John Wannenwetsch

John M. Wannenwetsch, a 58-year-old male, German-born, spent the evening of October 7, 1917, doing the rounds as Colville’s chief lawman when a sharp, metallic clatter carried out from a downtown store. He moved toward the noise and found two intruders forcing a safe. Before he could close the distance, the burglars opened fire. Bullets struck him several times. He returned fire in the sudden, echoing exchange inside the darkened business, but his shots did not find their mark. The assailants ...

Chief of Police John M. Wannenwetsch