James R. White
1879-1914
Born in Kansas Dec 30, 1879, he arrived in Portland sometime in 1904. He took up residence with his wife and mother at 462 Bidwell Avenue and became a member of the Sellwood Masons.
White was appointed March 13, 1910. He was a popular officer who worked his entire career in the “East Side” of Portland. His duties were primarily walking his beat and directing traffic for the evening rush.
The Incident
On November 17, 1914, officer White was directing traffic at Union Avenue and East Burnside Street. White was in the middle of the intersection and around 6:16 p.m., had turned towards the south. A four-ton lumber truck traveling south on Union entered the intersection without his direction. The long, heavy truck turned east on Burnside, the front wheels barely missing the officer, but he was crushed beneath the rear wheels.
The driver was a 19 year-old who did not possess a required chauffeur’s license and had only been driving the big truck for about four months. He claimed that the officer had told him to proceed, and didn’t realize he had run him over until a citizen on a bicycle stopped him a few blocks away. Witnesses said that the officer did not signal the driver to proceed.
Officer White was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he died a half-hour later. He was 35 and survived by his mother, wife and two young sons.
White was appointed March 13, 1910. He was a popular officer who worked his entire career in the “East Side” of Portland. His duties were primarily walking his beat and directing traffic for the evening rush.
The Incident
On November 17, 1914, officer White was directing traffic at Union Avenue and East Burnside Street. White was in the middle of the intersection and around 6:16 p.m., had turned towards the south. A four-ton lumber truck traveling south on Union entered the intersection without his direction. The long, heavy truck turned east on Burnside, the front wheels barely missing the officer, but he was crushed beneath the rear wheels.
The driver was a 19 year-old who did not possess a required chauffeur’s license and had only been driving the big truck for about four months. He claimed that the officer had told him to proceed, and didn’t realize he had run him over until a citizen on a bicycle stopped him a few blocks away. Witnesses said that the officer did not signal the driver to proceed.
Officer White was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he died a half-hour later. He was 35 and survived by his mother, wife and two young sons.