Pensacola Police Officer Edward O'Brien Pursell was born in Pensacola, Florida in Myrtle Grove on September 25, 1898, the son of Henry Thomas Pursell (1845-1920) and Louisa Elizabeth Williams (1860-1900). His father worked in the lumber trades in 1885 and by 1900 had become a widower as well as a lumber inspector.
As for Edward he spent his early life in a variety of jobs that began with his enlistment in the US Navy during WWI. He enlisted in Pensacola at the age of 18 on March 16, 1917, aboard the USS Bushnell as a "landsman or recruit" cook. Along with him came his brother George Anderson Pursell who was following in his footsteps. After serving in this capacity for two months he was promoted to Ship's Cook 4th Class. After eight months he had become a 3rd Class Fireman and worked his way to a 1st Class rating. He was discharged on July 17, 1919, as a 2nd Class Engineman while stationed aboard the USS Bushnell in New York, NY. Returning home, he would marry in 1920 to Katie Lee Helton (1902-1990), the daughter of Alex L. Helton (1874-1913) and Ola Villar (1880-1920). At the time, he was working as a chauffeur at the Navy Yard until he became a fireman by 1938. By 1940, he was living at 1722 Gulf Beach Hwy and working as a power plant operator. He would later become a civilian police officer at the Naval Air Station before joining the Police Police Department as an officer (Badge #69) in November 1943.
In the meantime, Edward became known far and wide as a 11-year champion "fiddler" over a five state area of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky. He was a "self-taught" fiddler and won his first championship in Jacksonville in 1926. He did relate though that even though he loved fiddling, he'd still rather be cop.
However, on the night of August 9, 1944, Officer Pursell was patrolling with fellow officer Hugh "Buddy" Phillip Peake (1913-1961). At some point they came into contact with a naval officer Lt. A. D. Byers who began making derogatory remarks about Pursell and the police force. The altercation resulted in Lt. Byers being arrested for operating an automobile with insufficient lights, driving with a spotlight, and cursing and using obscene language. During the arrest procedures Lt. Byers resisted to the point that he had to be subdued. The physical exertion caused Pursell to become ill within 15 minutes and an ambulance was called. He was placed under oxygen and died shortly afterwards from a heart attack on August 10. Allegations were made by Lt. Byers of abuse at the hands of the officers however there were no visible cuts or marks about his face, arms, or head when he appeared in court. He was fined for the traffic charges and turned over to the Shore Patrol for military action on the others. Pursell's partner that night, Hugh P. Peake would pass away unexpectedly on July 2, 1961, and was buried in Bayview Cemetery. He had been with the police force for 17 years and had been promoted to detective at the time of his death. Prior to that he had been a deputy sheriff with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office for three years.
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