El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-08-15
C0M5T0CK HAD
HANGED Z MEN
Also Routed Band of Horse
Thieves in a Running,
Fight, Killing Some.

The death or J. IT, Comstock rc-
moves from us one of the oldtime
frontier officers. 7 first met Mr..
Comstock in Menard county. Tex, in
1879 I was then with Capt u w
Roberts. company =. Texas rangers.
Mr. Comstock was for sometime
sheriff Of Nenard county. The Jail
at that place was not safe. Mr.. Com
stock usually kept his prisoners in
the Travis county Jail at Austin, and
the rangers frequently helped the
sheriff to guard his prisoners to Aus
tin and from Austin back TO Menard
for court. In this way 7 became
very well acquainted with Mr.. Com
stock.
a most singular and strange thing
occurred lille he was sheriff OF
Menard county. A negro soldier OF
the 10th United States cavalry, sta
toned ar Fort NChaVitt, which is IN
Nenard county. committed foul muir
der He was tried. condemned to
death and executed by sheriff Com
stock at Menard.
Hangs Negro in SnOvstOrm.
In those days. especially in the
frontier counties. executions we're
public In this instance the scaffOld
had been erected out on the open com
mons. it was winter and when the
day OF execution arrived. a fearful
blizzard was blowing. This neSro
was hanged by sheriff Cousuock, in
a binding snow storm.
II was a strange sight. indeed In
later years. while serving as deputy
sheriff Of Fl PasO county. under the
late James II. White. Ny ComstOck
was called upon 10 hang another sol
der. this time a white man This
man had killed a woman at old Fort
Davis. His case was transferred 10
FL paso county and he was convicted
and hanged at NSleta- then the coun-
ty seat OF Fl Paso county FL Paso
county. then as now, could always
be depended upon TO dish out good
Gather for any outdoor performance,
so this poor wretch was hanged un-
der the bright rays OF mid summer
sun
Nj Comstock did the hanging with /
prOmptneSs and dispatch After re-
firing from the sheriffs office OF I
grading outfit on the Texas & Pa /
cific railroad. which was then rap /
idly approaching FL Paso from the
east
Fight Cattle BustIers.
When the grade had reached about 4
where the town OF Van Horn now
stands. a bunch or rustlers raIded /.
the camp Of Mr.. COmstOck and stole
the greater part OF his work stock
He was too old an officer to let any
body get away with that kind or
pIav. so he quickly gathered together
such help as he could get in rail
road grading camp. followed those
horse thieves up through the Guade-
lupe mountains and overlook them
in the SacrauentOs. There he had a
running fight recaptured most Of his
horses and mules and. it is said, killed
n nF the TTTETIaTE
On his return he sold his teams.
came in 10 FL PasO and opened a
rOominE house down on san Antonio
street about opposite the home OF Mrs.
Marsh.
Becomes Railroad Guard.
The writer had come out TO FL Paso +
with Col. George W Baylor's rangers I
in 1879. On coming in TO Fl Paso /
Mr. COmstock at once hunted me up, I
and we renewed old acquaintance. ] (
was then with the Santa Fe railroad +.
guarding its trains TO prevent eN- /
press or train robbery Mr. Com /
stock said Jim, I don't like this
roominE house business 7 want +.
something else TO do" He said his
wife could run the rOOmlng house I
T introduced him 10 Capt Thacher. (
who was the division superintendent
OF the Santa Fe railroad.
Capt Thacher at once gave him T
position as train guard with me. Soon
cept q position as assistant marshal 4
under the notorious Dallas Stouden-
mire.
i Assistant City Marshal.
Upon the retirement Of Mr. Stou-
denmire, ] was made city marshal OF
FL Paso. Just at this time the Santa
Fe discontinued its guards. Mr. Com
stock was thrown out of a Job.
Through the city council I secured
his services as assistant marshal. He
served with me throughout the time
7 was city marshal. and when 1 re-
tired he also quit and became the
chief deputy sheriff under capt
James White His career from this
time up TO his death is well known
TO all old Fl PasOans-
Especially sad is Mr.. COmstocE' 8
death to me. as it removes by death
everyone Of the old police force that
served with me in 1882, 10 Wit "a
IT, Scotch. W P. Eaynor, W IT,
Wheat. George Harris and now Mr.
Comstock. II fOrcibly reminds me
that ere long 7 am to be laid beneath
the silent cIods OF the valley, TO Join
those restless and daring spirits who
have zone before