Officer Murphy E. Flory

Murphy E. Flory

Officer Murphy Flory was shot and killed at the Norfolk and Western Railroad freight yards while making his normal rounds.

He responded to the sounds of gunshots at approximately 5:30 pm. 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 wounded 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 8th, 1901, after he poisoned himself.

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