In 1897, Sheriff Phil McEvoy and Undersheriff Joel Mansfield were in pursuit of a man named Thomas Flannelly, who was wanted for murder. Flannelly was tracked to a house and found hiding in a bedroom. When the door was kicked in, Flannelly fired one shot from a riflehitting McEvoy in the arm. McEvoy contracted blood poisoning and died three days later. Flannelly was hanged in 1902 at San Quentin prison.