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| Inspector William H. Phelps
United States Department of the Treasury - Customs Service
U.S. Government
End of Watch: Friday, December 18, 1868 Biographical Info
Age: 19
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, December 18, 1868
Incident Location: Texas
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Not available The village of Clarksville was located at the mouth of the Rio Grande River in Cameron County. Bandits from Mexico approached the small customs house and found Acting Deputy Collector R.R. Ryan standing outside. They spoke to Ryan in Spanish but he did not understand them. One bandit pointed his pistol at Ryan and they started struggling until Ryan was knocked unconscious. The bandits entered the customs house and found night inspector of customs William H. Phelps sitting on a cot. Without a word all of the men fired on him. The men used knives to mangle his body. Ryan revived and fled on foot under a hail of gunfire. The bandits went to the house of Captain James Selkirk and tried to lure him to the door but his daughter refused them entry. Mounted Inspector George T. Hammonds heard the gunfire and went to investigate. He entered Captain Selkirk’s house and learned they had no guns and when he left to go get assistance he was shot in both legs. He crawled back into the house but the bandits dragged him outside screaming, “kill him, kill him.” Hammonds replied, “I am already killed.” He was shot and stabbed to death. The bandits fled into Mexico after exchanging gunfire with other citizens.
Inspector Phelps was only 19 years old and was reportedly from West Virginia. Customs officers from the U.S. and Mexico attended the funeral. Both men were buried locally but the grave sites have not been located. Related Line of Duty Deaths | |
