Sheriff

James H. Black

Felonious
End of Watch November 16, 1884
Age 35
Tour of Duty
The Vigil Panel 8 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff Black was shot and killed after winning a hotly contested election for Sheriff two weeks earlier. The incumbent sheriff and two deputies helped a prisoner escape with the understanding that the prisoner would kill the sheriff-elect. The suspect went to Sheriff Black's house where he killed him. The incumbent sheriff and the two deputies were charged with murder. The escapee was later found dead.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Black served with the Lamar County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Paris community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Paris, Lamar County, TX
Platform Identity lcso.lamar.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 16, 1884
Tour of Duty
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

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.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 35. 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. James had served 0 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Lamar County Sheriff's Office has 4 officers remembered here, James among them.

Sheriff James H. Black

Lamar County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch November 16, 1884

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 62-W

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