Officer Murphy E. Flory

Murphy E. Flory

Officer Flory was shot and killed at the Norfolk and Western Railroad freight yards while making his normal rounds. He responded to the sounds of gun shots at approximately 1730 hours. A railroad employee who had just been fired had returned to the yards and shot the yard master. As Officer Flory approached the suspect the man shot him in the in the right side and the round struck him in the heart. Before falling, Officer Flory was able to return fire and wound the suspect, who was taken into custody by witnesses.

The suspect, charged with two counts of murder, was found dead in his jail cell on September 8, 1901. The cause of death was that he poisoned himself.

Officer Flory was a veteran of the Spanish American War. He was survived by his father and two brothers.