Special Agent Lester E. Roland

Lester E. Roland

Special Agent Lester Roland was shot and killed while patrolling the Southern Pacific Railroad's switching yards near Miller's Switch in Dallas, Texas.

He encountered two men approaching the railroad bridge over the Trinity River and stopped them to investigate what they were doing. The men stated they were going to river to go fishing. When Agent Lester asked to check their bags one of the men produced a .45 caliber handgun and shot him.

Agent Roland was taken to a local hospital where he died two days later. Both men were arrested on the day of Agent Roland's funeral and admitted to the shooting.

On September 13, 1934, the man, 62, who shot him was convicted of murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. He was paroled on March 30, 1948.

Special Agent Roland had served with the Southern Pacific Railroad Police for approximately three years. He was survived by his wife and brother.