Sheriff's office to auction century-old machine gun

NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio (AP) — A northeast Ohio sheriff's office is auctioning off a nearly century-old machine gun to help pay for new weapons for deputies.

The Dover-New Philadelphia Times Reporter reports that an expert has estimated the Thompson Model 1921's value at $37,000.

The weapon was purchased by Tuscarawas County Sheriff Abe Laird in 1934. Sheriff's Office staff is unsure what the machine gun was originally used for.

Lt. Brian Alford says the Thompson was a popular law enforcement weapon during Depression-era mine riots.

Alford says he was the last person to fire the weapon five years ago.

Sheriff Orvis Campbell expects the gun to fetch nearly $50,000 at a September auction.