Deputy Collector Richard W. Wallace
United States Department of the Treasury - Customs Service
U.S. Government
End of Watch: Thursday, November 30, 1899

Biographical Info
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 5 months
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Thursday, November 30, 1899
Incident Location: Texas
Weapon Used: Rifle; Winchester
Suspect Info: Escaped

Around 8:00 p.m. U.S. Customs Deputy Collector Richard W. “Dick” Wallace was killed about 20 miles north of Presidio while transporting a prisoner and contraband goods to the town. While passing a dangerous place about 200 yards from Rio Grande River near the Spencer Ranch, Wallace was ambushed by four men hiding on both sides of the road. He was shot and killed and the men escaped with the prisoner and contraband goods into Mexico. Wallace was found a few hours later by Mr. Spencer, who went to search for him. When found, Wallace was lying in his own blood with a Winchester wound to the head. Presidio is on the border in the Big Bend of the Rio Grande River, between Eagle Pass and El Paso, and is known as the Bloody Peninsula.

Wallace was buried in the City Cemetery in San Antonio. There is no information available at this time as to his marital status or any children. The newspaper reported that Wallace was a well known African American Republican politician in Presidio County. He had been appointed a deputy customs collector for the Saluria District with headquarters in Presidio five months earlier.