Unveiling at Cherokee Co. Courthouse: Photos of H.D. Murphy, Trooper Killed by Bonnie and Clyde (January 2014)

Unveiling at Cherokee Co. Courthouse: Photos of H.D. Murphy, Trooper Killed by Bonnie and Clyde
By Deborah Burkett

A love of history and a desire to preserve stories in Cherokee County along with the recent TV movie about Bonnie and Clyde led to an unveiling in Rusk at the county courthouse last week. Two photographs from the personal collection of County Judge Chris Davis along with the printed story of H.D. Murphy who was killed in cold blood by Bonnie and Clyde were hung for permanent display at the front entrance of the courthouse.

Those in attendance were held spellbound as Judge Davis recounted the story of Murphy. One photograph on display is of Ms. Mattie Hightower and her 1919 third grade class on the steps of the old Alto School. H.D. is seen as a 9 year old student standing next to his friend and classmate Virgil Schochler. Those were difficult times in East Texas and as Judge Davis pointed out many of the school children in the old photograph are wearing winter clothes but have no shoes.
The other framed image is of H.D. Murphy in his Texas Highway Patrolman's uniform. Traces of the young school boy are still visible in the face of H.D., at age 24 as he prepares for duty. To be murdered on his first day as a trooper is extremely tragic and Judge Davis wanted to make sure H.D.'s complete story is preserved for future generations. Murphy is still is the youngest Texas Highway Patrolman to be killed in the line of duty.

The event occurred on Easter Sunday April 1, 1934, when Murphy and his partner E. B Wheeler stopped to assist, what they thought were stranded motorists on a desolate stretch of highway 114 near Grapevine, Texas. The two officers were shot and killed by Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, cut down by buckshot before they could even draw their pistols from their holsters.

H. D. Murphy and his Alto girlfriend, Marie Tullis, had planned to be married on April 13, just twelve days after the shooting. Marie wore her wedding dress to her sweetheart's funeral.

On hand for the unveiling was District Judge Bascom Bentley, who partnered with Davis to see this project to its conclusion. Judge Bentley spoke eloquently of other Cherokee Co. officers killed in the line of duty and pointed to their images on a painted mural in the courthouse. Assisting the Judges with this project was Cherokee County Historical Commission representative, Deborah Burkett.

Among the dignitaries present were County Sheriff James Campbell, Alto Library Director Virginia Singletary, Historical Commission Chair Elizabeth McCutcheon, Heritage Center of Cherokee County Board President Stephanie Caveness and CCHC members Shelley Cleaver and Mavis Wallace.

The public is encouraged to visit the courthouse and see H.D. Murphy's story and also view the many historic photos and murals on display throughout the building.

H. D. Murphy, Alto, L to R: Billy Lyon, Maree Tullis, H D Murphy, Alene Watters, Jack Nicar (Photograph courtesy of Virginia Singletary and the Alto Public Library)