Special Officer James Jebty (J.J.) Pipes
Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department
Railroad Police
End of Watch: Monday, October 2, 1911

Biographical Info
Age: 40
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)
Date of Incident: Monday, October 2, 1911
Incident Location: Texas
Weapon Used: Handgun; .32 caliber
Suspect Info: Unknown disposition

During a strike by railroad unions, the Southern Pacific Railroad Company sent four special officers, including, J. J. Pipes, Gordon Knight and S. B. Crockett, to Houston. Shortly after midnight as the special officers were being escorted into the railroad shop enclosure, a crowd of about 100 strikers surged about them to dissuade the men whom they believed to be strikebreakers from going to work. Railroad special officers were stationed inside and outside the enclosure. As Special Officer Pipes entered the shop yard gate, he was shot and instantly killed. Special Officer Crockett was shot in the left breast and seriously wounded, Captain H. S. Sisk was struck by a rock and a club, and Special Officer Knight was cut in the face with a knife and his nose was nearly severed. Crockett said the shots came from inside the rail yard by guards who mistakenly believed the special officers were strikers trying to enter the yard. The official company report stated the guns used by the special officers were of a larger caliber than the .32 caliber bullets that killed Pipes and wounded Crockett. Justice of the Peace Crooker conducted an investigation and held that the shots most likely came from company guards inside the yard.

Pipes was survived by his wife, Ella Holsomback Pipes, a daughter, Louise, and a son, James R. Pipes. He was buried in the Athens City Cemetery.