In the spring of 1927, the life of Lester M. Wood, a 33-year-old White male, came to a violent end in the wilds of Clark County, Washington. Wood, who had recently been elected as the county sheriff, was a lifelong resident of Vancouver and a respected community figure, known for his debating skills in high school and his role as a Sunday school superintendent. His foray into law enforcement was marked by a contentious election, but he had served for less than seven months before his fatal encounter.
On the morning of Sunday, May 22, 1927, Sheriff Wood organized a raid on a suspected bootlegging still operating in the Dole Valley area, about eight miles southeast of Yacolt. He dispatched three deputies ahead of him to locate the illicit operation. The deputies found the still, which had been set up by Luther Baker, his brother Ellis, and Ellis's son, Ted. After the deputies destroyed the still, Sheriff Wood and another deputy were walking a trail towards the site when shots rang out. In the exchange of gunfire, Sheriff Wood was mortally wounded.
The murder of the sheriff sparked an immediate and intensive investigation. A posse was quickly formed, and guards were posted on the interstate bridge to prevent the suspects from fleeing into Oregon. The search swiftly led them to a nearby farmhouse where Luther and Ellis Baker were arrested without incident. By the end of the day, a total of seven people had been taken into custody in connection with the crime. Ultimately, three members of the Baker family, Luther, Ellis, and Ted, were charged with the murder of Sheriff Lester Wood.
The subsequent trial, which began in July 1927, captivated the community. Luther Baker claimed he had fired in self-defense, unaware that he was shooting at a law enforcement officer. The jury, however, delivered guilty verdicts for all three men in less than three hours. Luther Baker, identified as the man who fired the fatal shot, was sentenced to death. Ellis Baker received a life sentence, as did his son, Ted. On appeal, the Washington State Supreme Court upheld the sentences for Luther and Ellis. Luther Baker was hanged for the crime in March 1929. Ted Baker's conviction was overturned, as there was no evidence he was present at the time of the shooting, though he died of tuberculosis the following year. Ellis Baker was eventually paroled in 1957 after serving nearly three decades in prison.
