Wise County Constable's Office, Virginia
End of Watch: Sunday, June 13, 1897
Age: 25
Tour of Duty: 1 day
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: June 12, 1897
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Deputy Constable E.A. Blondell was stabbed to death after arresting a man who was drunk and had shot another man earlier in the evening.
The subject started shooting indiscriminately in the area of Double Tunnel (now known as Natural Tunnel) when he shot a man in the leg without provocation. The wounded man immediately went before the magistrate and swore out a warrant.
Because there was no constable in the area, E.A. Blondell was deputized to serve the arrest warrant. Deputy Blondell enlisted the help of another man and went off in search of the suspect. When they found him they were able to disarm and arrest him. As they walked to jail the man suddenly produced a knife and stabbed Deputy Blondell in the stomach, disemboweling him. Despite being wounded, he and the other man opened fire on the man, killing him. Deputy Constable Blondell died from the wound the following morning.
Deputy Constable Blondell was survived by his wife, one child, and brother.