Prev Next

Guard

James Elliot

Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division — Huntsville, TX

Felonious

End of Watch July 17, 1908

Age 30

The Vigil Panel 22 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 123

Incident

On Friday, July 17, 1908, convicts at the Dewalt Farm in Fort Bend County and the Clemens Unit in Brazoria County executed a concerted escape plan. A gang of 10-12 convicts at the Clemens Unit attacked Guard James Elliot, and beat him up with a hoe. He died later that night. When Elliot was overpowered, the convicts took his gun away from him. The convicts – Will Howard, Will Westphal, Austin St. Louis and Will Dow - kidnapped a man named George Johnson, and fearing he would give information that would lead to their capture, shot and mortally wounded him. Austin St. Louis, about 22 years of age, is the one who killed Elliot and Johnson.

On Saturday, July 25, 1908, the decomposed body of Austin St. Louis was found near Hinkle’s Ferry in Brazoria County not far from the prison. An inquest determined that he died from gunshot wounds received during the escape. St. Louis was wearing a suit taken from George Johnson and a handkerchief containing $4 stolen from Johnson. The dead convict also had $26 taken from Guard Elliot.

No death certificate was recorded for James Elliot. He was reported to be 30 years of age and lived in Houston at one time. He was single and had a sister living in Springfield, Louisiana, and a brother living elsewhere in Louisiana.. He was buried in the Cheetham Cemetery in Colorado County. While his name was reported as "Elliott" in all newspaper accounts, his tombstone spelled his name as "Elliot."

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: neuraspine_01krbxtpzpt2hd0rm7213hs6bw
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 James. 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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Elliot served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Thank you for your service to the Huntsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Elliot.

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

Agency

Department Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division

Type Corrections

Location Huntsville, Walker County, TX

Platform Identity tdcjcidcorr.walker.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 17, 1908

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Blunt object

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James 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

James was 30. 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

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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