This is famous Texas ranger Ernest St. Leon, better known as Diamond Dick. He was given the nickname Diamond Dick because of a large diamond pin “of great value” that he constantly wore, a gift from his mother. He was mortally wounded in a gunfight just south of El Paso in 1898. I am also posting a photo of his grave that I took last week in the Concordia Cemetery in El Paso. Finally, here is a fascinating account of the gunfight that appeared in the newspaper at the time. It comes courtesy of the wonderful Tales from the Morgue column on the El Paso Times website: DIAMOND DICK WOUNDED! __ New Orleans Physician Instantly Killed by a Bullet __ FIGHT WITH COWBOYS __ The Famous Ranger Attempted to Make an Arrest in Socorro Township and the Encounter May Result in His Death – Three Men In Jail Charged With Murder – Cowboys Claim They Were Waylaid. __ As the result of a bloody fight, which occurred in the suburbs of Socorro, Monday night, Dr. Oscar J. Breaux, of New Orleans, is dead, Diamond Dick, of the Rangers, is lying seriously wounded at Ysleta, and Bob Finley, John Collier and John Ray are in the El Paso county jail, charged with murder. One of them John Ray, is suffering with an ugly bullet hole through his right thigh. Monday afternoon, E. St. Leon, better known as “Diamond Dick,” a ranger belonging to Capt. Hughes’ company, went to Socorro, in the valley sixteen miles below El Paso, in search of an old offender of the law. The justice of the peace of Socorro called on the ranger to arrest John Collier and Bob Finley whom the justice said were forcibly taking two stray horses out of the town pound. Diamond Dick arrested the men, as requested, and when they informed him that they were only getting their own horses, which a Mexican had turned loose so they would be impounded the good natured young ranger persuaded the justice to discharge the men and to dismiss the charges against them. PARTED AS FRIENDS Collier and Finley thanked Diamond Dick for his good offices and, as it was getting dark the men shook hands and parted, the ranger to return to camp near Lemaire’s ranch in the outskirts of the Socorro township. Shortly after the men parted Diamond Dick heard a fusillade of shots in the direction taken by Finley and Collier so he turned his horse and galloped after them. The justice of the peace called to the ranger and warned him not to follow the men; but Diamond Dick called on Dr. Oscar J. Breaux to aid him in arresting the men for the discharging of their fire arms in such a dangerous and reckless manner, and pushed on in pursuit accompanied by the doctor. After riding to within a short distance of Lemaire’s house the ranger realized that the men he was after had given him the slip and were coming up behind him, so he and Dr. Breaux dismounted to await the approach of the horsemen who were heard coming. In a few minutes two or three horseman rode up in the dark and Diamond Dick called on them to surrender. The men replied to the command with a volley from their pistols or rifles, owing to the darkness the officer could not tell which. Diamond Dick was quick to realize that he had a hot fight on his hands and in an instant his 45 Colt was barking a lively response to the foe. BULLETS WHISTLED For a few seconds the road was alive with whistling bullets. Dr. Breaux, who had taken no part in the fight, fell dead with a bullet through his head, it having entered through the right ear. Then Diamond Dick staggered across the road wounded unto death, and the horsemen galloped away in the darkness. The bullet which wounded Diamond Dick went through his left arm just below the shoulder and entering the ranger’s side pierced the left lung. Men at Lemaire’s ranch went to the assistance of Diamond Dick and his dead comrade. The ranger went to Ysleta and placed himself in the care of Dr. Knoblaugh, and when last heard from his condition was critical. John Collier, Bob Finley and John Ray, who, it appears, joined the first two after they parted with the ranger, in Socorro, went to Clint and surrendered themselves to Justice R. J. Carr. Ray was suffering from an ugly wound in the right thigh and Finley’s horse was wounded in the neck. The plunging of the horses prevented the ranger from doing more effective shooting. Yesterday morning Capt. Jno. R. Hughes of the rangers, brought Collier, Finley and Ray to this city and placed them in jail on warrants issued by Justice Darwood of this city, charging the men with the murder of Dr. Breaux and with assault to kill E. St. Leon. Dr. Oscar J. Breaux, the murdered man, came to El Paso from New Orleans, where he has a family, about three months ago. He said he was out here for his health. He was about 30 years old and was practicing medicine at Socorro to make his expenses. THE PRISONERS At the county jail yesterday, Collier and Finley were confined in a cell on the first floor and were permitted to receive visitors. Ray was on the second floor in the large cell used as a hospital for sick or wounded prisoners. He limped to the small opening in the cell door, when called upon by a Times reporter. When asked about the shooting, he said he did not care to discuss it, but referred the reporter to his lawyer, Mesrs. Falvey and Davis. Before leaving the bars he remarked, however, that he and his companions were waylaid by the ranger and the deputy and given no opportunity to surrender. The two men down stairs positively declined to say a word for publication, and when questioned, said Major Falvey might tell their side of the story, but they wouldn’t. From other persons who had talked with the prisoners, it was learned that they claimed to have been fired upon before surrender was demanded. They said Collier and Ray were riding the same horse. The first shot fired broke the animal’s neck and they were thrown to the ground, but got up and commenced to shoot at their assailants, with the results as already told. Finley, they said, was not near the spot when the shooting occurred, and took no part in it. Belen is the name of the railway station nearest where the encounter took place. The fight was about one mile from Belen, which is situated in Socorro township. John Collier, one of the prisoners, was for a long time employed as a cowboy by Capt. Chas. Davis of this city. Last winter he dealt faro at the Monte Carlo. Bob Finley is a cattleman of Alpine. When the Holland case was on trial he was one of the witnesses for the state. For about six months past he has spent his time in El Paso, spending money freely. About midnight a couple of friends of the wounded ranger left Ysleta and reported that the doctor stated St. Leon was dying.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 17:06:56 +0000
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