Prev Next
Private

Joseph W. McKidrict

Texas Rangers — Austin, TX
Felonious
United States flag Texas flag
End of Watch April 5, 1894
Age 23
The Vigil Panel 33 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 121

Incident

Private McKidrict was shot and killed by a former Texas Ranger sergeant, Bass Outlaw, who was now a deputy U.S. Marshal. Outlaw created a disturbance at a bordello, and was chasing the madam, who was blowing her whistle to alert police. Private McKidrict and El Paso County Precinct 1 Constable John Selman, Sr., knew Outlaw and tried to calm him down. Private McKidrict asked him why he had shot his gun. Outlaw responded and then shot Private McKidrict in the head and back, killing him instantly.

Outlaw then fired at the constable, nearly striking him in the face. The constable returned fire, striking Outlaw in the chest, mortally wounding him. Outlaw was able to fire one more shot, striking the constable in the leg. Bass Outlaw was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in El Paso. His tombstone reads: "B. L. Outlaw, 1854-1894, 1st Sgt Co D. F.B., State Forces, Dpy U.S. Marshal."

Constable John Selman, Sr., was put on trial for killing Outlaw, but the judge instructed the jury to find him not guilty. Selman shot and killed the infamous outlaw John Wesley Hardin while he was playing cards in a saloon on August 19, 1895. While awaiting trial for that murder, Selman was shot and killed by Deputy U.S. Marshal George Scarborough on April 5, 1896, two years to the day of the shooting that killed McKidrict and Outlaw.

Private McKidrict was assigned to Company D in El Paso. He was buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas. His tombstone incorrectly states in his age as 32 and year of death as 1893.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpxfsjc336zatd6mn55b
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Joseph. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Private McKidrict served with the Texas Rangers.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— 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 April 5, 1894
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph 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.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1894, 70 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 103rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph 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.

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

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Texas Rangers has at least 120 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.

Across the years

Private Joseph W. McKidrict

Texas Rangers · End of Watch April 5, 1894

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-W

↑