John R. Nelson

HUMBOLDT STAR

March 2, 1921

CONSTABLE NELSON SHOT; NEGRO ASSAILANT DEAD

As the result of an encounter with a Negro bandit whom he was trying to arrest on a charge of theft. Constable J.R. Nelson lies dangerously, and perhaps fatally wounded in the hospital. The body of Nelson’s cowardly assailant lies in the morgue, he having been killed by the officer after the latter had been wounded.

…Nelson’s story of what occurred afterwards as told by him at the hospital is that he had just entered the roundhouse when he saw the negro and spoke to him. Without answer or any warning, the negro fired, and the bullet struck the officer. Before he fell, Constable Nelson fired and the negro shot again almost simultaneously and then the latter fired twice more. Men who were in the roundhouse heard the shots and rushed to the scene, where they found Constable Nelson lying on the floor and a short distance away the body of negro, who must have expired a moment to two after being shot. The wounded officer told the men to telephone to the sheriff’s office and Deputy Sheriff Pinson was soon at the scene. Constable Nelson was removed to the hospital and Dr.’s Pope and Giroux summoned. An examination of his wound showed that he had been shot in the right breast, the bullet entering just below the nipple and passing through the body, being afterward found in his clothing. It was a .32-caliber bullet, the same size as the revolver beside the negro’s body, with four chambers empty. The negro was shot squarely in the center of the chest on a line with the nipples.

…The man who was seen with the negro was found by Deputy Sheriff Pinson in a boxcar near the scene of the shooting and was arrested and placed in jail. No charges have yet been placed against him. He will not talk of the affair.

Under the dead negro’s coat was found a pair of new shoes which he had been carrying. The shoes were marked “Sutherland’s Reno,” and had probably been stolen.

ELKO FREE PRESS

March 9, 1921

WOUNDED OFFICER DIES AT WINNEMUCCA

WINNEMUCCA, March 7 – Constable John R. Nelson died here Saturday morning from wounds received in a gun battle last Monday in which an unknown negro was killed when the officer attempted to arrest him for the theft of a pair of shoes. The negro and a white man had been sought for several days and when Nelson learned that the former was near the railroad yards he went to the place alone and the gun battle followed.

Every effort was made to save the wounded man’s life, and his condition was thought favorable until the last few hours when he took a decided turn for the worse. Specialist were called from Reno and Portola, but found that their efforts would be of no avail, the bullet having passed completely through the body.

Deceased was twenty-eight years of age, was born at Grass Valley about eight miles south of Winnemucca, and since which time he resided in the vicinity of this city. He is survived by a wife and two small children; father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. William Molby Nelson; two sisters, Miss Sarah Nelson of Oakland, and Miss Violet Nelson of his City, and eight brothers…

Plaque Location & Image

Center Wall Column 6 Row B     View The Plaque