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Private

T. E. P. Perkins

Texas Rangers — Austin, TX

Felonious

End of Watch November 7, 1918

Age 34

Tour of Duty 2 mo

The Vigil Panel 35 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 121

Incident

T. E. P. (Ellzey) Perkins joined Company L of the Texas Rangers stationed in El Paso County on September 1, 1918. His brother, James Clarke Perkins, had joined the rangers on August 25, 1917, and was the company sergeant. The rangers were investigating Ben Anaya, a rancher on the island near Fabens in El Paso County, whom they believed was a supporter of Pancho Villa, and was assisting Villistas in getting arms and ammunition across the border. The Island, where Captain Frank Jones was killed battling bandits on June 20, 1893, is on the international boundary through the island.

On Thursday night, November 7, 1918, Ranger Private Perkins and Special Ranger Joe T. Place, a farmer from Fabens, left the ranger camp at Clint and drove to within a mile of the Anaya Ranch. Place would later state that the rangers ran out of water and were getting water and repairing a hose when ambushed. It is believed they wanted to see if any activity was occurring at the ranch. Place’s report claims Perkins spotted riflemen in the brush and called to Place to take cover. The riflemen opened fire. Ben Anaya approached the car with his pistol drawn, but Perkins fired first and killed him with three slugs in the chest. Almost immediately, Perkins was hit in the stomach. With only his pistol and two bullets he wandered off into the darkness. Place was captured, placed on a horse, and rode back to Fabens for assistance, arriving about 8:30 p.m.

A posse found Perkins the next day near the ranch. He had been clubbed to death and mutilated. Anaya’s father was reported to have tracked Perkins and beat him to death. The elder Anaya fled to Mexico. Captain Davis offered Mexican river guards a $100 reward for his capture and return, but Anaya was never prosecuted. Ranger service records report that Perkins was killed in service and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum report his death as line of duty.

Sergeant J. C. Perkins returned with the body to Cameron, Milam County. Perkins was buried in the North Elm Cemetery in Milam County near the Yarrellton community where he was raised. He was survived by his brother, two sisters, and parents. He had been a Texas Ranger for 2 months and 6 days when he was killed.

Survivors

He was survived by his brother, two sisters, and parents.

In Our Keeping

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Last updated: August 2, 2026

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Tributes

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

— 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 November 7, 1918

Tour of Duty 2 mo

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Blunt object

The Sacrifice · Felonious

T. 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.

Compare against

Time

In 1918, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

T. was 34. 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. T. 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

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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 blunt object, in 1.2% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded