Geronimo Parra

Geronimo Parra was the name of a long time criminal who was known around the Texas-New Mexico border area. He was one of the last outlaws executed by hanging in El Paso in early January, 1900. Some ten years earlier, Parra had been accused of killing Texas Ranger Charles H. Fusselman some ten years earlier.

Fusselman was allegedly killed by Parra on April 17, 1890 as the lawman was attempting to pursue and apprehend a group of cattle thieves he had tracked to a place about eight miles outside of El Paso. Fusselman was stationed elsewhere but he happened to be in town to attend court. He had volunteered to help the local lawmen since the deputy sheriff could not leave the office. George Herold, another officer, and John Barnes, owner of the cattle, were assisting Fusselman at the time. Barnes’ cattle had been stolen the day before and he had come to town to seek help in recovering them. Herold and Fusselman offered to help and headed with Barnes out to track the herd up into the Franklin Mountains. Herold and Fusselman were in the lead with Barnes trailing behind. They had come to a pass in the mountains and had just spotted a herd of about thirty horses and no suspects when the group took fire. Fusselman fell right away, mortally wounded.

Herold (sometimes spelled Harold) retreated as he returned fire with Barnes joining the gunfight in Herold’s defense. Herold got out of range, evaded any pursuers and returned to town, passing on news of the attack. A posse was quickly organized. They succeeded in recovering the stolen cattle but the thieves had escaped. Some nine years later, Texas Ranger Captain John R. Hughes had discovered that Geronimo Parra, the accused leader of the gang, was incarcerated in Santa Fe, New Mexico, serving time for another crime. Hughes had been a corporal under Captain Frank Jones and was appointed to succeed Jones after Jones’ line of duty death in 1893. Parra’s sentence was nearly over and Captain Hughes assisted by Pat Garrett began the procedure to take custody of the prisoner for trial in the Fusselman killing.

The legal proceedings continued in Texas and Parra’s trial began in late June, 1899. Captain Hughes and several others gave their testimony before George Herold was called to the stand. Having witnessed the attack Herold was able to provide a first hand account of the ambush. Herold testified that he, Barnes and Fusselman had been fired upon by six or seven men, hidden behind the rocks. He added that at least about fifty shots were fired and in the melee, Fusselman had been shot three times in the head and had fallen from his horse. Herold said his rifle then jammed and he was left with his six shooter to return fire. The assailants attempted to cut him off, but he was able to evade them and escape. Herold testified that he recognized the defendant Parra as having been one of the shooters. When Herold and several others returned, he continued, they found the body of Fusselman along with several horses and the stolen cattle, but the thieves had scattered.

Ironically, one of the men who had accompanied Herold and the posse that day was Charley Patterson who was currently serving as Parra’s defense counsel. The case went to the jury at 4:00 the following day. After deliberating for two hours, the panel returned a verdict. Parra was found guilty of murder in the first degree with a penalty of death.

Geronimo Parra was of Mexican descent. He was said to have a long criminal record. At the time he was brought back to Texas for the Fusselman trial, he had been serving a six year sentence for attempting to kill a Las Cruces lawman.

Charles H. “Charley” Fusselman was born in Wisconsin and was in his twenties at the time of his death. He came to Texas with his family who settled first in the Corpus Christi area in the 1870s before relocating to Live Oak County around 1880. Charles joined the Rangers around May of 1888. In the short months of his service, he and his outfit had seen a lot of action. At the time, he was a sergeant in Company D under Captain Frank Jones. Fusselman had also just been appointed as a deputy United States Marshal, according to at least one account, but the Rangers were encouraging him to decline the appointment and remain with the Ranger company. Fusselman was well thought of and despite his young age was considered to be cool in the face of danger and courageous. After his body was returned to El Paso, Fusselman was buried in El Paso’s Concordia Cemetery. A few days later, his brother John Fusselman arranged to have his body exhumed and transported to the local cemetery in Lagarto, located in Live Oak County where his family lived. 

The date for Parra’s execution was set at January 5, 1900. Parra was placed in a cell next to Antonio Flores, likewise sentenced to hang, who had received a death sentence for brutally stabbing a female acquaintance to death. The day before the execution, Parra had received a visit from Father Cordova, a local Catholic priest. Flores had refused to speak with the minister. Some family members were allowed to visit them as well. Parra was also permitted to go around the cell block and speak to fellow prisoners. The day of the execution, both cells were unlocked about the same time. Both Parra and Flores had armed themselves with “dirks” made out of sharpened steel wire that they had obtained somehow. Despite their desperate attempts, the two were quickly overpowered. Flores was escorted to the gallows and Parra was returned to a cell for a short time until his execution was accomplished.

Officers speculated that Parra and Flores had been slipped the wire by family members during their parting embraces. Funerals for the two convicts were held the following day followed by burials in the Catholic cemetery.

A second person named Juan Bernal was also tried and convicted of the Fusselman killing later in the year. Bernal was accused of having taken part in the killing as part of the rustler gang, though Bernal claimed that he did not even know Parra. One newspaper article said that the case against Bernal was stronger than that against Parra. Like Parra’s case, Bernal’s trial took place in El Paso. On November 1, 1900, Bernal was sentenced to serve 99 years in prison. An article said that if he were able to serve his entire sentence, he would be 142 years old when it ended. How long he served his sentence and the circumstances of his death are unknown.

The pass where the Fusselman killing took place is a natural fault in the mountain range. It served for centuries as a passageway for the various people groups using it. It also is an occasional water source and provides vegetation for animals in the area. It has since been named Fusselman Canyon in honor of the late Texas Ranger.

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