Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, Texas
End of Watch: Monday, July 14, 1890
Age: 21
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 14, 1890
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: one killed; one unknown
Two convicts at the Butterfield State Coaling Camp near Alto in Cherokee County (managed by the Texas Prison System as a work camp) shot and mortally wounded Guard Jesse Goodwin. Goodwin was left alone in charge of the camp hospital. The guards and convicts were all out on work details. One of the convicts in the hospital had been supplied a pistol from the outside. When Goodwin entered the hospital the convict leveled his pistol at the guard and demanded the guard’s pistol. Goodwin refused to surrender his weapon and the convict shot him. Goodwin ran outside. A trusty fired a shotgun at Goodwin, striking him with buckshot in the legs and hip. The two convicts fled to the woods with the weapons. One convict was shot and killed by a posse of guards and the dispostion of the other convict is unknown.
Jesse Goodwin died two days later with his father and sister at his side. His body was returned to Hempstead in Waller County for burial. Goodwin was between 19-21 years of age at the time of his death. No spouse or children were indicated.
On June 30, 1890, escaping convicts had murdered Guard Benjamin Williamson at the same prison coal camp.