Special Police Officer Green Paramore

Green Paramore

Officer Green Paramore was shot and killed on October 6, 1871.

The Texas State Police were formed during the administration of Texas Governor Edmund J. Davis on July 22, 1870, to combat crime statewide in Texas. It was dissolved April 22, 1873. There were 30 special policemen assigned as auxiliary officers throughout the state. Special Policemen Green Paramore and John Lackey went to a general store in Nopal in Gonzales County to arrest the infamous outlaw John Wesley Hardin. Officer Paramore went inside and Lackey stayed at the back door. Paramore told Hardin he was under arrest and demanded his two pistols. Hardin handed the pistols to him butt first, and then did a border roll, whirling the pistols and shooting Paramore in the head, killing him instantly. Officer Lackey opened fire but Hardin shot him four times before fleeing. Lackey survived his wounds.

Hardin was indicted, arrested but escaped jail and was never convicted for the murder. On January 22, 1871, Hardin had killed Special State Policeman Jim Smalley; on August 1, 1873, Hardin killed former State Police Captain and sheriff of Dewitt County, Jack M. Helms; and on May 26, 1874, Hardin killed Brown County deputy sheriff Charles M. Webb. He fled to Florida and Alabama where Texas Rangers arrested him on July 23, 1877. He was convicted for the murder of Deputy Webb on September 28, 1878 and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was pardoned on March 16, 1894 and was admitted to the state bar as an attorney. He moved to El Paso where he was shot to death by Constable John Selman, Sr., on August 19, 1895.

Paramore was survived by his wife and three children.