Sheriff Jesse Garfield

Jesse Garfield

Sheriff Garfield succumbed to wounds received two weeks earlier while investigating a complaint on a rancher by the man's neighbor. As Sheriff Garfield knocked on the door the rancher opened fire with a shotgun, seriously wounding him. Sheriff Garfield attempted to drive back to town, but his patrol car's gas tank was also struck by the shotgun blast and his car ran out of gas. He was able to make it back to town after getting help from a railroad work crew. He succumbed to his wounds in a Billings hospital two weeks later.

The suspect was burned to death by a posse who set fire to his house after he opened fire on them and refused to surrender.

Sheriff Garfield had been with the agency for six months. His wife was appointed Sheriff to complete his un-expired term.