Samuel S. Young
1846-1908
Samuel Young was born in 1846 in Ireland where he married in and began raising a family. As a young man, he and his small family traveled to Australia where he was employed in the mining industry and was very successful. By the mid-1830’s his fortunes reversed and he was bankrupt.
In 1884 the Youngs immigrated to Portland and in 1885, at the age of 39 he joined the Police Force.
The Incident
On the evening of September 23, 1908, officer Young was murdered under mysterious circumstances. His killer was never found.
Just after 10:00 pm he entered the W.S. Wood Saloon at the corner of east 19th Street and Umatilla Ave. Young wasn’t feeling well and the only person in the saloon at the time was the proprietor W. Woods, who gave him a drink. The two then stood next to the stove for warmth.
The back door opened and a masked man entered holding a handgun. Woods approached him and Young stepped out from behind the stove. The man brushed aside Woods and told Young “Come to me, for I have got you this time.” Despite orders to raise his hands, Young approached with his hands at his sides. The man fired three times and fled. Young fell to the floor mortally wounded.
A mask and hat were found nearby. Several witnesses saw a man running in the neighborhood and then boarding a trolley. A search dog followed the scent to the tracks.
Young was wearing an empty holster. He had left his handgun at home and his daughter reported that he had left his club a few weeks before. The gunman’s hat was found with the liner removed and no evident clues. Robbery or revenge were the possible motives, with a botched robbery concluded as the most probable.
At the time of his death, officer Young was 62 and had been on the force for 25 years. Not only was he hold one of the longest tenures, he was also the oldest officer on the force. He was survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
In 1884 the Youngs immigrated to Portland and in 1885, at the age of 39 he joined the Police Force.
The Incident
On the evening of September 23, 1908, officer Young was murdered under mysterious circumstances. His killer was never found.
Just after 10:00 pm he entered the W.S. Wood Saloon at the corner of east 19th Street and Umatilla Ave. Young wasn’t feeling well and the only person in the saloon at the time was the proprietor W. Woods, who gave him a drink. The two then stood next to the stove for warmth.
The back door opened and a masked man entered holding a handgun. Woods approached him and Young stepped out from behind the stove. The man brushed aside Woods and told Young “Come to me, for I have got you this time.” Despite orders to raise his hands, Young approached with his hands at his sides. The man fired three times and fled. Young fell to the floor mortally wounded.
A mask and hat were found nearby. Several witnesses saw a man running in the neighborhood and then boarding a trolley. A search dog followed the scent to the tracks.
Young was wearing an empty holster. He had left his handgun at home and his daughter reported that he had left his club a few weeks before. The gunman’s hat was found with the liner removed and no evident clues. Robbery or revenge were the possible motives, with a botched robbery concluded as the most probable.
At the time of his death, officer Young was 62 and had been on the force for 25 years. Not only was he hold one of the longest tenures, he was also the oldest officer on the force. He was survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.