Grayson County TXGenWeb

Sherman Daily Democrat
Saturday, April 5, 1919
pg 4

Murphy's Bond Set

After an examination before Justice Henry Wilson yesterday afternoon, Homer Murphy, the negro who is charged with shooting "Dude" Stone to death Thursday, was remanded to jail on failure to give bond in the sum of $5,000. Murphy was represented at the examination by Ben F. Gafford.

Van Alstyne Leader
April 10, 1919

One Negro in Grave, One in Jail

B. C. Stone, a young negro man of Sherman, better known as "Dude, was shot and killed by Homer Murphy another young negro, in front of the Andrews building, 215 East Mulberry street, at 1:30 Thursday afternoon of last week.

Murphy used a 38-calbre revolver and while he fired four or five times at Stone, only one shot took effect striking Stone in the small of the back to the left of the sine. Stone was taken into the rear of Goodson's drug store, a Negro establishment in the Andrews building, where he died about 1:45.

Murphy was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Allen, and is now in the county jail. The cause of the shooting is unknown though it is said to have arisen from a quarrel over a dice game. Both Negroes were about 20 years of age.

Stone was the son of Bill Stone and lived on South Montgomery Street near the Texas Nursery. Murphy lives on the farm of John McKinney, two miles southeast of town, but has been working at Nall's drug store, the Binkley hotel and other places in Sherman for some time.

Sherman Daily Democrat
Friday, April 18, 1919
pg 2

Monday, May 12th, 1919
14793 State vs. Homer Murphy. (Special venire of 72 men ordered drawn returnable May 8, 1919)

Sherman Daily Democrat
Monday, May 12, 1919
pg 4

Homer Murphy On Trial

Homer Murphy, Sherman negro, was placed on trial in the Fifty-Ninth District Court this morning, charged with the murder of Dude Stone in this city in March. A special venire of seventy-two men was present from which to select a jury. Murphy is represented by Attorney Ben F. Gafford.

Sherman Daily Democrat
May 13, 1919
pg 5

Homer Murphy Trial

A night session was held by Judge F. E. Wilcox last night in the Homer Murphy murder case, at which testimony was concluded. Arguments by counsel consumed the morning and the case was in the hands of the jury this afternoon. At one time yesterday, Judge Wilcox ordered the court room cleared because of disorder. Murphy is charged with killing another negro, Dude Stone, in this city in March. The trouble arose over a crap game.

Sherman Daily Democrat
Wednesday May 14, 1919
pg 4

NOT GUILTY

The jury in the case of the Stats vs. Homer Murphy, negro, charged with the killing of B. C. (Dude) Stone in this city last March returned a verdict of not guilty yesterday, afternoon. Testimony was introduced by the defense showing that Stone had a reputation of being a "bad" negro, and that he had threatened Murphy's life on several occasions. The defendant pleaded self defense.

When the verdict was read, negroes in the court room gave a demonstration of hand clapping, which was promptly ordered stopped by Judge Wilcox. The verdict obviously met the approval of a large number of colored citizens. It was the second demonstration during the trial. Judge Wilcox having ordered the court room cleared Monday while testimony was being taken.