 The Whitewright Sun
Friday, March 20, 1917 pg. 1 Killing At Howe Tom Murphy, well-known landowner of Sherman, was shot and instantly killed at Howe, Sunday afternoon. The shooting was at the home of Si Wheat, a brother-in-law, who is charged by warrant with murder in connection with Murphy's death. Following an inquest conducted by Justice of the Peace McDonough of Van Alstyne, who also swore out the warrant, Wheat was taken into custody by Sheriff Roberts of Sherman. Two bullets from a rifle passed through Murphy's body, one penetrating the breast over the heart and the other entering the right side. Wheat declined to make a statement. His examining trial was held at Van Alstyne Monday. His bond was set at $10,000.00 which he readily gave and was released from custody. Murphy was 58 years old and unmarried. He was many years a railroad contractor. His sister, Miss Kate Murphy, married Wheat several years ago. Wheat's family resides at Howe where he has been conducting a dry goods store.  Sherman Daily Democrat Monday, March 26, 1917 pg. 1 Thirty-Sixth Year TOM MURPHY IS SHOT AND KILLED End Came at Howe, Where He went Sunday afternoon Burial will be Tuesday morning Si Wheat, Brother-in-Law, to Mr. Murphy, Arrested on Charge of Murder and Released on $10,000 Bond. Tom Murphy, 58 years of age, one of the best known men in Grayson county, was shot and instantly killed Sunday afternoon. The shooting occurred at the home of his brother-in-law, Si Wheat, at Howe, twelve miles south of Sherman, and two bullets took effect. One shot struck him on the left side of the breast and went through his heart; the other one struck on the right side of the breast, a little lower down than the other. Both went entirely through the body. The weapon used was a Winchester rifle of 38-caliber. Shortly after the shooting, Sheriff Tom Roberts took Si Wheat in custody, on a warrant sworn out by Constable Swindle of Howe before Justice of the Peace McDonough of Van Alstyne, charging Mr. Wheat with murder, and brought him to Sherman and placed him in the Grayson county jail. The shooting caused a profound sensation, both here and at Howe, where both men were well and favorably known. Tom Murphy was a wealthy land owner and had lived in Grayson county many years. Formerly he was a bridge contractor and built many of the bridges on the H. & T.C. He was a bachelor, never having married. He was down town yesterday afternoon, and at the interurban station talked to a number of his friends. He left the city at 4:35 o'clock, going to Howe, the home of his sister, Mrs. Kate Wheat, wife of Si Wheat. He had been in town only a short time when the shooting took place. Justice of the Peace McDonough of Van Alstyne was called and held an inquest, the finding being that Mr. Murphy came to his death by gunshot wounds. Constable Swindle called Sheriff Tom Roberts, who was on the scene with his deputy, in thirty minutes after he was called. Si Wheat is as well known as was Mr. Murphy. He was reared in Sherman and for many years was engaged in the gents' furnishing business here, at one time being a partner with the late C.P. Gregory. He married Miss Kate Murphy a number of years ago. For some time the family has resided at Howe, where for a while Mr. Wheat was engaged in the dry goods business. Later he moved his store to Frisco, but his family continued to reside in Howe. Mr. Murphy, his brother-in-law, was interested with him in the business. At the time of his death Mr. Murphy had among his effects in the pockets of his clothing quite a number of important papers. There were two life insurance policies, one for $6,000 and another for $4,000, in old line companies. There was also his "last will and testament," made in 1912. In this will Mr. Murphy disposed of about 600 acres of land and quite a sum of money. Among the largest benefactors of the will was Mrs. Kate Wheat, wife of Si Wheat, who gets by the terms of the will more than 100 acres of land and $3,000 in money. All of his brothers and sisters and sister-in-law and several nieces are remembered generously. The body of Mr. Murphy was brought to Sherman in the John C. Dannel Undertaking Company ambulance, and was embalmed. The first report that came to Sherman was that Mr. Murphy had dropped dead shortly after reaching Howe and his relatives here were so informed by the current rumor and reports. They were shocked at the report of his untimely death, but this shock was nothing to be compared to that received later when it was learned that Tom Murphy had been shot. Mr. Murphy is survived by his aged mother, who lives on a farm east of Sherman, and two brothers, Jim Murphy of Port Arthur and Joe Murphy of Shawnee, Oklahoma. John Murphy, who died at his home east of Sherman about two years ago, and George Murphy who died in Denison several years ago and whose family live on East Lamar street, this city, were also his brothers. There is also a sister, Mrs. Anir Crous, who lives east of Sherman three miles. Si Wheat Released on Bond Si Wheat was taken to Van Alstyne by Sheriff Tom Roberts this morning, where he was given examining trial before Justice of the Peace, G.T. McDonough, who held the inquest over Tom Murphy's body yesterday. Mr. Wheat waved examination and after hearing the evidence in the case his bond was set at $10,000, which he readily gave and was released from custody. The following signed the bond as surety, Si Wheat, Lon Tuck, J.P. Wheat, J.F. Meek, Chas. E. Wheat, W.D. Arnspiker, Silas Hare, W.W. Collins and J.P. Davis. Mr. Wheat had no lawyer to represent him at the examining trial before Justice McDonough, and it was stated today that he had not as yet employed an attorney. Following is the record of the proceedings before Justice McDonough: "State of Texas vs. Si Wheat, No. 2031, pending in Justice Court Precinct No.4, Grayson County, Texas. "Evidence taken before G.T. McDonough, Justice of the Peace Precinct No. 4, Grayson county, Texas, sitting as an examining court, in the above entitled and numbered cause. "The defendant, after being duly warned that any statement he might make where in he is charged in the above styled and numbered cause with the offense of murder might be used as evidence against him and not for him on the final trial of said cause, made no statement. T.W. Roberts, being duly sworn testified as follows: "My name is T.W. Roberts." "I am sheriff of Grayson county, Texas." "I knew Tom Murphy in his life time." "Tom Murphy is dead." "I arrested Mr. Wheat for the killing of Mr. Murphy on the 25th day of March, 1917, at Howe, Texas." "Mr. Wheat was at his home in Howe, Texas, when I arrested him and it was about 8 p.m. or a little after." "I found a gun (rifle.) "The gun was in the room where I found Mr. Murphy, dead, under the covering of the bed, and about 8 or 9 feet from where Mr. Murphy was. "Mr. Murphy was on the floor." "I examined the gun and found one empty shell and one loaded shell in the gun. "I examined Mr. Murphy's body, and it had two gunshot wounds in it." "The wounds were in front, on the breast." "This occurred in Grayson County, Texas." TOM W. ROBERTS, Sheriff." "Subscribed and sworn to before me, this the 26th day of March, 1917. "G.T. McDonough, "Justice of the Peace, Precinct No.4, Grayson County, Texas." FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS Funeral services will be held tomorrow morning at St. Mary's Catholic church, conducted by Rev. Joseph Blum, the pastor. Interment will be in the Catholic cemetery. The funeral will be under the auspices of the Knights of Columbus. Waco Morning News Tuesday, March 27, 1917 pg 8 Tom Murphy Is Killed in Shooting Near Howe Special to the News. Sherman, March 26 - Tom Murphy, a well know land owner of this city, was shot and instantly killed at Howe, twelve miles south of here late yesterday afternoon. Si Wheat, a brother-in-law of Murphy, was arrested in connection with the killing. Two bullets from a rifle passed through Murphys body, one penetrating the breast over the heart and the other entering his right side. Wheat declined to make a statement and waived examining trial at Howe. The Paris Morning News March 28, 1917 ADMITTED TO BOND FOLLOWING HOWE KILLING Sherman, Tex., March 27 - Si Wheat of Howe, charged with killing Tom Murphy, wealthy land owner of this city, at his home in Howe, made bond in the sum of $10,000 and was released from custody Monday. Wheat waived examination before Justice of the Peace McDonough at Van Alstyne. He has made no statement and as far as known has employed no attorney. Among the effects found on Mr. Murphy were two life insurance policies in old line companies, written for $6000 and $4000 respectively, and a will dated 1912, disposing of about 600 acres of land and quite a large sum of money. According to the terms of the will, Mrs. Kate Wheat, wife of Si Wheat and sister of the deceased, gets more than 100 acres of land and $3000 in money. The Whitewright Sun Friday, March 30, 1917 pg. 1 KILLING AT HOWE Tom Murphy, well known landowner of Sherman, was shot and instantly killed at Howe, Sunday afternoon. The shooting was at the home of Si Wheat, a brother-in-law, who is charged by warrant with murder in connection with Murphy's death. Following an inquest conducted by Justice of the Peace McDonough of Van Alstyne, who also swore out the warrant, Wheat was taken into custody by Sheriff Roberts of Sherman. Two bullets from a rifle passed through Murphy's body, one penetrating the breast over the heart and the other entering the right side. Wheat declined to make a statement. His examining trial was held at Van Alstyne Monday. His bond was set at $10,000.00, which he readily gave and was released from custody. Murphy was 58 years old and unmarried. He was many years a railroad contractor. His sister, Miss Kate Murphy married Wheat several years ago. Wheat's family resides at Howe where he has been conducting a dry goods store. Sherman Daily Democrat Sherman, Texas Thursday May 31, 1917 pg.4 Si Wheat Case Continued The case of the State vs. Si Wheat, charged by indictment with the killing of Tom Murphy, at Howe last March was called for trial in the Fifteenth District court this morning. Counsel for the defense, Col. C. B. Randell of this city, filed a motion for a continuance of the case on the grounds of the absence of one of the material witnesses, Haynes C. Hughes of Howe, who is attending the officers training school at Leon Springs. The motion was sustained by Judge Cal T. Freeman, and the case continued until the next term of court, which is in October. The Whitewright Sun June 8, 1917 Si Wheat Case Continued The case of the State vs. Si Wheat, charged by indictment with the killing of Tom Murphy, at Howe last March, was called for trial in the Fifteenth District Court last Thursday morning. Council for the defense, Col C. B. Randell filed a motion for a continuance of the case on the grounds of the absence of one of the material witnesses, Haynes C. Hughes of Howe, who is attending the officers training school in Leon Springs. The motion was sustained by Judge Cal. T. Freeman, and the case continued until the next term of court, which is in October. The Whitewright Sun Friday, March 22, 1918 Wheat Was Acquitted On Murder Charge Sherman, Texas, March 19. - The jury in the Si Wheat case came in at noon today, returning a verdict acquitting the defendant. Wheat was tried in the district court here on a charge of murder, growing out of the killing of Tom Murphy, his brother-in-law, which occurred at Wheat's home in Howe March 25, 1917. Murphy was a wealthy bachelor farmer and both men were very prominent. FELONY Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |