Constable J. D. L. Johnson

J. D. L. Johnson

On Saturday, February 14, 1885, at approximately 4-5:00 p.m., Cooke County Precinct 5 Constable J.D.L. Johnson and Deputy Constables Newton Floyd and John Stewart, attempted to serve a writ of attachment on a team of horses and wagon owned by J.H. "Old Man" Rainey. Rainey and his son, J. E. "Jim" Rainey, were getting ready to cross the Red River into Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma) when the three lawmen confronted them. "Old Man" Rainey resisted the officers and told his son to shoot Constable Johnson. The younger Rainey shot Constable Johnson in the head and upper body, killing him instantly. The son then shot and wounded Deputy Constable Floyd.

J. E. "Jim" Rainey was sentenced to life in prison and his father, J.H. "Old Man" Rainey, received 20 years in prison.

Constable J.D.L. Johnson is buried in the Marysville Cemetery in Cooke County.

Precinct 5 no longer exists. Cooke County has only Precinct 1 and 4 today.