Deputy Sheriff Simon L. de Leon

Simon L. de Leon

In the 1890s the area along the Rio Grande River separating Texas and Mexico in Presidio County was called the “Bloody Peninsula.” The name came from the bloodshed that was caused by outlaws and marauding bandits from Mexico. Deputy Sheriff Simon L. de Leon was shot and killed by Nermin Lujan in El Polvo (present day Redford). Lujan fled to Mexico and was arrested at Presidio del Norte, Mexico. The newspaper reported that Lujan was given a preliminary trial and will be remitted to Chihuahua for final trial. It also speculated he would probably be placed in the army and sent to the Yucatan. Deputy de Leon’s death was alleged to have been the result of revenge for having aided the peaceable American citizens in carrying out the law. It was reported the gang had sworn to kill the peace officers of El Polvo.

Simon L. de Leon was elected constable for Precinct 3 in Presidio, Presidio County, on November 4, 1890. There is a notation that he resigned before assuming office. He became a deputy sheriff under Sheriff S.R. Miller. There is no personal information known at this time about him.

Several weeks later on August 14, 1891, Presidio County Deputy Sheriff Toribio Pastrano was shot and killed in El Polvo when he attempted to arrest Antonio Carrasco for the murder of Texas Ranger Sergeant Charles Fusselman on April 17, 1890.