Sheriff J. Mart Murphy

J. Mart Murphy

Sheriff Mart Murphy was shot and killed by a suspect he was attempting to arrest for bootlegging in Springfield, Tennessee.

When he and a local constable knocked on the door the suspect opened it and shot Sheriff Murphy in the stomach with a shotgun. He succumbed to his wounds two days later.

The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. He was paroled May 15, 1950.

Sheriff Murphy had served with the Robertson County Sheriff's Office for five years. He was survived by his wife, child, and brother.