Roll of Honor

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City Marshal

James H. Murphy

Fairfax Police Department — Fairfax, OK

Felonious

End of Watch October 13, 1912

Age 32

The Vigil Panel 27 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

City Marshal James Murphy was shot and killed as he and an Osage County sheriff's deputy attempted to arrest a man for stealing a team of mules.

They learned the man was staying at a farm six miles east of Fairfax and traveled to the location in a horse and buggy to locate him. Upon arriving at the farmhouse they were told the man was out in the fields. As the officers rode out to speak to him the man opened fire on them with a shotgun without warning. Marshal Murphy was struck in the chest and killed.

The man was captured two weeks later in Butler, Missouri. He was charged with Marshal Murphy's murder but convicted of manslaughter.

Marshal Murphy was survived by his wife and several children.

Survivors

Marshal Murphy was survived by his wife and several children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-8D4AC760
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
City Marshal Murphy served with the Fairfax Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Fairfax community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Murphy.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Fairfax Police Department

Location Fairfax, OK

Platform Identity fpd.osage.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 13, 1912

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Convicted of manslaughter

City Marshal James H. Murphy is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Fairfax Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James H. Murphy's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How James H. Murphy Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Convicted of manslaughter

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James H. Murphy is highlighted in Oct.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James H. Murphy was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518