Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Oklahoma
End of Watch: Sunday, August 10, 1941
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 10, 1941
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Three shot and killed; One executed
Warden Jess Dunn was shot and killed when four men attempted to escape from the Oklahoma State Prison. The four suspects took Warden Dunn hostage, stole a prison employee's car, and attempted to escape but were intercepted by two Pittsburg County deputies and an ex-prison guard at a road block a short distance from the prison. A gun battle ensued and Warden Dunn, Deputy Sheriff William Ford, and three of the suspects were shot and killed.
The fourth suspect was serving a life sentence for the murder of Night Watchman Elijah C. Smith of the Byars Police Department on June 27, 1937. He was convicted of Warden Dunn's murder and executed in the electric chair on July 14, 1943.
One of the suspects who was killed was serving a life sentence for murdering Prison Guard Charles D. Powell at the same prison during a mass escape attempt on May 13, 1936.