In the early winter of 1914, a dedicated lawman named James A. Mercer, a 42-year-old male, met a tragic end while carrying out his duties in Pima County, Arizona. On December 2nd, Mercer, who served as a County Ranger, was investigating a report of a stolen calf. Accompanied by a local rancher, he ventured to a small ranch located north of Pantano, a settlement in the rugged Arizona landscape. The purpose of their visit was to question a man by the name of J.
Padilla, who was suspected of being in possession of the stolen animal.
As Ranger Mercer and his companion approached the ranch, Padilla began to walk towards them. In a sudden and violent turn of events, when he was about seventy yards away, Padilla raised his rifle and fired a single shot at Mercer. The bullet struck the ranger in his left leg, just above the knee, causing a severe fracture and profuse bleeding. As Mercer collapsed to the ground, his assailant, Padilla, quickly turned and fled into a nearby canyon, disappearing into the unforgiving terrain.
Following the shooting, the wounded ranger was transported to a hospital in Tucson for medical attention. Despite the efforts of the doctors, his condition worsened. Nine days after the initial confrontation, on December 11, 1914, James A. Mercer succumbed to the severe loss of blood from his gunshot wound. In the aftermath of the fatal encounter, it is reported that the suspect, J. Padilla, successfully escaped into Mexico. There is no record indicating that he was ever apprehended or brought to justice for the death of the county ranger.
