Dr. Louis H. Gilman shot and killed San Diego County Deputy Sheriff Thomas A. Fay, 29, and threatened the lives of several others on May 17, 1919. The shooting occurred when Fay attempted to arrest Gilman on a charge of disturbing the peace, after the doctor had quarreled with R.E. Miller, who had shot at one of Gilman’s rabbits which had made his way into his garden patch. Gilman said Miller shot at him.

It is reported that Gilman told Deputy Fay that Miller was the one who should be arrested.

Fay told Gilman, “Get your coat and come along.”

The dentist went inside his home while Miller returned to his residence. The doctor then returned, and as he pushed open the screen door, he shot Fay. Two shots were shot, one hitting the officer in the pit of his stomach and the other piercing his right lung.

Gilman then crossed the street toward the Miller residence. As he entered the gate he opened fire on the Millers who were standing in the doorway, and Mrs. J.A. Parks, wife of Dr. J.A. Parks, who was in the front yard.

The shot fired at Mrs. Miller struck the door. She ran into the house. Mrs. Parks dashed toward the house, shouting for help, Gilman followed. He overtook the woman near the back of the house and knocked her down. He then beat her, smashing out one tooth and inflicting a severe cut over her right eye. Gilman then put the gun against her breast, but Mrs. Parks successful knocked his hand away.

Miller was upstairs in his home and hearing the shots ran to the window. Just below him he saw someone struggling with Gilman. He jumped from the second story, landing on Gilman, knocking him down. After a struggle Miller forced the dentist to his back, and Mrs. Miller, who had come out of the house, took the gun from Gilman.

Mrs. Gilman ran up just as Miller gained supremacy and begged him not to shoot her husband. Deputy sheriffs McCarty and Goset came then and arrested both Gilman and his wife.

Dr. and Mrs. Gilman were taken to the county jail by the deputies where a murder charge was placed against Gilman. The body of Fay was taken to the Bradley & Wooman Morgue.

Fay, a native of Missouri, was survived by his wife, Gertrude; sons, Albert and George; mother, Mrs. Emma Fay; two brothers and a sister.

Constable McKinnon was shot and killed as he and the city marshal attempted to arrest a man who had shot railroad brakeman moments earlier. Upon hearing the shots, the two officers began chasing the hobo down the highway. The suspect opened fire on the officers, striking Constable McKinnon in the chest, killing him. The city marshal returned fire and struck the suspect. The man was taken to the county jail where he died from his wounds two days later.

Constable McKinnon was survived by his wife and son.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Michael Van Vliet was assigned to the Sierra Madre area of Los Angeles County when he was murdered. Deputy Van Vliet was a victim of the west’s own version of Bonnie and Clyde. In 1915, Charles Forbes was arrested in Los Angeles for robbery, auto theft, receiving stolen property and assault on a police officer. Forbes was 17, so the Probation Department intervened and he was released. Forbes headed East with girlfriend Margie Celano, robbing trains and banks in Colorado, Kansas and Missouri. Several lawmen were murdered by the duo. Officials were tipped off that Forbes had returned to Los Angeles for revenge against the officers who arrested him in 1915. The Sheriff’s Office, the Pinkerton Agency and the Postal Authority joined forces to capture Forbes and Celano in Arcadia. The subsequent gun battle proved fatal for Deputy Van Vliet and the murderous duo. The Pinkerton Agency initiated a petition that any reward offered for the capture of the felons would go to Van Vliet’s widow and three children.

Reprinted from Fresno Morning Republican
August 16, 1918 Pg. 14

Though the condition of Deputy Constable Fred Smartt, who was badly injured in a collision between his automobile and a fruit truck at First Street and Ventura Avenue yesterday, is serious, he is much improved, according to Dr. Morgan, superintendent of the county hospital, who operated on him. His skull was not fractured, as was at first believed. He sustained a severe rupture.

According to reports, he was riding a motorcycle behind a fruit truck coming to town on Ventura Avenue, when he collided with the front wheel of the truck as it turned off on First Street, throwing him to the pavement.

The truck, which belongs to the California Fruit Growers and Shippers, was driven by Jim Satrikian, and runs between Fresno and Centerville.

Smartt was taken to the emergency hospital where he was attended by Dr. Pomeroy and later removed to the county hospital.

SMARTT SUCCUMBS TO HIS INJURIES
Reprinted from Fresno Morning Republican
August 17, 1918 Pg. 16

Fred Smartt who was injured in a collision between his motorcycle and a fruit truck at First Street and Ventura Avenue Thursday evening, died at a local sanitarium yesterday morning. The truck was driven by Jim Satukian.

At the time of the accident Smartt was coming towards town on Ventura, when he struck the front wheel of the truck as it turned north in coming from the west. He is reported to have fallen under it.

Smartt, who was acting as deputy to Constable Drenth, was a native of Salinas and 44 years old. He was formerly a railroad man.

Besides his widow, who resides at 1916 Tyler Street, he is survived by two brothers and three sisters, S.J. Smartt, Selma; E. G. Smartt, Napa; Mrs. A. Berry, Los Angeles; Mrs. Luticia Durham, San Francisco; and Mrs. Meda Stanton, Colusa.