Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department, Railroad Police
End of Watch: Friday, October 14, 1921
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 14, 1921
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: All arrested
Special Officer Robert Murray was shot and killed four miles northeast of Council Bluffs, Iowa, while he and several other local and federal officers raided a farmhouse being used by bootleggers and rail thieves.
Officer Murray was guarding five men in one room and a Council Bluffs officer was guarding a woman and a man in a second room. The woman was able to slip a revolver to the man who opened fire, killing Officer Murray and wounding the Council Bluffs officer.
One of the men was shot and killed and all of the others were eventually apprehended. The woman was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 25 years. The man killed was her husband. She was paroled on December 29, 1931. Two other suspects convicted of murder were still in prison at the time of her parole. Another, convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 8 years, died in prison before his term ended.
Special Officer Murray had served with the agency for six years. He was survived by his parents, brother, and sister and is buried at Masonic Cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa.