Constable John Pivoda

John Pivoda

Constable John Pivoda was shot and killed while filling in for the Schulenburg city marshal, who was out of town.

Constable Pivoda had received a writ from Caldwell County to arrest an unnamed man. He went to the freight depot to look for the wanted man, and from the suspicious sounds emanating from a box car he knew that several men were inside gambling.

He walked up to the car and, putting his head inside, asked who was there. Someone replied "Who are you?" and an instant later a shot was fired. The round struck Constable Pivoda about three inches below the left nipple, ranging downward, inflicting a fatal wound. The constable managed to fire one shot, and then fell.

He was taken home and given medical attention, but died on August 31st, 1894. In his dying statement he named his killer. In February 1895 the Fayette County sheriff obtained extradition papers on the subject who was reported hiding in Mexico. It is unknown if the man was ever arrested and tried for the murder of Constable Pivoda.

The Texas State Election Records report John Pivoda was elected the constable for Precinct 8 in Fayette County on November 8th, 1892, and was bonded on December 5th, 1894. He had served about one year and nine months.