Deputy Marshal John P. Fries
United States Department of Justice - Marshals Service
U.S. Government
End of Watch: Saturday, October 25, 1873

Biographical Info
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Saturday, October 25, 1873
Incident Location: Texas
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Never apprehended

John P. Fries was appointed Sheriff of Kinney County on July 15, 1870, and was elected on November 8, 1870 and served until May 30, 1870 when he resigned. State election records do not record anyone serving as sheriff of the county until April 18, 1874 when Warren Allen was elected. All contemporary accounts of the murder report Fries as the Sheriff of Kinney County and none mention his appointment as a deputy U.S. marshal. As was common during this period, men served as city, county and state lawmen and were also appointed as deputy U.S. marshals. All available evidence indicates that this was the case with Fries.

Fries was appointed a Deputy U.S. Marshal under U.S. Marshal Thomas Purnell of the Western District of Texas in Austin. On October 25, 1873, Fries was in Brackettville, the county seat of Kinney County, serving a warrant for desertion on a man named McWebber and a warrant for murder and escape on a man named Mansfield. While speaking to several men, an assassin fired one shot through the window and Fries was killed instantly. No one saw the assassin, but the men believed it was McWebber.

A $1,000 reward was offered by Kinney County and an $800 reward by Texas Governor Ed Davis. In December of 1873, the Grand Jury of Kinney County failed to indict either Mrs. Fritter, or an African American man who was arrested and charged with the murder. It is known at this time if anyone was ever prosecuted.

John P. Fries was born between 1849-1850 and was about 23-24 years of age at the time of his death. He was about 20 years old when first elected sheriff. No information as to whether he was married or had any children. His mother appears to have been deceased at the time of his death, but he was survived by his father, John Fries, and at least eight brothers and sisters. His place of burial is not known at this time.