Deputy Sheriff John L. Burns, McCurtain County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma

Deputy Sheriff John L. Burns

McCurtain County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma

End of Watch Tuesday, November 15, 1927

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John L. Burns

Deputy Burns was shot and killed while he and four other deputies destroyed a large still of illegal whiskey. A man hidden in the woods opened fire on the deputies with a rifle and a shotgun, fatally wounding Deputy Burns. Deputy Burns was shot in the back several times.

The suspect was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life, He was paroled on November 19, 1934.

Deputy Burns had been with the agency for ten years and was survived by his wife and five children.

Bio

Age 40
Tour 10 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Rifle
Offender Paroled in 1934

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John L. Burns was my grandfather. My late mother, Mida Alene Burns, was one of his children. He died when she was about 13 years old. She would tell me about the way in which her brothers took over responsibilities in the loss of their father, how they lived near a lake and ate frog legs during the depression era.

She was the last living sibling until August, 1979. The siblings were: Marie, Molie, Raymond, Otis and Faye. Faye, whom I was named after died at a very early age, which is why she is not mentioned above.

I am teaching ELL students about Prohibition in NJ and finally fell upon this posting...the first of which I have found! Thank you for the post and your reflections!

Gratefully,

Patricia Faye (Stevens) Scardilli

Patricia Scardilli
Granddaughter

May 8, 2015