Our Unsolved Cases

 Deputy Sheriff Edd Williams was shot and killed during a robbery at an apartment complex on January 12, 1974.

Deputy Williams, who was not in uniform, was in the manager's office when two men entered and produced weapons. They forced the manager and Deputy Williams into an adjoining room and began searching the two men. Deputy Williams lunged at the suspect when the man discovered his badge.

The subject stepped back and shot Deputy Williams in the chin. 

The first case to be featured under the Fallen Hero Reward - Texas Remembers program is the 1974 murder of Harris County Deputy Edd Williams. On January 12, 1974, Harris County Deputy Edd Williams was murdered during the course of a robbery at the Victoria Manor Apartments (located at 830 Victoria Drive in Houston, in the vicinity of Tidwell and North Freeway). The suspects in the case at the time were two black males in their early 20s - who would be in their early to mid-60s today. At the time, Deputy Williams was survived by his wife - now deceased - and his then six-year-old son.

To be eligible for the cash rewards, anyone with information on the attack of Deputy Constable Clopton can provide anonymous tips in two different ways:

• Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
• Submit a tip online 
• DPStexas.gov

On January 12, 1974, Harris County Deputy Edward "Edd" Williams was murdered during the course of a robbery at the Victoria Manor Apartments (located at 830 Victoria Drive in Houston, in the vicinity of Tidwell and North Freeway). The suspects in the case at the time were two black males, in their early 20s – who would be in their early to mid – 60s today. At the time, Deputy Williams was survived by his wife – now deceased – and his then six-year-old son. The reward in this particular case was enhanced to $20,000.00 through the Fallen Hero Reward – Texas Remembers Program.

Constable Garsee was in a political campaign for Polk County Constable Pct 3, trying to win his 3rd term.  He was running against former Corrigan Police Chief Joel R. Lambright.  On April 7, 1984, the 62 year old Constable Garsee was by his barn at his residence just outside Moscow, Texas, feeding his horses.  An unknown subject pulled up in a pickup truck and shot Garsee 3 times in the chest from a half car length.  Local law enforcement and the Texas Rangers were unable to solve the case.  The fact that the killer was able to get so close suggests Garsee knew his killer.  The case has never been solved.

Garsee is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Barnum, Texas.

 On Friday, February 19, 1915, Caldwell County Sheriff J. Henry Franks and Lockhart City Marshal John L. Smith were involved in a confrontation at the county courthouse. News accounts report that Smith was formerly a deputy sheriff under Franks, and ran against him for sheriff. Smith reportedly cursed and abused the sheriff who went to his office and got a shotgun. The two men opened fire and Smith was killed. Sheriff Franks was released under a $3,000 bond after an examining trial and the case was referred to the spring grand jury.

On Wednesday, May 12, 1915 at 9:30 p.m. Franks was returning from a motion picture show to his place of residence in the county jail when an unknown assassin hiding beneath a cotton platform at the railway depot fired two shotgun blasts at him. The first missed and struck a telegraph pole, but the second shot struck the sheriff in the back, neck and shoulder with eight buck shot killing him instantly. Other county sheriffs and Texas Rangers came to Lockhart to investigate the assassination. Caldwell County Commissioners’ Court and the Texas Governor posted a reward of $750. Texas Rangers later arrested two men, but the charges were dropped.

John Henry Franks was elected sheriff of Caldwell County on November 3, 1908. He was re-elected on November 8, 1910, November 5, 1912, November 3, 1914 and served until May 12, 1915 when was killed. He was survived by his widow, Daisy Abbot Franks, and a 12-year old daughter, Gladys. Franks was buried in Section K of the Lockhart City Cemetery next to his wife, Daisy.

The killer of Sheriff J. Henry Franks was never apprehended and the case remains unsolved. 

-Officer Down Memorial Page-

 On Friday, February 19, 1915, Caldwell County Sheriff J. Henry Franks and Lockhart City Marshal John L. Smith were involved in a confrontation at the county courthouse. News accounts report that Smith was formerly a deputy sheriff under Franks, and ran against him for sheriff. Smith reportedly cursed and abused the sheriff who went to his office and got a shotgun. The two men opened fire and Smith was killed. Sheriff Franks was released under a $3,000 bond after an examining trial and the case was referred to the spring grand jury.

On Wednesday, May 12, 1915 at 9:30 p.m. Franks was returning from a motion picture show to his place of residence in the county jail when an unknown assassin hiding beneath a cotton platform at the railway depot fired two shotgun blasts at him. The first missed and struck a telegraph pole, but the second shot struck the sheriff in the back, neck and shoulder with eight buck shot killing him instantly. Other county sheriffs and Texas Rangers came to Lockhart to investigate the assassination. Caldwell County Commissioners’ Court and the Texas Governor posted a reward of $750. Texas Rangers later arrested two men, but the charges were dropped.

John Henry Franks was elected sheriff of Caldwell County on November 3, 1908. He was re-elected on November 8, 1910, November 5, 1912, November 3, 1914 and served until May 12, 1915 when was killed. He was survived by his widow, Daisy Abbot Franks, and a 12-year old daughter, Gladys. Franks was buried in Section K of the Lockhart City Cemetery next to his wife, Daisy.

The killer of Sheriff J. Henry Franks was never apprehended and the case remains unsolved. 

-Officer Down Memorial Page-