Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, Texas
End of Watch: Tuesday, June 20, 1944
Age: 56
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 20, 1944
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Guard Preston was shot and killed as four inmates escaped from the Wynne Prison Farm near Madisonville, Texas. The prisoners had somehow obtained a key to the prison arsenal. The entered the arsenal and armed themselves. One of the prisoners then shot Guard Preston as he sat in a guard cage. The prisoners then took over the main prison building, took control of the remaining employees, and then stole the warden's car.
All of the inmates were recaptured. The 42-year-old inmate who shot Guard Preston was sentenced to death but later had his sentence commuted to life. He died in prison of a heart attack on December 12, 1948.