This page is dedicated to the memory of

Date of Birth: 01/11/1900

End of Watch: 06/16/1932

The following was taken from transcripts of the Lassen County Coroner’s Inquest, held on June 18^th, 1932.

On June 16th of 1932, Bert Bergstrom, owner of a Greenville pool hall called "Bert’s Place," reported his business had been broken into around 2:30am. He contacted Plumas County Deputy Sheriff and Constable of  Indian Township, Stacy Baccala, to report the robbery. Among the numerous items stolen from the business were two slot machines, a radio, and fourteen cartons of cigarettes as well as cash. Upon examining the scene around the pool hall, Deputy Baccala discovered tire tracks in the dirt roadway and recalled seeing a dirty old Chevrolet coupe driving around Greenville that same evening with similar tire tread as the tracks. Following the tracks, he began a pursuit of the suspects, heading toward Chester.

Following the tire tracks from Chester on the Red-Bluff Susanville highway into Lassen County, Deputy Baccala overtook the Chevrolet coupe by the Brunson Ranch near Milford at 5:30am. Activating his siren the suspect coupe stopped in the roadway. The siren had awakened a Mr. Lavern Young who lived on the Brunson Ranch and witnessed the tragedy that soon transpired.

A suspect, who later gave his name as Jack Sullivan and the driver of the coupe, exited the car. His passenger and accomplice, having the names of Billy Evans or the Reverend Fairfield, according to Sullivan, remained seated. Mr. Young testified that Deputy Baccala began removing items, presumably evidence, from the back of the suspect’s coupe, placing them nearby on the bank of the roadway. The witness recalled one item as a gallon jug of whiskey. Suddenly, the passenger jumped out of the coupe. Deputy Baccala was facing the two men, who were standing on either side of their car, when shots rang out. The witness could not tell who fired first, but recalled the deputies arm out stretched and pointed towards one of the suspects "who stood his ground," while the other suspect took cover behind the car. The evidence later showed a total of 14 shots fired during the gunfight. Deputy Baccala was armed with his .38 caliber revolver. Sullivan later testified he used a .32-20 and a .30 Government (1903, later became .30-06) rifle to fire upon the deputy. Shell casings found at the scene indicate another weapon used was a Luger automatic pistol.

Mortally wounded, Deputy Baccala ran for cover towards a clump of bushes seventy-five yards away near a ditch by the roadway, where he collapsed. Both suspects followed the deputy and according to the witness fired "volley after volley" into the prostrate figure of Deputy Baccala. The deputy was hit a total of seven times and died of his wounds at the scene. Handcuffs clutched in his right hand indicate he may have been in the process of arresting the two men just prior to the gunfight.  Sullivan drove away in Baccala’s car and was later arrested in Reno Nevada.  According to the witness, the other suspect limped to the Chevrolet Coupe and left in it.

Following a Coroner’s inquest on June the 18^th, 1932 in Susanville, the jury found Jack Sullivan and "person unknown" guilty of homicide. Plumas County Sheriff L. A. Brayden testified at the inquest.

The suspect named as Billy Evans was later identified as a Billy Monroe or Munroe. Jack Sullivan was later identified as Earl Munroe, the father of Billy. The following news articles concerning Billy Munroe come from the Surprise Valley Record, in Modoc County.

August 3, 1932

FIRST DEATH SENTENCE GIVEN IN LASSEN COUNTY

The first death sentence of death by hanging ever imposed in Lassen County, was meted out by Judge H. D. Burroughs last Saturday upon William Munroe, who plead guilty to first degree murder in the killing of Stacy Baccala, deputy sheriff of Greenville. It is understood that the execution will take place on September 30th at the State Prison.

November 2, 1932

MONROE PAYS LIFE PENALTY FOR SLAYING

Last Friday, Oct. 28th, Billy Monroe, 30-year out law was hanged for the murder of Stacy Baccala, Plumas County Deputy Sheriff, in Lassen County.  Shortly before he was led to the gallows, he buckled his artificial leg, which had been taken from him after he admitted using it as a hiding place for a razor blade, with which he attempted suicide Wednesday. Previously, in the Lassen County jail, he took nearly a dozen saw blades from the leg and gave them to the sheriff. His feeble attempt to end his life after his father, Earl Monroe, visited him, was the only evidence of nervousness or fear he displayed while in prison. The gashes he inflicted on his throat and wrist were superficial.

KILLED PLUMAS OFFICER

Monroe shot and killed Baccala last June 16th, when the deputy overtook him and his father near Milford after a robbery at Greenville. As Baccala ordered them from their car, the younger Monroe shot him with a rifle, then emptied the contents of two pistols into the (fallen) officer’s body. The son was arrested a short time later and his father was apprehended in Reno. Billy was convicted of the killing and sentenced to death. The elder Monroe was convicted of manslaughter and is serving a ten-year sentence in
the prison.