Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 8, 1924
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 7, 1924
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Special Agent James Malone was shot and killed near Uvalde, Texas.
Liquor smugglers on Southern Pacific trains between the Mexican border and San Antonio, Texas had been a special objective of Special Agent Malone for several months. He was riding a northbound train near Ulvalde, Texas, when he discovered a smuggler between two rail cars. The smuggler immediately opened fire, striking Malone three times.
He drew his revolver and returned fire, striking the man five times. As the smuggler fell from the train, he fired again, striking Agent Malone in the leg. The train stopped and picked up the deceased smuggler and Agent Malone, taking them to San Antonio. Special Agent Malone died just after midnight on July 8th, 1924.
Special Agent Malone was survived by his wife and one small son. An honor guard of two Texas Rangers accompanied his body to Del Rio, Texas, where he is buried. He had joined the Texas Rangers in 1916 and served five years. He subsequently worked for the U. S. Customs Service, where his father was employed. He then joined the Southern Pacific Railroad Police.