Harry Minto

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Harry Minto
Born	Oregon
Died	September 27, 1915 Oregon
Occupation	Law enforcement

Harry Percy Minto was the superintendent of the Oregon State Penitentiary in the U.S. state of Oregon from 1914 until his death in 1915. An escaped inmate killed Minto in the line of duty.

1 Early life
2 Death
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Early life

Harry Minto was the son of Oregon pioneer John Minto, for whom Salem's Minto-Brown Island Park was named. In 1890, Minto was married to Jesse Minto.^[1] Minto was chief of police for the Salem, Oregon police department from 1891 to 1895^[2] and he served two terms as the Marion County sheriff. He was elected sheriff in 1908, and served through 1913.^[3]

In 1914, Minto was appointed as the Superintendent of the Oregon State Penitentiary by Oregon Governor Oswald West. He replaced Berton K. Lawson who had been involved in the events at Copperfield, Oregon early in 1914.^[1] As warden he supervised the arrival of serial killer Carl Panzram in June of 1915.^[4]

[edit] Death

On September 27, 1915 inmate Otto Hooker escaped from a work gang at the prison and Minto was one of many law enforcement personnel that went searching for the escaped prisoner.^[1] After Hooker shot and wounded one law enforcement officer, Minto caught up to Hooker near Albany around 11:30 pm.^[1] There Minto challenged Hooker, and Hooker shot Minto in the head, killing him instantly.^[1] Hooker was mortally wounded the next day during capture. Minto’s remains were cremated in Portland, Oregon.^[1]