By Richard Senate
Edward “Guy” McMartin came to Ventura County to farm on the Oxnard Plain. In 1902 he was persuaded to run for the office of Ventura County Sheriff and was elected. He proved to be a popular and successful lawman who even introduced automobiles to the force in 1906. He was so good at his job that he was elected five times. In 1921 a number of burglaries were reported in Saticoy and Santa Paula. A crew of two men were responsible for the crimes and Sheriff McMartin took up the case of the crime duo . Prophetically, he told a friend that the case would terminate in tragedy.
On Sunday, August 14th 1921, the two burglars robbed and killed 19 year old Justo Garcia as he left the Oxnard Sugar Beet Factory. The murder shocked the community and days later one Tony Rose came forward and identified the two robbers, now turned killers. Not only did Mr. Rose know who they were, but where they had fled. Sheriff “Guy” McMartin, with Oxnard Constable W.E. Kelly, and Tony Rose went down to Owensworth (Now Canoga Park) in Los Angeles County to arrest the two men. The three men walked up to the small hideout but they didn’t know they were observed by the two desperate men inside. One was Pedro Ramirez, who had killed five men before.
Before Sheriff could even knock on the door, Ramirez jerked open the portal and fired point blank into McMartin’s chest, striking the heart, and killing him instantly. He fired again hitting Constable Kelly in the abdomen with what would prove to be a fatal wound. Mr. Rose, terrified, fled for his life as Ramirez fired at him several times but missed. Others in the area witnessed the murder and a local patrolman named Murry heard the shots and followed the gunman as he tried to escape. He ordered Ramirez to drop his gun, and when he refused, Murry shot him in the hip. The wounded man fled into the bushes. The patrolman heard a single shot after that. Now Los Angles County deputies arrived and surrounded the bushes and when they investigated the found Ramirez, dead, shot in the heart by his own hand.
Constable Kelly was taken to a Los Angeles Hospital where he died on the operating table of his wounds. Ramirez’s partner in crime, Joseph Duran, escaped in the confusion only to be shot dead in a dance hall not long afterwards. All of Ventura County was draped in black with flags flown at half staff. Sheriff Edward “Guy” McMartin was laid to rest at Ivy Lawn Cemetery on August 24, 1921, mourned by his wife Carrie and daughter Gertrude and his many friends from all over Ventura County. He is the only Ventura County Sheriff to be killed in the line of duty. Perhaps a statue of this lawman should be erected to honor the memory if this hero of Ventura County Law Enforcement.
About Richard Senate: In 1978 I saw a ghost. It wasn’t something I was looking for–it just happened. But, that chance encounter with a phantom monk at Mission San Antonio de Padua changed my life and caused me to take the path of psychic investigator. From that time, some 40 years ago, I have traveled all over seeing ghosts and information. My passion even determined my choice of mate–My wife, Debbie Christenson Senate is a gifted psychic medium. We have investigated some of the most famous haunted houses on the planet–from the Tower of London, to the Whaley House, The Queen Mary, to the old prison on Alcatraz Island. It has been a long ride. But on the way I have had the chance to work with some of the greats in 20th Century Ghost Hunting, from the great Dr. Hans Holzer, to Dr. D. Scott Rogo and Zack Began. I have authored over 20 books–some are still in print. Many can be found on Amazon.com. I continue to give talks and tours but, with my retirement I have had to limit what I do–I still love it and I have many questions to answer and sites to investigate. Contact me if you would like a speaker or for a TV guest spot or Radio program.
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