Murder on the S.S. Okanagan

 “Hands up!” The command came crackling across the room at the Okanagan Mission to Roy Randal & Ed Small. A moment later he felt the cold barrel of a revolver against his temple. Realizing that sudden death was only inches away, he carefully raised his hands.

Small glanced furtively at the bushy eye-browed, six foot stranger disguised by a dirty bandana and a wide brimmed hat. Seconds later Taylor, a proprietor entered and was flattened against the wall and found himself staring down the menacing barrel of a Colt 44. Randall (a young boy), seizing the opportunity, bolted outside into the darkness with the bandit snapping off a shot at the vanishing boy. Taylor, under threat, opened the safe and the robber scooped a paltry $15! With a menacing gesture of his revolver, the bandit vanished into the closing gloom.

Meanwhile, wide-eyed Randall had gone to the Hotel Bellevue, where no one believed him. Reinforcements were convinced and all beelined to the robbery scene but the bandit had vanished. Constable John Tooth, Kelowna confirmed the bandit to be (Walter B. James, 24 from the Kelowna, Glenmore district).

The description was posted. Late Sunday close to midnight, two men entered the B.C. Hotel on Front Street in Penticton wanting a room. Thompson, the owner, recognized the bandit. He was heavily armed; a Winchester rifle, two Colt .44 revolvers, ammunition belt & a Bowie knife; a real desperado! Thompson pleading no vacancy referred them to a rooming house close by. Immediately Thompson ran to awaken Roche, the Chief of Police and Aston, town constable and headed for the B.C. Hotel joined soon after by ex-policeman – Pope.

When the police, with guns drawn, arrived at the rooming house James (bandit) and sidekick Wilson were sitting in the lounge, backs to the door. The two policemen crept across the room and executed a peaceful surrender. A search revealed 200 rounds of ammunition, 500 cartridges of dum-dum bullets; a walking arsenal! A quick careless frisk turned up no further weapons, and failed to disclose a small caliber gun in a shoulder holster under James’ shirt. It was to be a fatal oversight.

The two prisoners were led through the darkened streets of Penticton and incarcerated in the local jail. In the early morning hours, with two shackled prisoners in tow, Constable Aston boarded the S.S. Okanagan for Kelowna; a destination the unsuspecting officer was never to reach.

James & Wilson were given the upper bunk in the stateroom, Aston the lower. As the Okanagan was approaching Peachland, James asked for a drink of water. Aston left to procure the drink and returned several minutes later. As he reached up to hand the glass to the prisoner James ordered him to hold up his hands. “Which one?” Asked Aston coolly. “Both!” Snapped James. Hesitating only briefly, the constable rushed the prisoner. James pulled the trigger, the gun misfired, but the second time the pistol fired; striking the constable in the forehead. Aston slumped to the floor of the room! A moment later James searched Aston’s pockets for the leg iron and handcuff keys. He located them, unlocked the chains then recovered his stored weapons. Both prisoners were free once again and heavily armed.

Purser Alfred Watson felt it was odd when he saw two men disembark at Peachland. Watson had not sold any fares for Peachland! Shortly after, a Mrs. Paul told Watson her little boy had heard a sharp noise and a moment later she had heard a heavy thud coming from the stateroom occupied by the prisoners and the Police Constable. Watson rushed to the stateroom – Aston was on the floor clearly injured and with no sign of the prisoners.

Captain Estabrooks was immediately informed and in short order every town in the valley knew the startling news. Noon saw 200 armed men searching for the escapees with a ‘Dead or Alive’ order on their heads.

The following morning two special Constables, P.H.L. Seeley and R.H. Ramsey spotted two heavily armed men close to Westbank. With a “hands up!” shout they were captured, escorted on the S.S. Okanagan and lashed hand and foot to a post on the forward deck. On the trip from the landing to Kelowna, armed guards patrolled around the felons to prevent any further escape attempts.

Constable Aston’s wound proved fatal and the charge against the escapees was now murder.

James, with a cool disdain, confessed and Wilson claimed he, an unwilling partner, was forced to accompany James. At the Vernon Trial on May 12^th Wilson turned King’s Evidence escaping a murder charge.

After Jury deliberation over 12 hours, Judge Hunter said he had been convicted of a most cold-blooded and atrocious murder. On Friday, August 9, 1912, Walter James Poelke, 24 years of age, was hanged at Kamloops for the willful murder of Constable G. H. Aston.