Morris County, Texas

Morris County Courthouse in Daingerfield, Texas

Morris County, Texas

Morris County is a county located near the eastern border of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 12,934. Its county seat is Daingerfield. Morris County is probably named for William Wright Morris, an early judge and planter from Henderson, also in northeast Texas. As of 2016, Morris County is no longer one of 25 prohibition, or entirely dry, counties in the state of Texas. Morris County is now "partially wet."

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN MORRIS COUNTY

POLICE DEPARTMENTS

Daingerfield, Lone star-Daingerfield I.S.D.,Jefferson, and Jefferson I.S.D., Naples, and Omaha

MORRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN DAINGERFIELD

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN DAINGERFIELD

MORRIS COUNTY CONSTABLES, PRECINCTS 1-4

James J. Hill Sr.

Daingerfield Fire Department firefighter

End of Watch November 9, 2000

James G. Hill‚ Sr.‚ 67‚ a 15-year member and former assistant chief with the Daingerfield Volunteer Fire Department‚ died on November 9‚ 2000‚ after suffering a heart attack at the scene of a house fire. He was the department’s Safety Officer. Hill was Fireman of the Year for three years. He also devoted many hours to the volunteer ambulance service.

Jess S. Henderson

Morris County Sheriff's Department, Texas

End of Watch Tuesday, January 23, 1923

Deputy Sheriff Jess S. Henderson accidentally shot himself in the thigh in Mount Pleasant, Texas. He was transported to the hospital in Greenville where his leg was amputated. He died on January 23, 1923 at 9:00 p.m.

Henderson was survived by his wife, Bertie Henderson, and children Willie Henderson and Ruth Henderson. He was buried in the Omaha City Cemetery.

Bio

Age 45

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire (Accidental)

Incident Date Wednesday, January 17, 1923

George W. Tucker

Constable George Tucker was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest a man for the fraudulent sale of a mule. The suspect was apprehended, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death. On March 17, 1913, the day he was to hang, Governor Oscar B. Colquitt granted him a respite of 30 days. A mob, angered over the respite, seized the suspect from the county jail and hanged him.

Constable Tucker was survived by his wife and young son and buried at Omaha Cemetery, Morris County, Texas

Bio

Age 36

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Lynched

Robert P. Story

Morris County Constable's Office - Precinct 4, Texas

End of Watch Monday, May 15, 1893

Probert P. Story was elected constable for Precinct 4 at Belden in Morris County on November 15, 1892. Belden is the present day City of Naples. Constable Story was trying to arrest a suspect who was drunk when the man resisted. Constable Story struck the man with his pistol. The suspect knocked his arm up and caused the pistol to fall to the floor and discharge. The bullet entered Story’s thigh and went upward, breaking his thigh and hip bones. Constable Story died on May 15, 1893.

The suspect was never identified in the newspaper and the disposition of any criminal charge is unknown. Titus County and Morris County could not locate any records of an arrest or a trial.

Story was survived by his wife Zephie and several children. He was buried in the Naples City Cemetery.

Bio

Age 37

Tour 5 months

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire

Incident Date Wednesday, February 15, 1893

Weapon Handgun

Offender Unknown disposition

F. M. Ledbetter

Morris County Constable's Office - Precinct 3, Texas

End of Watch Friday, December 16, 1892

Constable F. M. Ledbetter was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man wanted for assault. The suspect shot and wounded before being taken into custody.

The killer was executed on June 9, 1893.

Constable Ledbetter was survived by his wife and five children.

Bio

Age 36

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Executed in 1893