City Marshal Joseph H. Krechter

Joseph H. Krechter

City Marshal Joseph Krechter was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest several drunk men who were creating a disturbance inside a saloon.

The men were seasonal workers who had just been paid for picking hops in nearby fields. They had gone into town where they had been drinking all day. Marshal Krechter deputized two civilians and then entered one of the saloons where they men were. As they tried to arrest the men one opened fire, killing Marshal Krechter and wounding one of the deputy marshals. One of the subjects was also shot and and killed. Marshal Krechter managed to return fire seriously wounding his killer.

The man who shot Marshal Krechter was arrested the following day by the county sheriff and taken to a hospital. He was later convicted of murder and sentenced to an indeterminate term in prison. He was transferred to a hospital in January of 1907 suffering greatly from tuberculosis complicated by a bullet in his lung that could not be removed. A year later, after it was determined he was dying, he was pardoned by Governor George Chamberlain. Several other men, including the saloon owner, were also arrested and charged with rioting.