THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE   Private Charles L. Stewart Pennsylvania State Police Troop "A" 1907-1930

Biographical Info
Age: 22
Years of Service: 1 year and 1 month

Incident Details
Date of Incident: July 18, 1930
Cause of Death: Gunshot


Charles L. Stewart was born December 18, 1907, at Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania.

He enlisted with the Constabulary from Reynoldsville, on June 1, 1929, and was assigned to Troop A, Greensburg.

On July 18, 1930, Privates Stewart, Walter B. Kunkle, James T. Knox, Leon H. Gage and George R. Belin, were assigned to a surveillance detail at the Grandview Cemetery near Monongahela, Washington County. In response to a Black Hand Society blackmail threat, $10,000 was placed in a decoy box at the cemetery. Private Stewart approached a passerby for questioning. The stranger pulled a gun and fired three shots at him. Private Stewart returned fire and killed his assailant, John Sabo. He died while undergoing surgery at Memorial Hospital, Monongahela.

Private Stewart is buried in Emerickville Cemetery, Reynoldsville. He was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Orley V. Stewart and two brothers , Lawrence and Arthur, all of Reynoldsville.

At 22, Private Stewart had completed one year and one month of Constabulary service.