First county deputy killed in line of duty honored

SAN BERNARDINO — A deputy who was killed in the line of duty more than 100 years ago was honored in a memorial ceremony on Wednesday.

Sheriff Gary Penrod was on hand at Sheriff’s Department Headquarters to induct Deputy William Frances Smithson into the Frank Bland Memorial.
Smithson was the first deputy to be killed while on duty at the department.

“This really is an amazing story,” said Arden Wiltshire, spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s department.

The 31-year-old was shot several times and died Oct. 20, 1907 after he attempted to arrest Ed Silver, an employee at the American Borax Company in Daggett. Silver had argued with, and then struck the plant manager, according to records.

Smithson, along with the manager and the manager’s wife, went out looking for Silver on Oct. 19, 1907. They found Silver in front of the manager’s home. Before Smithson was able to ascertain why Silver had stuck the manager, Silver pulled out a revolver and shot Smithson several times, according to official records.

The deputy was taken to a nearby billiard hall where he was later pronounced dead on the morning of Oct. 20, 1907 with his wife, Sharon, at his side.

Various sheriff’s officials and some of Smithson’s family members were on hand in San Bernardino for the ceremony.