Mexia Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Saturday, September 26, 1896
Age: 46
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 26, 1896
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Arrested
Several young men, including Constable James E. Eubanks, decided to play a prank on City Marshal Tom Nowlin. The men succeeded in putting blank cartridges in his pistol. They went to Freedmantown and raised a racket. Marshal Nowlin went to quiet the disturbance. The men opened fire with blank cartridges and Nowlin returned fire not knowing he was also firing blanks. Constable Eubanks pretended to be wounded. Nowlin believed he was outgunned and returned to town to get another pistol and was returning to the scene when he was told it was a joke. The pranksters had retired to the depot when Nowlin arrived. He told Eubanks he would cut off his arm before he would play such a prank on a friend. Eubanks drew his pistol and fired two shots that killed Nowlin. Witnesses said they saw Nowlin draw his pistol as Eubanks fired.
Eubanks was arrested and released on $5,000 bail. The city council met and declared that Nowlin was killed in the discharge of his duties and voted to hire an attorney to assist the district attorney. The disposition of the charges is unknown at this time.
Nowlin was a widower and had five small children. He was also a member of the city fire department. He is buried in the Mexia City Cemetery.