Massachusetts Department of Correction, Massachusetts
End of Watch: Thursday, January 1, 1942
Age: 63
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: January 1, 1942
Weapon Used: Edged weapon
Suspect Info: Executed in 1947
Correctional Officer George Landry, Correctional Officer Howard Murphy, and Correctional Officer Franklin Weston were stabbed to death at the Massachusetts State Farm in Bridgewater.
The three officers were working in the Department of Defective Delinquents section of the farm at the time. Officer Weston had gone with two inmates to a carpentry and shoe shop to fix a light. He turned his back to the inmates to screw the light bulb in and was attacked by one of the men and knocked unconscious.
The inmates then grabbed several tools and chisels. Before fleeing, they stabbed Officer Weston ten times with a chisel. As they attempted to make their escape, they were confronted by Officer Murphy and Officer Landry. Officer Murphy caught them as they headed toward the third floor of the building. The men suddenly turned around and stabbed Officer Murphy with the chisels as well. They also stabbed Officer Landry when he came to the aid of Officer Murphy.
The suspects were eventually apprehended after a standoff with the state police. Both inmates were executed on January 1, 1947, for the three murders.
Officer Landry had been with the Massachusetts Department of Correction for 18 years. He was survived by his wife and two sons.