Wright County's Fallen Law Enforcement Heroes - 2 Traditional Geocache
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Wright County's Fallen Law Enforcement Heroes - 2
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Sheriff John C Nugent
EOW: July 22, 1922
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God"
Matthew 5:9
*This cache is #2 of seven in this series*
(I hope to never have to add more)
Sheriff John C. Nugent
Wright County Sheriff's Office
- End of Watch: July 22, 1922 (Age 47)
- Years of service: 20 years
- Cause of Death: Gunfire - Shotgun
3.5 miles southeast of Buffalo on the Soo Railroad; R.O. Crawford, owner of a cream shipping station; had reported some petty thefts. Over the next six weeks, the thieves had gotten bolder and had been stealing on a regular basis.
Wednesday night, Sheriff Nugent watched all night but found nothing. He told Mr. Crawford he was not sure if he would return Thursday or Friday, but if he did, he would notify him by knocking a certain way on the door. He did not return Thursday, but he did on Friday around 11:00 pm.
That night Mr. Crawford, his son Lawrence, and a Mr. Boehlke went to the creamery. Lawrence was waiting outside and around 11:00 pm he heard a noise near a woodpile. He alerted his father who also heard someone.
Sheriff Nugent and Deputy Carl Anderson were not aware that anyone was working late inside the creamery.
At 1:30 am Mr. Crawford announced that he was going home since he didn't believe the thieves were coming. He grabbed his shotgun, cocked it and walked out the front door. Sheriff Nugent turned his flashlight on Crawford and told him to "Stick 'em up!" Mr. Crawford could see a man, but didn't know who it was. Mr. Crawford randomly fired with number 4-shot and struck Sheriff Nugent in the chest, killing him instantly. The Sheriff fell onto the railroad tracks. Deputy Anderson also returned fire before going to get help.
When Mr. Crawford found out the man was dead, he went to Gilbert's Store to call the sheriff and a doctor but the phone wouldn't work.
As he returned to the creamery, he was met by Deputy Anderson who told him, "You've shot the Sheriff." That was the first he knew the Sheriff had been at the creamery .
Deputy Anderson immediately arrested him. Mr. Crawford was never charged in the death of Sheriff Nugent. The shooting was ruled an accident.
It's reported that the creamery owner Mr. Crawford and Sheriff Nugent were best friends.
Sheriff Nugent had been in law enforcement more than 20 years. His father had been the Sheriff for 27 years and he was his deputy for six of those years.
Sheriff Nugent was survived by his wife, Bessie. They had no children. His funeral was held July 22 in the west front of the Courthouse in Buffalo and he was buried in a cemetery south of Buffalo.
Sheriff Nugent's name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.
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(Decrypt)
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