POMFRET, Conn. — On April 6, 1928, a couple of suspects believed to be behind a string of armed robberies in the northeast were making their way south through Connecticut in a Willys-Knight Sedan.

World War I veteran and state trooper Irving Nelson was posted at Station No. 5 in Danielson that evening when the call came in from Willimantic police; they were headed his way.

With only his motorcycle, Nelson heeded the instruction and went north towards Putnam, located the car in Pomfret, and attempted to pull it over. The suspects took off, and while in pursuit, six shots were fired at him. Two bullets hit him; he slowed his motorcycle down, stopped in a driveway, collapsed, and died.

Six days later, the suspects were caught following one of the largest manhunts at that point in history

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