Deputy Sheriff Raymond Edison James

Raymond Edison James

Kimble County authorities received information that an army deserter had escaped from the jail at Rock Springs and boarded a freight wagon bound in the direction of Junction in Kimble County. Deputies Raymond James and J. W. Ragland, along with 2 freighters, were sent out to intercept the escapee.

When the suspect, Harrison S. McAlester, was located outside of Junction, he was ordered to stop and surrender. As McAlester stepped down from the wagon, he fired one shot from an army automatic pistol, which struck Deputy James in the abdomen. Deputy James was taken back to Junction, but later died on the operating table from the gunshot wound.

McAlester was overpowered and arrested by Deputy Ragland and taken to jail in Junction. McAlester stated he deserted from the U.S. Army in San Antonio on May 22. He was also suspected of being involved in two other murders in the Bexar County area involving several other deserters. McAlester was never charged in the Bexar County murders, however, his accomplices were.

Raymond Edison James was born at Pickton, Texas on September 16, 1887. He was married to Vara Pickett and had 2 children, Raymond, 3, and Vivian, 5. His mother, father, four brothers and one sister also survived him. He had only lived in Junction for one-and-one-half years. He was buried in the South Llano Cemetery.