. Fries

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch October 25, 1873
Age 24
The Vigil Panel 14 · Column 3 · Line 12 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 312

Incident

Fries was appointed a Deputy U.S. Marshal under U.S. Marshal Thomas Purnell of the Western District of Texas in Austin. On October 25, 1873, Fries was in Brackettville, the county seat of Kinney County, serving a warrant for desertion on a man and a warrant for murder and escape on a different subject. While speaking to several men, an assassin fired one shot through the window, and Fries was killed instantly. No one saw the assassin, but the men believed it was the man wanted for desertion. A $1,000 reward was offered by Kinney County, and an $800 reward by Texas Governor Ed Davis. In December of 1873, the Grand Jury of Kinney County failed to indict any suspects. It is known at this time if anyone was ever prosecuted. John P. Fries was appointed Sheriff of Kinney County on July 15, 1870, and was elected on November 8, 1870, but he resigned soon after. State election records do not record anyone serving as sheriff of the county until April 18, 1874, when Warren Allen was elected. All contemporary accounts of the murder report Fries as the Sheriff of Kinney County, and none mention his appointment as a deputy U.S. marshal. As was common during this period, men served as city, county, and state lawmen and were also appointed as deputy U.S. marshals. All available evidence indicates that this was the case with Fries. John P. Fries was born between 1849 and 1850 and was about 23-24 years of age at the time of his death. He was about 20 years old when first elected sheriff. No information as to whether he was married or had any children. His mother appears to have been deceased at the time of his death, but he was survived by his father, John Fries, and at least eight brothers and sisters. His place of burial is not known at this time.

Survivors

His mother appears to have been deceased at the time of his death, but he was survived by his father, John Fries, and at least eight brothers and sisters.

In Our Keeping

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Tributes

153 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Fries served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 25, 1873
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John 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 1873, 28 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 157th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 24. 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

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years

Deputy U.S. Marshal John P. Fries

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch October 25, 1873

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-E

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