Erath County Sheriff's Office, Texas
End of Watch: Monday, June 25, 1877
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 25, 1877
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Sheriff James Mastin was shot and killed when he and a deputy went a farm near Stephenville to arrest a horse thief.
After searching the house the officers went back outside. The suspect suddenly stepped from behind a tree and opened fire on the officers, mortally wounding Sheriff Mastin. The deputy returned fire, wounding the man, who then escaped. A posse of Texas Rangers located the man on September 15th, 1877, and killed him in a shootout.