Honor Roll

On June 21, 1919, Officer Blundell was sent to a family disturbance call.  A Vernon resident armed with a double barreled shotgun was threatening to kill another member of the local community for paying too much attention to his wife.

Witnesses reported that Officer Blundell approached the suspect, removed a badge from his pocket and identified himself as an officer of the law.  Witnesses also said that a woman, possibly the wife of the suspect, told him, “Don’t shoot, it is Officer Blundell”.  The suspect then raised his shotgun and shot Deputy Marshal Blundell twice in the chest, mortally wounding him.

The verdict of the jury in the Coroner’s inquest stated, “Gunshot wound of the chest inflicted by Joe Franco Presumably with intent to kill”.  Deputy Marshal Samuel Blundell was killed on June 21, 1919, at 11:58 p.m.