Deputy Sheriff Henry McCullough

Henry McCullough

C. B. Willingham was the first sheriff of Oldham County when he was elected on January 12, 1881. Sheriff Willingham appointed Henry McCullough as a Constable of Precinct One. On June 1, 1882, Sheriff Willingham asked and received permission to appoint McCullough as a deputy sheriff of Oldham County and as the town marshal of Tascosa. He was paid $25 per month.

On Monday, July 17, 1882, Deputy Sheriff Henry McCullough attempted to arrest Frank “Mexican Frank” Larque (also appears to be spelled Larqus, Larques and Largus) for a gambling violation at the Jenkins and Donnelly Saloon and Dance Hall in Tascosa. Larque was not going to jail, so he didn’t remove his pistol from his holster, but fired the revolver from inside the holster, hitting McCullough in the stomach, which killed him.

Henry McCullough was buried in Tascosa’s Boot Hill Cemetery apparently in an unmarked grave. No personal information is known about McCullough who had been on the wrong side of the law before becoming a lawman.

The outlaw was quickly captured fleeing to the New Mexico Territory. Frank Larque was convicted on September 12, 1882, and sentenced to 22 years in the state prison.