"Brief History of DPD Homicide Captain Will Fritz"
Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News, September 21, 1935
When asked by a newspaper reporter if he knew that Marguerite Oswald had a police dog named Fritz, the old grizzly Captain smiled and replied "She has.....well, that's all right. Fritz isn't an uncommon name for a police dog, anyway". [1]
John William "Will" Fritz was one smart "police dog", to put it bluntly. His life was full of danger, surprises, disappointments and elation of performing his career love, solving mysteries and living on the edge in law enforcement.
Background
Will Fritz was born in Dublin, Texas on June 15, 1896 (some reports have it 1895) to Blake and Ada Hamilton Fritz. Sometime in his early childhood, his family moved to a ranch near Lake Arthur, New Mexico (just south of Roswell). In his early years, Fritz worked as a horse/mule trader travelling New Mexico and West Texas, scrapping out a meager living. Then his family moved back to Texas in the Dublin area.[2[
At the age of 19 or 20, Fritz enlisted in the Army near the end of WWI. He reported for duty at Camp Mabry (in Austin, Texas) for training in Mechanical Engineering.[3]
After his brief stint in the Army, Fritz enrolled in Tarleton State College in Stephenville, funding his education by selling three horses.
Sometime later, Fritz joined the Erath County, Texas Sheriff's Department. Deputy Fritz was credited with arresting three "highway men" (another man got away) who robbed three local men of a pistol and flashlight while stopping their car. These "highway men" were working for a railroad construction crew. One of the men was captured and arrested after a several mile chase with Fritz on horseback.[4]
Soon in 1921, Fritz applied to work for the Dallas City Police Department, and thus began his long 49 year career with the DPD, first as an uniformed officer, then quickly promoted to a Detective.
However, Fritz suffered a personal setback in 1924. His father, Blake was shot and killed. Blake Fritz was a Rancher and an Oil Promoter. On a well being drilled out in Ward County (West Texas), he got into an argument with a man that was on his oil lease. Blake fired a few shots at him and ordered him off the property. The man in turned went into the neighboring town of Barstow and filed a complaint against him. Law enforcement officers serving a warrant, went out to the Oil Lease. Blake Fritz was shot and killed in some sort of dispute.[5]
Rising through the ranks
The era of the early 1920's and the Depression years in the 1930's was tough times for lawmen. Dallas was no exception. Bootleggers, moon-shiners, gamblers, gangs were rampant everywhere. This was the era of Benny Binion, the Barrow gang and lots of other lawlessness that permeated throughout the city and county.
Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News, May 27, 1934
Fritz began his career with the Dallas City Police walking the beat as a patrolman in the Mexican-American section of Dallas, better known as "Little Mexico" (near Pike Park, off lower Harry Hines Blvd). This area which was originally settled by Polish-Jewish immigrants in the late 1800's, soon saw an influx of Mexican immigrants fleeing the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Fritz, who worked with Mexican ranch hands in New Mexico, got along well with local immigrants.[6]
Soon Fritz was promoted to Detective, and he became a rising star in the Department. His exemplary work eventually landed him the Inspector of Detectives in 1935. Although he had been working as the head of the Detective Department for sometime, Dallas Police Chief Ronald Jones, formally promoted him to the new position with the backing of the City Manager, Hal Moseley.[7]
In 1937, "Cap(n)" Fritz formally organized the Dallas Homicide Detective Department.[8]
During the late 1920's, Fritz lived in a modest house on 5634 Junius Street with his wife Dorothy. Later in the 1930, they moved up the street to 5704 Junius. By 1936, Fritz had moved to 5627 Richmond Avenue. In 1942, the Fritz's were located on 6011 Martel. They lived in that house for some years, till Fritz took up residence, at least by 1961, at the White Plaza Hotel, across from City Hall on 106 South Harwood.[9]
Photo Credit: Flickr
Although most people know of Captain Will Fritz as the Lee Harvey Oswald interrogator, he had a long history of arrests, manhunts, shoot-outs, car chases, etc., long before 1963. There were literally hundreds of events, but here are some significant ones to remember.
In 1924, Fritz arrested J.D. McDearman, a Dallas Fire Department Captain, for killing another Dallas Fire Department Fireman, H.E. Gaynes at McDearman's mother's house. In the struggle, Fritz suffered a pistol powder burn to his left hand while wrestling with McDearman.[10]
In 1929, Fritz along with Detective Leonard Pack attempted to arrest William (Dagger) Pruett for robbing a Swiss Avenue Pharmacy of $238. Pruett was suspected of other local robberies and hid up in his Uncle's attic while they searched for him. When Fritz went up into the attic, Pruett fired and one shot hit Fritz in the arm, and two shots just grazed his cheek. His partner, Pack also barely escaped injury with one bullet grazing his head. Fritz fired and shot a chunk of Pruett's pistol off and Pruett surrendered. Fritz called for back-up sometime during the search and six cars full of cops and a "machine-gun" squad arrived, but Fritz had subdued the suspect.[11]
Fritz is on record stating he arrested Clyde Barrow several times while he was in Dallas on various charges. A few years later, Barrow would make headlines across the nation.[12]
Notorious gambler and bootlegger, Benny Binion was involved in the shooting death of Ben Freiden. Along with his partner, H.E. Malone, they confronted Freiden in his car after stopping their car close to his. Binion reached in and slapped Freiden and shots were fired. Freiden died. Later Binion turned himself into Sheriff Bill Decker. Later Malone surrendered to Fritz at headquarters. Fritz investigated the scene, and found "Policy Tickets" scattered about in Freiden's car. Both men were charged with the murder, but charges were later dropped when Binion claimed he was shot by Freiden (a grazing shot near the armpit) and it was in "self-defense" that they shot Freiden. Many have speculated Binion staged the self-inflicted wound. Binion was involved years earlier in a murder of an Afro-American in Dallas. Most people know Binion with the Horseshoe Casino and his Poker tournaments in Las Vegas. The man had a long record.[13]
Fritz was also involved in hunting down Barrow gang members Floyd and Raymond Hamilton. However, Fritz also charged Clyde and Buck Barrow's younger brother, L.C. Barrow with robbery in 1934. Fritz remarked, "No, he won't be another Clyde. He won't have the chance. He's plenty tough all right, but we are going to stick him away for a long time. This is one Barrow who probably won't be paroled". Fritz was referring to Clyde Barrow's 1932 parole by Texas Governor Ross Sterling, before he started his murderous and robbery spree with Bonnie Parker.[14]
In a total bizarre murder/hostage situation in 1959, Fritz went to the scene with his DPD issued Colt Thompson sub-machine gun. It was a crazy 43 year old bricklayer Windsor) in Oak Cliff that started this melee. He had some crazy scheme to kidnap at least 10 people. For some unknown crazy reason, he wanted to kill Ex-Texas Governor "Pappy O'Daniel". Once he got all the people kidnapped, he was going to call Sheriff Bill Decker and have him swear out a warrant for Ex-Governor O'Daniel's arrest. Then he planned to kill Decker as well. Windsor, the crazy man, then murdered an innocent house painter who stopped by to look at painting the rental house. Cops shot tear gas into the home, trying to get Windsor out, as well as the hostages. But Windsor had a gas mask and guns. Windsor just turned on the house fans and blew the tear gas out through the broken windows. DPD had the electricity shut off to stop it. The DPD ended up shooting up the house, hitting Windsor, but autopsy discovered Windsor had killed himself with a .38 to his heart. You can view the story here on archival news film footage. .https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc980760/m1/?fbclid=IwAR0adMkjKEN3951yBmc4LixHsnQaCRopC4tC_x0VRW0Cy7Q1zZ7DrlkFCjM
These are just a small fraction of the stories and experiences of Fritz's career with the DPD. Since there is considerable interest in the last story involving Fritz firing the Thompson sub-machine gun, the following is a brief history.
Fritz's Hellfire Gun
Captain Will Fritz with Thompson, 1960 (Unknown Detective Magazine photo)
Recently this author got to view this Thompson at the Dallas Police Museum (not opened to the public yet). Thanks to Laura Pasley (former DPD Jail employee), I and other good friends were given a private tour. This has been a long time goal of mine to actually view that gun in person. I can't thank Laura enough for coordinating this opportunity. Our guide (which I will not name to protect his privacy), was gracious to allow us to see the famous weapon, upon my request.
Fortunately, research on this Thompson by reliable Dallas Police officers (including Jim Leavelle) and Gun experts, has been published in Guns Magazine, 2016. The article can be viewed here. https://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+very+special+Thompson+M1921A+Capt.+Will+Fritz%27s+Dallas+Pd+No.+13-a0448030114
The gun is a Model 1921A Colt Thompson Sub-Machine. It was chambered for .45 Colt Automatic bullets. Researchers determined that the gun was purchased in 1927 by the Dallas Police Department. When I viewed it, present were the 50 round detachable drum, the 20 round clips and the carrying case. The case was above the filing storage cabinet, and not opened. As the article mentions, the gun is in excellent condition and apparently to my eyes as well, seldom used. The DPD inventory number (DPD-13) was on the gun as per the article.[15]
Photo courtesy of Frank Badalson
Conclusion
There are so many untold stories of Captain Fritz, that would take a book to document. This article is just a brief look upon some of his life's experiences.
No doubt people will always remember him in the Kennedy Assassination. Fritz always believed Oswald killed the President and Officer Tippit, however he was very reluctant to discuss it after the event. In any event, he is on record saying the following.
Fritz did not want to move Oswald on Sunday Morning, rather in the early morning hours to Sherriff Decker's County Jail.
He was hampered in his interrogation of Oswald when the Feds stepped in. It was his belief that "one on one interrogation" yielded better results.
Fritz felt Oswald's answers were of a trained individual. What he meant by that, is up to speculation. Perhaps he felt Oswald was under Communist influence, maybe not.
Fritz agreed with the Warren Commission findings, for the most part. He wished people would have read it, before launching into the various theories.
There's no doubt Fritz felt some shame when they lost Oswald to the Ruby shooting. It was a blackeye on him and his department. He probably never recovered from it.
Fritz resigned from the Dallas Police Department in February 1970. He was bitter about it, when he was reassigned to Night Commander, a demotion in his eyes, after 49 years of service.
J.W. Fritz died on April 19, 1984. He is buried at Restland Memorial Cemetery in Dallas.
Various Photos of Captain Fritz over the years
Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News, June 22, 1941
Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News, July 1, 1941
Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News, August 30, 1941
Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News, April 30, 1942
Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News, June 6, 1943
Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News, January 10, 1949
Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News, January 15, 1953
Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News, September 30, 1958
Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News, January 6, 1953
Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News, August 4, 1952
Photo Credit: Fort Worth Star Telegram, December 6, 1949
Photo Credit: Fort Worth Star Telegram, November 28, 1963
1 - Fort Worth Star Telegram, November 18, 1973, "Fritz's effort to question Oswald thwarted", Martha Hand
2 - Texas State Historical Association, Handbook https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/fritz-john-will
3 - Dublin Progress Newspaper, August 2, 1918, "Four more Erath boys will go to Camp Mabry", unknown staff writer
4 - Dublin Progress Newspaper, April 16, 1920, "Three Bunyan young men held up by Highwaymen", unknown staff writer
5 - Stephenville Tribune Newspaper, June 20, 1924, "Dublin Man is shot to death", unknown staff writer
6 - Op Cit (1)
7 - Dallas Morning News, September 21, 1935,"Pick Dallas Detective Captain for Inspector", unknown DMN staff writer
8 - Op Cit (1)
9 - 1928, 1936, 1942 and 1961 Dallas City Directories
10 - Dallas Morning News, August 10, 1924, "Indictment in Dallas Slaying", unknown DMN staff writer
11 - Dallas Morning News, January 15, 1929, "Believed Dallas Killer and Robber taken after Fight", AP Staff writer
12 - Op Cit (1)
13 - Dallas Morning News, September 13, 1936, "Policy Game Operator gives himself up after Killing in Parked Car", unknown DMN staff writer
14 - Austin American Statesman, October 31, 1934, "Young Son in Jail as Mrs. Barrow Stages 'Crime Does Not Pay' Show," UP staff writer
15 - Guns Magazine, May 1, 2016, "A very special Thompson M1921A Capt. Will Fritz's Dallas Pd No. 13", Mike Thomas