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Incident
In October 1885, brothers Ike and Joe Adair had too much to drink and raised a disturbance in the gambling room in the back of Page and Charlie’s Saloon. Deputy Parks heard the noise and went in to investigate. He walked up to Ike who was yelling and threatened to arrest him if he did not keep quiet. Ike drew his pistol on Parks who grabbed his arm to try to make him drop his gun. While they were struggling over the pistol, Joe opened his long pocket knife and came up behind Parks. Joe Adair slashed around Parks’ head with it. Parks drew his pistol and shot over his shoulder while at the same time he was trying to keep Ike from shooting him. The bullet passed through Joe’s heart, killing him instantly. City Marshal Jim Woods came into the gambling room about that time and Parks told him to take Ike’s gun as he did not want to hurt him. The father of the Adair’s was a local cattleman. As was the custom of the time, Deputy Parks was charged with murder. Parks was awaiting trial at the time of his death.
On Wednesday, October 28, 1885, Parks had accompanied a young woman to a ball in Colorado City. They left the ball around midnight and he escorted her home. Around 1:00 a.m. he was starting to cross a vacant block he was fired on from ambush. He was found dead by neighbors who heard the shot and moaning from the mortally injured deputy. He had been hit by 10 of the buckshot from a shotgun with three balls entering the neck and breaking the bone. The killer had obviously been lying in wait for the deputy because of the many foot imprints near a fence and under a tree. Tracks were found where one man appeared to have waited with two horses while one man walked to the hiding place.
Parks had been a deputy sheriff for three years under Sheriff R. C. “Dick” Ware. He was reported to have been a popular officer. He was reported to have been a Texas Ranger prior to joining the sheriff's office.
Parks’ body was sent to Meridian in Bosque County where he was buried in the city cemetery. He apparently was single and did not have any children. The newspaper reported that Parks’ family had been trying to induce him to return to Bosque County because they feared he would meet a violent death should he remain in Colorado City.
A Grand Jury investigated the case and many witnesses were examined, but no one was ever indicted and no evidence was disclosed that identified the assassin of Deputy Sheriff Wayne B. Parks.
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Tributes
141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Parks gave the Mitchell County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Colorado City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Mitchell County Sheriff's Office has lost 2 officers; 2 of them killed feloniously.
Wayne is one of 1,461 officers killed feloniously in TX, 60.3% of the 2,422 remembered there.
Wayne is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Wayne is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1885, 17 officers in TX were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 180 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 19.
In 1885, 62 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 121st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1885, 66 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Wayne was 32. Of the 1,330 killed feloniously in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 37. Wayne had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Wayne was 32. 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. Wayne had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Wayne was 32. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Wayne had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 7.2% of these deaths in TX; December holds the most, 10.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 2 deaths at Mitchell County Sheriff's Office. The weapon recorded was shotgun; 12 gauge, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.3% of all 2,422 deaths in TX, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun; 12 gauge, in 0.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun; 12 gauge, in 0.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun; 12 gauge, in 0.2% of these deaths.
His people
Mitchell County Sheriff's Office has 2 officers remembered here, Wayne among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Mitchell County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.