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Incident
On Tuesday, June 9, 1874, Bosque County Deputy Sheriff Jabez C. Pierson was transporting prisoner M. H. "Bud" Galbreath by horse and wagon from Comanche to Meridian where Galbreath was to be tried for rape. Galbreath was chained. Somehow during the trip along the Bosque River, Galbreath gained possession of Deputy Pierson's pistol, then shot and killed Deputy Sheriff Pierson. Pierson's body was found in the wagon.
M. H. "Bud" Galbreath, 17 years old, AKA: Gelbrath and Galbraith, had been running with the notorious John Wesley Hardin gang when he was arrested by Texas Rangers in Comanche County. Galbreath escaped from the scene where he murdered Deputy Pierson and fled to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).
Galbreath was arrested in the Indian Territory in 1897. He was brought back to Meridian and tried in 1898, twenty-four years after the murder of Deputy Pierson. The jury gave the following ruling: "We the Jury find the defendant guilty of manslaughter and as the offense was committed more than three years prior to the finding of this indictment we find him not guilty of that offense, signed Ed M. Kisick, Foreman". and "It is therefore considered ordered and adjudged by the court the defendant M. H. Galbreath be immediately discharged from all further liability upon the charge for which he has herein been tried and that he go hence without delay".
Jabez C. Pierson was a Confederate War Veteran. He served in Co. B, 31st Texas Calvary C. S. A. In 1875 Bosque County Sheriff John A. Biffle while writing about Galbreath said...."he killed one of the best men in Texas [J.C. Pierson]". Jabez C. Pierson is buried in Section M, Meridian City Cemetery, Meridian, Texas.
Galbreath was arrested in the Indian Territory in 1897. He was brought back to Meridian and tried in 1898, twenty-four years after the murder of Deputy Pierson. The jury gave the following ruling: "We the Jury find the defendant guilty of manslaughter and as the offense was committed more than three years prior to the finding of this indictment we find him not guilty of that offense, signed Ed M. Kisick, Foreman". and "It is therefore considered ordered and adjudged by the court the defendant M. H. Galbreath be immediately discharged from all further liability upon the charge for which he has herein been tried and that he go hence without delay".
Jabez C. Pierson was a Confederate War Veteran. He served in Co. B, 31st Texas Calvary C. S. A. In 1875 Bosque County Sheriff John A. Biffle while writing about Galbreath said...."he killed one of the best men in Texas [J.C. Pierson]". Jabez C. Pierson is buried in Section M, Meridian City Cemetery, Meridian, Texas.
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Tributes
152 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Pierson served with the Bosque County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Meridian community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Bosque County Sheriff's Office has lost 4 officers; 4 of them killed feloniously.
Jabez is one of 1,461 officers killed feloniously in TX, 60.3% of the 2,422 remembered there.
Jabez is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Jabez is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1874, 11 officers in TX were killed feloniously, the 44th heaviest of 180 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 19.
In 1874, 34 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 151st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1874, 35 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 152nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
When
June holds 10.3% of these deaths in TX; December holds the most, 10.4%. Tuesdays: 11.2%.
June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
June holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 4 deaths at Bosque County Sheriff's Office.
Felonious deaths account for 60.3% of all 2,422 deaths in TX, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Bosque County Sheriff's Office has 4 officers remembered here, Jabez among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Bosque County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
