Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Wallen, James A. |
Othernames |
J. A. Wallen |
Born |
1877 |
Birthplace |
Ezzell, Texas |
Notes |
Enlisted as a Private in Co. C on May 29, 1916. He promoted to Sergeant and transferred to Co. E on Oct. 1, 1917. Resigned June 11, 1918. James Wallen was an Inspector for the United States Treasury, in the Customs Division, and stationed in the Del Rio Valley of Texas, near the Texas-Mexico Border. He was killed in the line of duty, at age 45. Between 10:30 P.M. and 11:00 P.M., shortly before closing down the International Bridge for the night, he allowed two Ford cars to pass over to the Mexican side. The first car was driven by I. B. Baker, who was with his wife, the second car was driven by Mrs. C.O. Carruthers, who was I.B. Baker's mother inlaw, and her two children, who was 5 and 10 years old. The cars parked a short distance from the Ferry. Fellow Inspectors, Wallen and Watkins started driving back to town, they had a flat tire, and pulled over to the side of the road. Baker's vehicle drove passed them, while the second vehicle by Mrs. Carruthers and her young children, turned around, headed back towards the border. Being suspicious, Inspector Wallen went to investigate on foot. Inspector Watkins was unarmed and stayed behind to fix the flat tire. Within minutes, Watkins heard a volley of gunfire and seen flashes. They heard the children crying, and their mother shouting, "I told you so." Mrs. Carruthers then sped past the Inspectors car at a high rate of speed. Inspector Wallen was found, bleeding profusely, from a bullet wound to his chest. He died at 11:15 P.M. Officers from Del Rio arrested Baker and Mrs. Carruthers. Mrs. Carruthers claimed two Rum runners did the shooting, when Inspector Wallen stumbled upon them loading illegal liquor into her car. Inspector Wallen shot one of the smugglers, identified as Bob Bates, 2 times, but had discharged his pistol 4 times. Bob Bates was later located and arrested, convicted of murder, but later it was appealed and became a manslaughter charge. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison. Bates claimed Wallen shot first, and he shot back in self-defense. The appeals court later reversed that conviction and ordered a new trial. It is unknown if Bates was ever convicted of murder or not. Inspector Wallen was only with the Customs Service six months, though had conciderable law enforcement experience, including with the Border Patrol, Texas Rangers, Immigration Service, Val Verde County Sheriff's Office, and was the Deputy City Marshal of Del Rio. He was a widower at the time, raising his five children. He also was the grandfather of Inspector Richard Latham, who was shot and killed in the line of duty also, on January 27th, 1984, near the same exact spot he was killed, nearly 61 years later. |
Occupation |
Texas Ranger United States Customs Service United States Border Patrol Immigration Service Val Verde County Sheriff's Office Deputy City Marshal of Del Rio Ranch Hand |
Deceased |
03/06/1923 |
Deceased where |
Del Rio, Texas |
