It all started in 1912, with an armed robbery of the Okanagan Mission General Store.
It all ended when Walter Boyd James, who deserted the U.S. Army, shot constable George Aston on the S.S. Okanagan.
Brian Wilson, from retold the story of this tale that left a well-liked Mountie dead on the old boat.
害羞草研究所�(James) liked to emulate his folk hero 害羞草研究所淛esse害羞草研究所� James; and like Jesse, Walter was never without his guns,害羞草研究所� wrote Wilson.
害羞草研究所淭hen on Saturday evening, March 23, 1912; Walter James robbed the Okanagan Mission store at gunpoint. He burst into the store with a large pistol held high and yelled, 害羞草研究所淗ands up!害羞草研究所澓π卟菅芯克鶟
James forced the shop owner, Mr. Small to open the safe, and made off with his prize.
Small害羞草研究所檚 apprentice, Roy Randall however ran off to tell the police. However James made a clean getaway.
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The long-winded heart-pumping story ends up with James, who was now running from the police and his travel partner, Frank Wilson, who was oblivious to the situation, being arrested by chief Roche and constable Aston in Penticton.
The two suspects were transported to the S.S. Okanagan that would set sail in the next morning.
害羞草研究所淭he heinous deed took place while at sail between Penticton and Peachland. It seems from later testimony, that James had hidden a small 22cal. pistol in a bag under his arm. It had not been detected by the police search on his capture. While Aston slept, the small firearm was retrieved. As Aston awoke, James asked him for a glass of water. When offered he drew the pistol and demanded that the officer put his hands up. Aston refused and leapt on James in an attempt to disarm him. The gun made a small 害羞草研究所榩op害羞草研究所� and the Constable fell to the floor,害羞草研究所� wrote Wilson.
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The suspects then fled the stern wheeler at the Peachland dock.
Constable Aston was found alive, the captain steered the S.S. Okanagan toward Gellatley Bay. Aston was transferred to hospital in Kelowna and was pronounced dead soon after arriving.
After 200 men set out to search for Frank Wilson and James, Wilson writes that the two men were found near the waterfront at Wilson害羞草研究所檚 Landing.
The two escapees were taken aboard the S.S. Okanagan and securely tied to theaston 3 mast and transported to Kelowna to await trial,害羞草研究所� wrote Wilson.
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James was hung at 24-years-old.
害羞草研究所淎ston was placed in the Fairview Cemetery in Penticton with full Freemason honors.
The story of Aston害羞草研究所檚 death was shared by Old Kelowna, a popular Facebook group that shares Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 history online has garnered 253 shares since it was posted in 2016.
害羞草研究所淭he ship was retired in 1934 and sold for scrap and spare parts. Only the Stern Saloon, a room in the back of the upper deck, remains. It was moved to the SS Sicamous Heritage Park in Penticton in 2002, to undergo restoration work,害羞草研究所� wrote Old Kelowna in a comment.
Read Wilson害羞草研究所檚 full story at
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