Bio & Incident Details
Age: 40
Tour: 10 years
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire
Location: New Mexico
Incident Date: 1/25/1911
Weapon: Handgun
Suspect: Not available
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Agent J.A. McClure was shot and killed while attempting to arrest several men for stealing corn from a train. He and his partner had boarded the train at Belen in an attempt to stop any theft from occurring in Abo Pass. His partner had gotten off the train at a flag stop and Agent McClure continued on. When Agent McClure failed to return to the station a search was undertaken. His body was found three days later in a well suffering four bullet wounds.
An investigation revealed that he had followed a trail of corn to a campsite where several suspects, a father, Frank Howe, and his two sons, Guy and Robert, had taken stolen corn. The men opened fire on him as he approached, killing him. They then dumped his body in the well on the property of one of the men. The suspects attempted to flee to Mexico but were stopped at the border crossing in Ft. Hancock, Texas, where they shot and killed United States Customs Inspector Thomas L. O'Connor and wounded Justice of the Peace M.R. Hemly. Hemly was wounded in the shootout but managed to wound Robert Howe. The suspects continued to flee and were pursued by Texas Rangers and New Mexico lawmen. On January 31 the lawmen caught up with them and shot and killed the Frank and Guy Howe.
Agent McClure had been with the agency for ten years and was survived by his wife, child, and sister. He is buried in Fairview Memorial Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Inspector Thomas L. O'Connor |
