2:45 am, CPR Depot, Edmonton, August 30, 1919. Edmonton City Police Constable Hugh Nixon approached a man standing at the side entrance of the Twin City Transfer in Edmonton, He asked the man what he was doing and the man pulled out a gun and shot him.

On September 1st the police got a break - the had been an attempted murder in a district west of Edmonton - the description matched that of the man given by Constable Nixon before he died. They already had a warrant for the man, John Larsen on a hold-up charge. The fugitive was heading west.

Police Chief Hill hired "Wop" May to take Detective James Campbell to search for the man. They left Edmonton on September 2nd - It was the first airplane chase on record in the Dominion of Canada. They searched the bush west of Edmonton but could not find a place to land, and headed on to the town of Edson - "Wop" managed to set the plane down between the telegraph wires near the train station.

"Wop" took off on the main street of Edson, hitting the town pump with his wing as he turned the Curtiss "Canuck"aircraft around. After landing at Wabamun for fuel he took off again, for Edmonton.

Larsen was arrested by James Campbell and Alberta Provincial Police Constable McElroy near the Cadomin Mine and rather than wait for the train commandeered a railway speeder and headed for Edson. During the ride Larsen threw himself off the speeder and headed into the bush. He was re-captured and after a trial was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Thanks to Keith Davidson, writer for the Edmonton "Examiner" for his research & article in March of 2002.