Officer Elmer A. Trout, 36, died September 23, 1935, as a result of injuries received five years earlier when he was attacked and severely beaten outside the Benfatti pool hall at 333 N. Union Ave.
On February 22, 1930, Trout attempted to disperse a mob of 15-20 “young hoodlums” when the group assaulted him, cut him on the head, neck and face with a knife, knocked him down and kicked him numerous times leaving him unconscious. He managed to fire his gun one time and wound a suspect, Angelo Martino, 23, in the leg, before the gun malfunctioned.
Investigating officers included Night Captain Reuben Pratt and Officers Dewey Roberts and John Hopkins. They found that Trout had attempted to break up the group which had been shouting insults at passersby. Sixteen people were arrested for the attack.
Twelve were released during the trial after witnesses were unable to positively identify them as being part of the gang that beat the officer. The four that were identified at the trial on March 6, 1930 were: Steve Buccambuso, 17, Sam Buccambuso, 21, their father, Gaetano (Tony) Buccambuso, 58 and Martino. Trout testified at the trial. That same day they were convicted of rioting by a three-man jury in Justice of the Peace, William Walk’s court. Sam Buccambuso received a six-month jail sentence while his brother Steve and Angelo Martino each received three-month sentences. Tony Buccambuso was fined $100 and costs.
Elmer Arthur Trout was born on February 27, 1899, in Canton (McPherson County) Kansas. He married Wilma May Davis on July 1, 1927, in Pueblo. He started work at the Colorado Steelworks on August 14, 1917. He left to join the U.S. Marine Corps on Jun 5, 1918, and returned to the steelworks after his discharge on March 27, 1919. He joined the Pueblo Police Department on March 2, 1927.
As a result of his injuries, he developed an epileptic condition and was forced to retire from the force on July 16, 1934. He received a pension from the city. He was admitted to a local hospital on September 11, 1935, and died there 12 days later from Diphtheria. Physicians determined that his injuries from five years ago were responsible for his death. He was survived by his wife and four children; Elmer Arthur Jr., 7, Willa Mae, 5, Geraldine Ruth, 3, and Joyce Emily, 2. Services were held on September 26 at the Davis Mortuary with interment following at Roselawn cemetery.
EOW: 23 Sep 1935
Cause of Death: Assault InjuriesSources:
Pueblo Police Department - Chief Luis Velez
Trout family history provided to Pueblo PD
Pueblo Chieftain – Mar 4, 1917: Feb 23-26, Mar 1,2,7, 1930: Sep 24-26, 1935
Pueblo Star Journal – Jul 7, 23, 1934; Sep 26, 1935
Ancestry - Library Edition