Special Agent J.A. McClure of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department met a tragic end on January 25, 1911, while attempting to arrest several men accused of stealing corn from a train near Abo, New Mexico. McClure and his partner had boarded the train at Belen to prevent any theft from occurring in the Abo Pass area. However, McClure's partner got off the train at a flag stop, leaving McClure to continue alone.
When McClure failed to return to the station, a search
was initiated, and his body was found three days later in a well, suffering from four bullet wounds. The investigation revealed that McClure had followed a trail of stolen corn to a campsite where the suspects, a father named Frank Howe and his two sons, Guy and Robert, were found. As McClure approached the campsite, the Howe men opened fire on him, resulting in his fatal injuries. Following the shooting, they dumped his body into the well on the property of one of the men.
The suspects attempted to flee to Mexico but were intercepted at the border crossing in Ft. Hancock, Texas. Here, they engaged in a shootout with law enforcement, resulting in the death of United States Customs Inspector Thomas L. O'Connor and the wounding of Justice of the Peace M.R. Hemly. Despite being wounded by Hemly, Robert Howe managed to escape along with his brother and father. The pursuit continued, involving Texas Rangers and New Mexico lawmen, until January 31, 1911, when the officers finally caught up with the suspects. In the ensuing confrontation, the father, Frank Howe, and one of his sons were shot and killed.
The detailed investigation and subsequent pursuit highlight the severity of the crime and the determination of law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice. McClure's death was a significant loss, and he was remembered for his 10 years of service with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department. He was survived by his child and sister, having been predeceased by his wife, and is buried at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
