Constable Albert P. Crigler

Albert P. Crigler

Constable Albert Crigler was shot and killed by a stagecoach robber.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., the stagecoach from Cloverdale to Lakeport was held up by two masked men on Geysers Spring Road approximately 4 miles east of Cloverdale. The robbers, brothers-in-law, took the Wells, Fargo & Co. strongbox and ordered the driver to continue on his way.

When word of the robbery reached Cloverdale, Constable Crigler deputized Samuel Allen and the two of them started out after the highwaymen. They caught up to them in a rocky area near Sulpher Creek at about 5:30 that afternoon. Constable Crigler ordered the men to put down their weapons and surrender. One put down his revolver but the second didn’t comply. He shot Constable Crigler in the right side of his body with a .44 caliber Colt’s navy revolver killing him almost immediately. Deputy Samuel Allen quickly returned fire with his .44 caliber Winchester rifle, striking the shooter through his left eye, killing him instantly.

The other suspect retrieved his weapon and exchanged gunfire with Samuel Allen and was seriously wounded in his right arm. He escaped but was caught two days later while walking down the railroad tracks about 1 ½ miles south of Santa Rosa. He was still in possession of the money taken from the strongbox. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Wells, Fargo & Co. gave $300 to Constable Crigler’s widow and another $300 to Samuel Allen for the efforts of the lawmen.

Constable Crigler had served with the agency for 3 years and also served a dual role as a deputy sheriff with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department. He was survived by his wife and four children and is buried in the Cloverdale Cemetery.