Constable John R. Agnew

John R. Agnew

Constable John Agnew succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous night while responding to a disturbance at a home approximately 1/2 mile outside of Bonham shortly after 10:00 pm.

The disturbance involved the wife of a man who was living with another man in a boarding house. The husband went to the boarding house and was removing his wife's furniture.

Constable Agnew had a warrant for the husband and went to the boarding house to arrest him. When he arrived at the location he observed the other man standing outside holding a gun. As he approached, the man fired at him, striking him in the arm, causing his bone to shatter. Despite the wound, Constable Agnew arrested the man and placed him in jail before summoning a doctor.

The doctor was forced to amputate Constable Agnew's arm due to the extensive damage. Constable Agnew was unable to withstand the shock of the surgery and died the following day.

The man who shot him was charged with murder but he outcome of the case is not known.

Constable Agnew was elected as constable of Fannin County Precinct 1 in November 1884.