Patterson Irrigator

 A piece of Marshal J.W. Blue, who maintained law and order here during the 1920s, has returned.

Historical society vice president Phil Breasher shows badge. By Elias Funez, Patterson Irrigator

Patterson’s Marshal J.W. Blue did it all in the early days of Patterson.

Among Blue’s 14 job titles were city marshal, deputy sheriff, sewer inspector and fire truck engineer.
Now only that, the city’s memorable marshal brought controversy wherever he went.

Now,local historians have a memory of the legendary Blue with his badge, which its owner, Paul Friedrich, donated last month to the Patterson Township Historical Society.

“He was a colorful character — he was quite a guy,” Friedrich said of Blue. “I thought his badge belonged to the town of Patterson.”

Friedrich, a history buff, has had the sterling badge, made by Ed Jones of Oakland, since 1996 when he traded a Sacramento friend for it. The badge, which says, “Marshal J.W. Blue, Patterson, Calif., ” had been on the East Coast for years before winding up in Sacramento and then in Patterson.  

Phil Breasher, vice president of the local historical society, said the badge is a wonderful gift.  

“It’s awesome that they could find Blue’s badge,” Breasher said. “Marshal Blue was a pretty interesting guy, and he was apparently a pretty wealthy guy with a lot of money in the bank — $25,000 was a lot in those days.”

Blue came to Patterson around 1911 and lived in Del Puerto Canyon, where he raised cattle. He had been a night watchman and was appointed deputy constable by J.E. Newsome in August 1913, becoming the second deputy constable in town.

More than eight years later, on Oct. 13, 1921, he was named new city marshal when Patterson City Council appointed him after J.M. Smith resigned.  

Blue’s business card listed his 14 job titles. Those were city marshal, deputy sheriff, street superintendent, sewer inspector, engineer for fire truck No. 1, highway patrolman, tax collector, license collector, traffic officer, inspector of hides and brands, assistant collaborating epidemiologist and public health service, U.S.A.

He was known to be hard on bootleggers and was overbearing in dealings with the public. He narrowly escaped being ousted when the City Council received a petition of 57 signatures that said Blue was unfit for duty.

After much debate, the controversial Blue continued in his job.  

Blue came under fire during a City Council meeting a year later in May 1925. Over the course of that year, a number of businesses were robbed — including Watson and Mack Pool Hall, where 30,000 cigarettes, two men’s nickel wristwatches, six pearl-handled or gold-plated knives and $35 in cash were taken.  

Local businessmen and community members wanted more police protection, claiming their community was not protected well enough.

Blue worked an eight-hour day, but was not working at the time of the robberies. The City Council wanted Blue to work a split shift — midnight to 4 a.m., and also four hours during the day.
Blue said “no” and promptly quit.  

The feisty Blue died in a freak rifle accident Aug. 30, 1925, at the age of 52. Blue and his friend, E.E. Towne, were visiting Del Puerto Canyon Ranch. A rifle was on the driver’s side of the car where Blue sat, and as he stepped out of the car to go into the cabin, the butt of the loaded 30-30 fell out, struck the running board, and discharged.

The bullet tore through Blue’s leg and through Towne’s lip and cheek.

Blue was bleeding heavily and Towne climbed through the window of the cabin to call for help. Towne reached telephone operator Virginia Williams, whose father, J.H. Evans, found Dr. E.G. Allen at church. Evans and Dr. Allen drove to the canyon.

Meanwhile, in the canyon, Blue lay bleeding and Towne bound the wound. Though Evans and Dr. Allen picked Blue and Towne up, they did not reach Patterson until 1 p.m. The two-hour delay and late application of first aid was fatal.
Blue bled to death as the car pulled up to Robertson’s Hospital in Modesto. Towne’s wound was stitched up at the hospital, and he was released.

Now local residents can drop by the museum in the Center Building on Plaza Circle and see the controversial marshal’s badge.

“It’s good to be able to fill in the missing segments of our law enforcement history here on the West Side,” Breasher said.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Write comment

Name

Email

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment