Chief of Police Edward James O'Reilly

Edward James O'Reilly

Chief O'Reilly was shot and killed around 1:15 p.m. at Main and 5th Streets by a suspect he had arrested the previous day for impersonating a Texas Ranger.

On the previous day, Chief O'Reilly disarmed a local preacher who was representing himself as a Texas Ranger. When Chief O'Reilly confirmed that the preacher was not a sworn peace officer, he arrested him and brought him before the county attorney who released the preacher without any charges. The suspect, minister of the First Baptist Church, was upset that Chief O'Reilly had taken his weapons and on the following day drove by and shot him in the head with a shotgun.

He was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison but was released after four years and was later pardoned in 1943.

Chief O'Reilly was survived by his wife and child.