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When Leon Forncrook arrived in Medford on the Fourth of July in 1921, his household was amazed at what the Rogue Valley appeared to supply — particularly fruit.
They got here from a small city within the northeast nook of Montana — “A prairie nation the place sheep had been raised,” mentioned Verna, his daughter. “This place, Oregon, was so completely different — so many fruit timber — the land of lots.”
In 1903, not lengthy after commencement, Leon left his hometown in Wisconsin for Montana. He had organized a telegrapher job with the Nice Northern Railroad. There he met Bertha Hruska, and so they married in August 1909.
By 1913, he had labored two years as a bookkeeper for the county treasurer, earlier than being chosen as deputy sheriff. It was this eight years of regulation enforcement expertise and his familiarity with cataloging and analyzing fingerprints that made him the right candidate for the vacant Jackson County deputy’s place.
The drive from Montana to Oregon over grime roads took two weeks. There have been dozens of stops to restore internal tube punctures, and despite the fact that it was early summer time, their Overland touring automotive struggled to push via the heavy mud and wade via sudden rain squalls.
Deputy Forncrook rapidly gained a “extremely environment friendly” status as an skilled fingerprint man and proficient crime fighter. Nonetheless, it was his poor resolution — his mistake — in fall 1925 that will hang-out him for the remainder of his life.
On the finish of September, the grand jury heard sufficient proof to indict a 16-year-old boy on a cost of rape of a 16-year-old woman. A warrant for the boy’s arrest was issued and given to Deputy Forncrook to serve.
Walter Williams, the accused boy, lived along with his dad and mom in Gold Hill. Leon went to the home late within the afternoon and defined to Williams’ dad and mom that he had an arrest warrant and was required to take their son to jail.
In fact, the dad and mom objected and, after a protracted dialogue and a promise they might convey their son to the county jail themselves early the subsequent morning, Leon agreed and left for his dwelling with out the boy.
The subsequent morning neither the dad and mom nor their son appeared in Jacksonville. Leon found the boy had fled. His dad and mom mentioned he had left throughout the night time and so they didn’t know the place he was. They had been held below a $500 bond to seem as witnesses within the case.
Their son was apprehended the subsequent day.
Now, the grand jury indicted Deputy Forncrook on two misdemeanors — malfeasance and neglect in workplace — and receiving and delaying the service of a warrant of arrest. A felony cost of obstructing justice was added later.
Though left on his personal recognizance till trial, Leon instantly introduced that no matter the results of trial, he would resign his place on the finish of the month.
Mates mentioned Leon was being charged due to politics and dangerous emotions between the sheriff’s workplace and county prosecuting attorneys. They defended Leon’s resolution, believing he had agreed with the dad and mom as a result of he didn’t need to put the boy within the crowded county jail amongst hardened criminals.
At trial, Leon pleaded responsible to failure to serve a warrant. The felony obstruction cost was dropped. He was fined $50, suspended from responsibility and never given jail time.
Months later, Walter Williams was convicted of rape, misplaced his enchantment and was despatched to jail.
Leon Forncrook’s almost 15-year regulation enforcement profession was over for good. He accepted a job as bookkeeper for the California Oregon Energy Firm (COPCO) and died in 1946 at age 62.
Author Invoice Miller is the writer of 5 books, together with “To Stay and Die a WASP, 38 Ladies Pilots Who Died in WWII.” Attain him at newsmiller@reside.com.
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