Posseman Henry J. Schnabel, aged 39, was a member of the Gonzales County Sheriff's Office in Texas. On June 14, 1901, he and Sheriff Richard Glover were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for the murder of Karnes County Sheriff W.T. Morris. The suspect had been waiting in ambush inside a home approximately six miles from Belmont and opened fire on the posse as they approached.
The suspect was subsequently arrested but was later pardoned by the governor of Texas.
Posseman Schnabel was survived by his wife and several children, and he was buried in Belmont Cemetery.
The tragic incident highlights the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the early 20th century and the complexities of the justice system at the time. Despite the loss of two officers, the pardoning of the suspect remains a controversial decision that raises questions about the fairness and effectiveness of the legal proceedings of that era.
