Deputy Sheriff John T. Allen was commissioned during the summer of 1928 by Clark County Sheriff Sam Gay. Deputy Allen, who lived in Logandale, Nevada, had traveled to Las Vegas to report the theft of 14 horses by two individuals. Arrest warrants were issued, and Allen was deputized to apprehend the suspects. Allen arrested one of the two suspects, and brought the individual to Las Vegas for booking. The arrested suspect was released, and later traveled to Pahoon, Arizona where, on September 18, 1928, he encountered Allen.  Allen was beaten and shot, and died at the scene. Deputy Allen was 61 years old at the time of his death.