In the small town of Rulo, Nebraska, a community gathering on the evening of October 27, 1900, took a tragic turn, ending the life of a dedicated public servant. City Marshal Alphonso J. Wake, a 55-year-old Caucasian male, was a respected figure in the community, known for his commitment to maintaining peace and order. On this particular night, his duty called him to Kanaly's Saloon, where a disturbance was disrupting a Democratic political rally being held nearby.
The saloon's owner, seeking to quell the unruly behavior of some patrons, had requested the marshal's assistance.
Upon entering the saloon, Marshal Wake identified William "Bill" Hunt, a 39-year-old man, as one of the individuals causing the disruption. In his attempt to restore order, the marshal began to escort Hunt from the premises. As they were leaving the establishment, the situation escalated dramatically and without warning. Hunt produced a firearm and fired two shots at Marshal Wake, striking him once in the mouth and once in the left breast. The wounds were fatal, and the marshal collapsed, succumbing to his injuries at the scene.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, chaos ensued. William Hunt fled the saloon, discarding his weapon in a ravine in an attempt to conceal his crime. He then brazenly returned to the scene, mingling with the crowd that had gathered around the fallen marshal, likely hoping to blend in and evade suspicion. However, his attempt to disappear into the concerned citizenry was thwarted when a witness to the shooting identified him as the man Marshal Wake had been escorting out of the saloon. This crucial identification led to Hunt's swift arrest by authorities.
William "Bill" Hunt was taken into custody and subsequently charged with first-degree murder for the death of Marshal Alphonso J. Wake. His trial concluded on December 12, 1900, with a conviction. Hunt was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of the city marshal. In a later turn of events, Governor Keith Neville granted Hunt an indefinite furlough on December 24, 1918, contingent upon his good behavior. Marshal Wake, who was tragically killed just one day before he was scheduled to retire, was survived by his wife and their seven children.
