City Marshal William A. Clark

City Marshal William A. Clark

Jacksonville Police Department, Texas

End of Watch Thursday, August 30, 1883

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William A. Clark

City Marshal William Clark was shot and killed while confronting a man he observed carrying a pistol in violation of the city ordinance.

Marshal Clark confronted the man, who had the pistol in his hand, and demanded that he surrender the weapon. The man refused, cocked the pistol, and told Marshal Clark not to approach him. The man then crossed the street, and the marshal followed. The subject then shot at Marshal Clark, the second shot striking him in the bowels. Both men then emptied their .44 caliber pistols at each other. The marshal started walking down the street and told the gathering crowd that he had been killed. The subject went to his father’s house, retrieved a shotgun, and came back searching for Marshal Clark. The man was arrested before he could shoot the marshal with the shotgun.

The subject was convicted of manslaughter in the death of Marshal Clark and sentenced to four years in prison. He appealed, and the case was reversed due to a technicality. The state never established the date and time of the homicide or the county. The man was retried in June of 1885 and sentenced to two years in prison.

Marshal Clark died two days later, on Thursday, August 30th, 1883. He gave a dying declaration and said goodbye to his wife and friends before dying. He was survived by his wife and at least two children.

He was buried in the Jacksonville City Cemetery, Cherokee County, Texas. He was a Confederate Army veteran.

Bio

  • Age 39
  • Tour Not available
  • Badge Not available
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Incident Date Tuesday, August 28, 1883
  • Weapon Handgun; .44 caliber
  • Offender Sentenced to 2 years

weapons violation

Most Recent Reflection

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City Marshal Clark,
On today, the the 140th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Jacksonville.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

August 30, 2023

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