| Notes |
- The following info from "100 Years in Bandera 1853-1953" by J. Marvin Hunter:
Elvious Hicks was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fabian L. Hicks, and was born December 29, 1879. He was married to Miss Pearl Harris in Bandera August 9, 1908. Two sons, Raymond and Walton, were born to this union. Mr. Hicks was engaged in farming and ranching, and was elected sheriff and tax collector of Bandera county in 1926, re-elected in 1928, and again in 1930. It was while serving his third term in this office that he was killed by a bootlegger or bootleggers on the night of March 19, 1932. An account of this tragedy is given elsewhere in this Edition. Mr. Hicks was a most efficient officer and a very popular man throughout the county. He died in the 53rd year of his age. His wife survived him some sixteen years, and passed away February 6, 1948.
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SHERIFF ELVIOUS HICKS MURDERED
Elvious Hicks was ambushed and killed at Mansfield Park on the night of March 19, 1932. He was serving his third term as sheriff and tax collector of Bandera county at the time of his death. He was born in Bandera county December 29, 1879, the son of Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Hicks, pioneer settlers of this section, and was fifty-three years old. From the Bandera New Era from March 24, 1932, we take the following account of his tragic death:
"Sheriff Elvious Hicks was ambushed and slain at Mansfield Park last Saturday night shortly after 12 o'clock. A few minutes later Ben Clark was shot and killed within a short distance of where the sheriff fell. A single-barrel 12-gauge pump gun was used in the slaying of Mr. Hicks, several shots being fired into his body. He died instantly. His pistol was found out of the holster, with all loads in the cylinder. It had not been fired. A flashlight which he carried in his left hand was struck by several buckshot, his left arm was badly shattered, and his body riddled with buckshot. As he was left-handed in using a pistol, it would have been impossible for him to have drawn his weapon after receiving the first charge of the shotgun. Ben Clark, attempting to leave the scene of the killing in a small Ford roadster truck, was shot three times with a 38-calibre pistol. In the car was found a 12-gauge single barrel pump gun, with four empty shells on the seat. It is alleged that when an attempt was made to stop him he fired two shots at Deputy Sheriff Billy Burns. The shotgun contained no shells when it was picked up, it is said. The slayings occurred a short distance from the dance hall at Mansfield park, where a dance was in progress. It is alleged that Clark and Hicks walked away from the dance hall together and when they reached a barn some distance from the dance hall several shots in quick succession were heard, and Deputy Billy Burns hastened to ascertain the cause. Further details in regard to the funerals of Hicks and Clark were given in that same issue of the Bander New Era, which are not reproduced here. Billy Burns, the deputy sheriff, was formally charged with the slaying of Ben Clark, and was granted bail in the sum of $1000, which was readily made. In district court Mr. Burns was acquitted for the killing of Clark. The county commissioners court in special session appointed Mr. Burns to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Hicks, and he held the office for nine successive terms, being defeated by Johnny Faris in 1950."
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Bandera County?s two lost lawmen
By Stephanie Logue
Published May 19, 2005
The Bandera Business Association held an appreciation day for law enforcement officers at at Bandera Plaza on Monday, May 16 to kick-off National Police Week, May 15-21. During its 150-year history, Bandera County has written two chapters on officers killed in the line of duty, Deputy Sheriff Jack Phillips in 1877 and Sheriff Elvious Hicks in 1932.
Phillips is believed to be the last person killed in Bandera County by Indians. He was headed to the Sabinal Canyon on business for brother-in-law and Bandera County Sheriff Buck Hamilton. At Seco Pass, eight miles northwest of Tarpley, the wagon road ran out, leaving only a horse trail over the mountain. Evidence at the scene indicated that Phillips tried to outrun the attacking Indians for half a mile before his horse was shot out from under him. The horse tumbled into a ravine and Phillips fled on foot, but was overtaken and killed.
A couple traveling from Sabinal to Bandera to get married discovered the wounded horse and Phillips? body. Phillips? body was stripped and mutilated, tossed facedown on the rock-strewn ground. The saddle had been stolen from the back of the injured horse. The horse, with a crushed shoulder, was unable to stand and was shot.
Sheriff Elvious Hicks, 53, was ambushed and killed at Mansfield Park on March 19, 1932. He was serving his third term as sheriff and tax collector of Bandera County. News clippings of the incident relate that Ben Clark and Hicks walked a short distance away from the dance in progress that night when several shots in quick succession were heard.
Deputy Billy Burns rushed to the scene and discovered Clark attempting to leave in a small Ford roadster truck. Clark reportedly fired two shots at Burns after Burns tried to stop him. Burns returned fire, killing Clark. Burns was later tried for that murder and acquitted. County commissioners appointed him as sheriff to finish Hicks? unexpired term. Burns held office for nine consecutive terms before being defeated by Johnny Faris in the 1950 election.
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1879 - 1932 (52 years)
