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Private Thomas Jefferson Goff | Texas Rangers, Texas
Texas Rangers, Texas

Private

Thomas Jefferson Goff

Texas Rangers, Texas

End of Watch: Thursday, September 14, 1905

Biographical Info

Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 13, 1905
Weapon Used: Officer's rifle
Suspect Info: Never apprehended

Private Tom Goff was shot and killed while escorting a prisoner to the Texas Ranger's camp in Brewster County.

Private Goff had arrested the subject for creating a disturbance in a saloon in Terlingua, which is located in the Big Bend area of Brewster County. There was no jail in the town so Private Goff, who was on horseback, lead the prisoner up a steep mountainside back to the ranger camp. The prisoner started down a different trail and the Private Goff tried to move his horse in front of him. The horse fell on Private Goff, which allowed the prisoner to grab the ranger's Winchester rifle from its scabbard.

The man opened fire, but missed with the first shot. Private Goff rose to his feet and reached for his pistol. The man fired a second shot which struck him in the spinal column. Private Goff rolled down the mountainside. He was later rescued but died approximately 24 hours later. The subject escaped into Mexico and was never prosecuted.

Private Goff had served with the Texas Rangers Company C for 12 years. He was buried in the Throckmorton Cemetery in Throckmorton County. He was survived by his wife and two children.