J. W. Blue Dies As Results of Accidental Discharge of Rifle; Death won a grim race Sunday afternoon when Jess W. Blue expired at the doors of a Modesto hospital following a fatal accident in the hills west of Patterson that morning, in which two were wounded. Blue's wound in itself was not critical but the loss of blood proved fatal within a few hours. His companion E. E. Towne, had an exceedingly narrow escape from instant death when the same bullet passed through his check, inflicting a minor wound. Towne, who is well known on the West Side, having worked as a painter for many years in this section, was occupying one of Blue's cottages while working here, and joined Blue on a morning trip to his mountain ranch in Del Puerto canyon, on a casual invitation, as they expected to be gone but a short time. The accident occurred as Blue was alighting at his cabin. According to Towne, who was in the car with him. Blue's 30-30 rifle was at his left side in the driver's seat, with the muzzle resting on the floor, and was knocked over as Blue stepped over it to get out of the car. The gun was upset and discharged the bullet tearing through the muscles of Blue's leg and ranging upward, striking Towne in the lip and passing out through his right cheek.

Break Into Cabin.; Towne wanted to bind up Blue's wound at once, but he refused to allow it and told Towne to break into the cabin and call help, saying he was all right. Accordingly Towne forced a window and after some delay, due to unfamiliarity with the phone, called central. Miss Virginia Evans was on duty and could not locate Dr. E. G. Allen, so called her father, J. H. Evans, and the doctor was found at church, and the two immediately left for the cabin. In the meantime Blue had started up the slope, using his gun as a crutch and climbed the flight of steps leading to the house. Towne assisted him to a bed, and then the wound was bound up, stopping the flow. According to Dr. Allen, this delay was fatal. If it had been tied up immediately after the accident , the tremendous loss of blood, pumped out through one of the biggest arteries in the body, would have been avoided, or at least lessened to a degree that would have enabled him to reach the hospital and resort to blood transfusion. The accident took place about eleven o'clock and it was about an hour later when help arrived. The trip back to town was necessarily much slower and it was after one when they come in. Some delay was occasioned here while Mrs. Blue was picked up and then the four raced for Modesto as Blue began to weaken and it was realized that he must have lost a great amount of blood. He grew weaker and weaker enroute, and as the door of Robertson's hospital was reached and Allen went in for help to get him out of the car, the end came. A corner's jury was impaneled Monday to view the remains in anticipation of a formal inquest to be held at a date to be set later, as Corner Shannon is absent on his vacation at present.

Had Active Career; Jess William Blue was almost 53 years of age and a native of Iowa, whence he came to California 21 years ago, spending the past 15 years in this section. His widow, his mother and two brothers survive him, the mother and brothers being in Iowa, He saw active service in the Philippines in the Spanish-American war and afterwards when the Panama canal was under construction he served in the police force of the Canal Zone, a service which provided plenty of action also, so that he had an adventurous career. Coming to Patterson he secured a homestead in Del Puerto canyon and has since added to his mountain holdings at various times having just recently purchased a large additional acreage of range land which completed an excellent cattle ranch. He has been a deputy sheriff for many years and in October, 1921, took over the position of city marshal also, which he held until May of this year. A fearless and energetic officer, his activity created considerable dissension and several vigorous efforts were made to oust him, but without success until the night watchman position was created this spring in conjunction with his job, as task which he declined to perform. He had a notable record of accomplishment as a peace officer and could always be depended on to get his man without thought of personal safety. He was a member of Richard K. Whitmore Post of Spanish War Veterans and of Patterson