Irving B. Washburn

No Image of the Agent Available
Date of Birth: 
1894
Date of Death: 
July 13, 1928
Location of Death: 
Albany, NY

Circumstances of Death

During the early morning hours, Prohibition Agents Irving Washburn and Wilfred Grisson were working in the Madison Avenue section of Albany, NY.  The agents stopped a car loaded with illicit liquor and attempted to arrest the driver, Joseph Schepist (aka Joseph Skeps), and several other male occupants.  Schepist and the others resisted. During a scuffle, Agent Washburn was fatally shot.  Before he died, Agent Washburn identified Barbero "Jack" Zulo as the person who shot him.  Arrest warrants were also issued for Joseph Schepist, Joseph Zulo and Angelo "Charlie" Gutta.

Background

Agent Washburn joined the Prohibition Unit on July 31, 1926, with an annual salary of $1,800.  He served in offices at Buffalo and Albany, NY.

Personal

Agent Washburn was born in Ossining, NY.  He was survived by his wife, Mary (née Van Wormer).

Associated Artifacts: 
Image of The Washington Post newspaper article, dated July 14, 1928, titled Dry Agent Invades Albany Underworld; Dying of Shot
Image of a newspaper article with headline, Albany Dry Agent Fatally Shot in Raid
Image of a service record card for Irving B. Washburn
Image of Warren C. Frahm certificate of death
Last Reviewed September 23, 2016