Murdock McDuffie Wilcox

Bryan Police Department — Bryan, TX

Felonious

End of Watch December 2, 1888

Age 37

The Vigil Panel 9 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Around 8:00 p.m. Bryan City Marshal M. M. Wilcox obtained a warrant for Earl Knox, 17 or 18 years old, for burglary. Marshal Wilcox was accompanied by Brazos County Constable R. H. Smith and deputy city marshals John P. Chance, Levi Neal and Laith Lougbridge. Wilcox, Neal and Lougbridge approached the house from the front, while Smith and Chance took positions around the house to cut off any escape. Lougbridge was walking in front of the other two lawmen and called for Knox to come outside. Knox fired a Winchester rifle at Marshal Wilcox, striking him under the left nipple, above the heart. It was dark and Knox made his escape.

Marshal Wilcox fired several shots, but he was mortally wounded and his aim was wild. Wilcox died about 9: 00 p.m., having asked those present to look after his family. The newspapers reported that Wilcox was a brave, kind-hearted man, whose reluctance to use his weapon was well known, and at last, doubtless, cost him his life.

Knox was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 9 years in prison. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison for burglary and related charges. He was released July 10, 1900.

Wilcox was survived by his wife and two daughters. He was buried in the Seale Family Cemetery in Brazos County.

Related information: Brazos County deputy sheriff R. H. Smith (later constable), his brother, Bryan deputy city marshal Levin P. Smith, Jr., and deputy city marshal Levi Neal were involved in a shoot-out with escaping convicts on May 15, 1885. Levin Smith, Jr., was killed. Bryan deputy city marshal Levi Neal would be killed while making an arrest on February 24, 1900.

Survivors

Wilcox was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-A0AB9D94
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

138 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
City Marshal Wilcox served with the Bryan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bryan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Bryan Police Department

Location Bryan, TX

Platform Identity bpd.brazos.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 2, 1888

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Rifle; Winchester

Offender Earl Knox

City Marshal Murdock McDuffie Wilcox 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Bryan Police Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

Bryan Police Department

of 6 officers

83.3% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious