Patrolman Wilber H. Lester

Wilber H. Lester

Patrolman Wilber Lester succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on May 29th, 1894, while attempting to arrest several men who were stealing items from a boxcar at the Santa Fe Railroad depot.

The railroad watchman locked several of the subjects into the boxcar and notified officers, who responded to the scene. Patrolman Lester opened the boxcar door and instructed the people inside to surrender. When he did not receive a response he climbed into the boxcar. A man hiding in the shadows opened fire, striking him in the head.

The men in the boxcar then jumped from the boxcar and fled on foot. The other officers on scene returned fire, fatally wounding one of the men.

Patrolman Lester was survived by his wife, three children, mother, and six siblings.