Multnomah County OR Archives News.....Wound Is Fatal September 2, 1904
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Sheron Faynor nitwittwin@hotmail.com April 9, 2008, 12:04 am

Morning Oregonian September 2, 1904
Policeman Shot By Highwayman
Street Car is Held Up
Officer Makes Attempt To Arrest Robber
Desperate Battle Ensues
Conductor and Motorman Assist in Fight,but are Unable to Prevent Slightly 
Built Murderer From Killing Nelson

While trying to capture Charles W.Walton, a highwayman who made an attempt to 
hold up a Twenty third street car near the Willamette Heights Bridge, at 10:25 
o'clock last night,Police Officer Ole Nelson was shot twice by the bandit, and 
it was stated at a late hour this morning that there was no hope for his 
recovery.The assassin was captured.
The shooting occurred on car No.114,in charge of Motorman G.A.Bingham and 
Conductor H.F.Johnson.Officer Nelson was riding on the front platform of the 
car with the motorman when the attempt at hold up occurred.
Motorman Bingham is the same man who was held up on a Portland Height's car 
about three weeks ago and robbed of over $8.and he stated last night that he 
could swear the same man who shot Nelson was the same man who had committed 
the robbery of the Portland Height's car.
The bandit is a boy 19 years of age and says that his home is in San 
Fransisco.He was rooming at The Ruby,corner of Third and Alder streets.He was 
fearfully beaten about the head by the motorman and conductor after shooting 
Officer Nelson,and closely guarded by Conductor Johnson while Motorman Bingham 
ran the car full speed to the Good Samaritan Hospital,where Nelson was 
immediately removed to the operating room and Walton confined until the 
arrival of Officers from the Police Station.
Officer Nelson got on the car at Twenty Third and Thurman streets,to ride to 
the end of the line and return.When the end of the line was reached the 
Officer got on the front platform with Motorman Bingham,and the car started on 
the return trip to the city. Just after crossing the bridge over Willamette 
Gulch a young man was noticed on a crossing,and the motorman slowed down the 
car to take him aboard.
As the car slowed down,Walton slipped a handkerchief up over his face,sprang 
up on the rear platofrm of the car and covered Conductor Johnson with his 
revolver.At the same moment Officer Nelson happened to look beneath the 
curtaina and back into the car.He saw that the conductor was being robbed and 
screaming to the motorman to shut off the power,he threw open the door and 
dashed into the car, with the motorman at his heels.The three men hurled 
themselves onto the bandit.Officer Nelson falling directly over him. In the 
scuffle they pushed the bandit to the rear platform of the car.Here all four 
men fell to the floor,and as they did so Walton shot.
"I'm shot" cried Nelson."Don't let him get away."
Motorman Bingham made an effort to get the revolver from Walton's grasp,and 
the four men fell off the car and on the ground,Officer Nelson retaining his 
hold on the robber in spite of his wound.As they struck the ground the bandit 
fired again,and Officer Nelson fell to one side with a groan.Then Conductor 
Johnson succeeded in getting the revolver from Walton,and with the weapon he 
beat the bandit into insensibility.
Officer Nelson and Walton were put aboard the car and run to the Good 
Samaritan Hospital.On the was Officer Nelson did not lose consciousness,but 
continued to remark to the crew that he believed he was done for.They 
attempted to cheer him up,and when the hospital was reached they hurried him 
to the operating room and telephoned for Dr.George Wilson
An examination showed that both shots had taken effect.One entered the stomach 
on the right side,struck a rib and glanced,inflicting no dangerous wound.The 
other entered the body near the left groin ,deflected upward,tearing the 
intestines, and found lodglement near the spine.As soon as the examination was 
over word was given out that the officer's injuries were serious and his 
condition critical.The chance for recovery,it is said,was very slight.
The Police Station was immediately notified of the shooting and the patrol was 
sent to the Good Samaritan Hospital to take Walton to the station.The 
handkerchief he had used as a mask was still tied and hanging about his 
neck.His face,neck and hands were covered with blood and there was a gaping 
wound in the left temple,showing where he had been struck by the butt end of 
the officer's revolver in the hands of the conductor.
Walton is a mere boy,19 years of age,and weighs perhaps 130 pounds,He was 
dressed in a dark suit of clothes and had on a dark overcoat,the collar of 
which he turned up when boarding the car.He had already obtained possession of 
the conductor's money when Officer Nelson looked back and saw him,but it was 
taken from him by the crew before he had a chance to dispose of it by throwing 
it away.
The gun with which the shooting was done was a 32 caliber Colt's.of modern 
pattern.When searched at the station there was found on Walton an open 
knife,several handkerchiefs and some papers,but no money.He absolutely denied 
the crime at the station in the face of the testimony of the eye witnesses.
"I just got on the car to go home," he said,"and they jumped on me and began 
to pound me.I never shot anyone."
He made several different assertions concerning where he came from and where 
he was staying while in Portland,and officers are now investigating these 
statements.
"I am sure this man is the same who held up the Portland Height's car three 
weeks ago" saif Motorman Bingham."At that time he was within two feet of me 
and I had a good chance to see his features.I am sure he is the same man.I 
recognize the hat he wore and I can almost swear to the gun"
When asked concerning the shooting of Officer Nelson,Motorman Bingham 
said: "The officer grappled with the highway man,reaching for his gun as he 
did so.Before he could draw the gun the bandit fired the first shot.Nelson did 
not let go his hold on the robber,and he drew his gun after he was shot the 
first time,but was not able to use it,as all of us fell off the car at that 
time.Then the second shot came,and the officer fell to one side,Conductor 
Johnson getting the gun as he did so and beating the robber over the head with 
it.As soon as we could get the officer and th eman who did the shooting back 
on the car we ran her full speed for the Good Samaritan Hospital."
Detective Vaughn was assigned to the case as it became known at police 
headquarters that Officer Nelson was shot.He went immediately to the scene and 
gathered the facts in the case,and he is continuinh his investigation 
today,looking up Walton's record.
Officer Ole Nelson is between 38 and 40 years of age,he lives with his wife 
and two children at the corner of Sixteenth and MOrrison streets.He has been 
on the Portland Police Force for over five years,and has proved a most 
efficient officer,very popular with the other member's of the force.Brother 
officers notified his wife last night,immediately after the shooting, and she 
went at once to the Good Samaritan Hospital to be by her husbands side. 
General Beebe also went to the hospital immediately after learning of the 
shooting.

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