Deputy Sheriff Reuben T. Mattox, aged 52, was shot and killed on June 2, 1900, while attempting to arrest a subject accused of assault near Quitman, Texas. Mattox, a male of Caucasian ethnicity, was part of a posse that located the suspect four miles south of Winnsboro. When Mattox attempted to arrest the man, he was shot and killed by the suspect's father.
The posse scattered, and Mattox's body was not discovered until the next day.
The suspect's father was indicted by the grand jury and tried for murder but was found not guilty. Despite the acquittal, the incident left a lasting impact on the community and Mattox's family, who included his wife and six children. Mattox is buried in the Winnsboro City Cemetery in Winnsboro, Texas.
The tragic death of Deputy Sheriff Mattox highlights the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty and the complexities of the legal system in dealing with such cases. His sacrifice is remembered and honored by those who continue to serve and protect the community.
