Samuel E. Lindsey, better known as "Sam", was born September 1, 1846, in Arkansas; his parents were both born in Tennessee. He was boarding with the M.J. Bradley family in Rains County according to the census information, recorded on June 1880 and was occupied in farming. John S. McConnell had been elected on November 2, 1886 to serve his 2nd term.
One day later, Deputy Sheriff Lindsey was shot and killed in the line of duty on Wednesday, November 3, 1886. Slightly differing accounts of the events were reported in local newspapers. According to the November 4, 1886 Dallas Morning News, Deputy Sheriff Sweatte of Waxahachie left town on November 1 in pursuit of George (Joe) Stroud and Henry Sneed, both Negroes, who were charged with horse theft; they had run away from Capt. E.P. Anderson's farm near Italy, Ellis Co., taking horses on which Capt. Anderson had a mortgage. (Waxahachie Enterprise, November 5, 1886).
Henry Sneed was captured and placed in the Kaufman County jail while Joe Stroud escaped as far as Rains County, near Emory, before being overtaken. Another news report from Greenville reports that Joe Stroud and a pal were together when the posse of citizens found them. As the officers and posse approached the camp, they were fired upon. Three shots were fired, one hitting and killing Deputy Lindsey instantly. Henry Sneed was then killed by a member of the posse while resisting arrest.
A similar report appeared in The Brooklyn Eagle, Brooklyn, New York on November 4. However, the Austin Daily Statesman item of November 4, 1886 states that the two Negroes fled and were being pursued by officers. Samuel E. Lindsey is buried in a lonely grave at the far southern end in the oldest section of the Emory City Cemetery, with his tombstone bearing the epitaph which chronicles his death.
Terry Baker, retired Dallas County Sheriff's Assistant Chief Deputy, researches the circumstances surrounding fallen officers' deaths in an effort to add their names to state and national memorials. His project began in 1994 with research about a Dallas County deputy who was shot and killed while on duty; in the course of his research, Mr. Baker discovered another officer who had not been recognized.
As of March 2004 Mr. Baker has successfully researched, documented, and added 133 names for peace officers who died in the line of duty to the memorials. Upon receipt of documentation from Baker for the death of Samuel E. Lindsey in the line of duty, Sheriff Richard Wilson signed an Affidavit in January 2004 needed to place Deputy Lindsey's name on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial as well as the Texas Peace Officers' Memorial.
The Texas Peace Officers' Memorial, located at the west wall of the Sam Houston Building, honors officers who died in the line of duty since August 5, 1823. To be included on this wall, documented findings must be submitted at two regularly scheduled Commission meetings and published in the Texas Register before being inducted into the Memorial. (http://www.tcleose.state.tx.us/TPOM/TPOM.htm) The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., dedicated in 1991, honors all federal, state and local law enforcers; over 15,000 officers' names have been inscribed on the Memorial, dating back to 1792. (http://www.nleomf.com/)
It is hoped that unknown relatives of Samuel E. Lindsey will be located and represent him at the dedication of his name to the above-mentioned memorials. Please contact Terry Baker at 3104 Mayhew Drive, Dallas, Texas 75228-2722; telephone 972-279-3980 or email twjabaker@aol.com. Any relatives are urged to contact Mr. Baker, who will give them a complete copy of my research as well as seeing that to it that they are invited to attend the memorial services in Washington, D.C. and in Austin, Texas.
In addition to the Texas Peace Officers' Memorial in Austin and The National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial in Washington, D. C., Samuel E. Lindsey's name will be added to the Sheriff's Association of Texas Lost Lawman Memorial at 1601 South IH-35 in Austin. The Lost Lawman Memorial was first dedicated on May 15, 1994, and is for Texas Sheriffs, deputies and jailers that have been killed in the line of duty. (http://www.txsheriffs.org/memorial.asp)