Grayson County TXGenWeb

On February 3, 1935, City Marshal Ches Estes went to the Depot Cafe to arrest Harold "Tommy" Locke for a rape that had occurred earlier. As Estes entered the cafe, two employees motioned for him to go back out. Instead Estes turned on his flashlight and started toward the darkened kitchen. Locke fired a shotgun blast that struck the City Marshal in the chest. He died at a Sherman hospital at 1 a.m. on February 4, 1935.
Estes was survived by his wife.
Marshal Estes' name can be found on the Texas Peace Officers' Memorial, located in Austin, Texas (37,C,04)

The Denison Press
Monday, February 4, 1935
pg.1

CHES ESTES, CITY MARSHAL OF WHITESBORO, MEETS DEATH AT HANDS OF DRUNKEN YOUTH
Blast From Shotgun Is Death Cause

Citizens of Whitesboro were at a boiling point Monday morning following the death earlier in the day of Ches Estes, City Marshal after he received mortal wounds when shot by Tommy Locke, Whitesboro youth, Saturday night as Estes attempted to arrest him in a restaurant on charges of a woman who claimed that Locke had attempted to assault her. Locke is under arrest at Sherman.
Estes was said to have been shot as he entered the restaurant to find Locke. The place was in semi-darkness and a single blast from a double barreled shotgun felled Estes. He fired several shots at Locke as he ran through the rear entrance to escape.
Locke was arrested later at his home by Sheriff Benton Davis, who said the youth admitted having shot Estes. Locke said that he had bought a quart of whiskey with money he had received...relief office at Whitesboro Sunday.
The death of the Whitesboro peace office brings to mind several times he had escaped death by guns in the hands of desperadoes. The most outstanding was the time that he had a running gun battle with 3 youths who staged a series of hijackings....
Ches Estes encountered the trio near Whitesboro and had a running battle, the 3 desperadoes escaping and coming to Denison to hijack Doc Combest as he was fishing at Munson park. The Combest car was later found in Paris, Texas.
The 3 desperadoes were finally caught, Woolard near Gordonville. Morgan was captured near Chickasha, Oklahoma and Craighead near Hugo.
Craighead finally escaped from jail at McAlester, Oklahoma, September 11, 1934 and was not heard from until February 1, 1935, when he was arrested near Durant, Oklahoma and returned to the jail from which he escaped.