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Private

Homer White

Texas Rangers — Austin, TX

Felonious

End of Watch February 4, 1908

Age 23

Tour of Duty 2 mo

The Vigil Panel 22 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 121

Incident

Mamie Ledford and Myrtle King took the train from Fort Worth to Weatherford. Mrs. Ledford had left her husband for a man named E. S. (Stoke) Clark. Mamie called Stoke Clark in Fort Worth and told him they were in Weatherford, and he said he would arrive on the next train. She approached Texas Ranger Private Homer White and ask him to accompany them because she expected a confrontation. Clark arrived in Weatherford and confronted Ledford. The argument escalated at the train depot. Several citizens approached Ranger White and requested he intervene and arrest Clark. White refused, but the witnesses were insistent. Ranger White then stated he was going to arrest Clark.

Ranger White approached Clark and told him to put up his hands because he was under arrest. Both men opened fire at close range. White collapsed on the depot platform, wounded twice, and died within minutes without making a statement. Clark was seriously wounded, and arrested. Clark and Ledford contended that they were not arguing, and Ranger White never identified himself and opened fire first, and Clark returned fire to protect himself.

Clark was tried and convicted in Parker County on November 18, 1908 of second degree murder and sentenced to 7 years in the state penitentiary. Clark appealed and on May 26, 1909, his case was reversed. He was never convicted for the death of Ranger White. Clark was implicated, but never charged, in the murder of Fort Worth Policeman William Campbell on August 12, 1909.

Homer White was 23 years of age and single when he was killed in the line of duty. He had been appointed to Company A of the Texas Rangers on December 1, 1907, and had arrived in Weatherford only 30-days earlier. He was buried in the Graves-Gentry Cemetery in Hamilton, Hamilton County.

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Last updated: September 9, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Private White served with the Texas Rangers.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Private White.

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

Agency

Department Texas Rangers

Type Other

Location Austin, Travis County, TX

Platform Identity tr.travis.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 4, 1908

Tour of Duty 2 mo

Age 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Homer is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1908, 129 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 35th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Homer was 23. 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. Homer had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .38 caliber, in 0.8% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded