Beckham County, OK - Deaths: J. J. Duffy, 1907
10 Jan 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

 ************************************************
 Copyright. All rights reserved.
 http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
 ************************************************

DUFFY, J. J.
(30 May 1907, Erick Altruist, Erick, Beckham Co, OK):
FOUND DEAD.  Mr. Duffy, an old man living on the head waters of Haystack
creek, was found dead Sunday with two bullet holes - one in his side and
the other in his left eye - either of which would have caused death.  All
indications are that the old man was murdered and that robbery was the
motive, as he had sold his farm for $1,400 about five or six weeks ago. 
From every appearance the old man had been dead quite awhile as he was
badly decomposed.
Deceased was about 58 years old and lived alone and was considered very
eccentric.  He was found by Tom Bailey, a neighbor, on Sunday evening in a
place the deceased had dug out for a hen house and was covered up with
some stalks and trash.
A coroner's inquest was held on Monday conducted by Judge Lowry of Delhi,
with W. J. Keith, Martin Sheets, C. L. Yarberry, F. M. Turner, A. E.
Ensey, and Arthur Harris, as jurors.
The jury decided that deceased came to his death at the hands of parties
unknown to them.
We are informed that the coroner is in possession of clews (sic) which may
lead to some arrests in the near future.
(30 May 1907, Thursday, Beckham County Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK):
A few days since while Mr. J. H. Bailey of near Delhi was rounding up some
yearlings for Ellison Carroll his attention was attracted by the strange
action of his dogs, and on examination he discovered the body of J. M.
(sic) Duffy hidden in a ravine partly covered with sorgham and corn
stalks.
Sheriff Nelson and the county attorney were notified and came up and made
an investigation and an inquest was held and some parties from that
neighborhood came here Monday to purchase a casket to inter the dead man.
Particulars are hard to get at present and so far we have only been able
to gleam the following facts:
About two weeks ago Mr. Duffy was in Erick and made a deed for the sale of
his farm and it is not yet known whether the deed was delivered or not. 
Duffy was a man who lived by himself and it was no uncommon thing for him
to be from home a month or two at a time and consequently when not seen
about the premises nothing strange was thought of it.
Upon examination a bullet hole was found through the body showing clearly
that he had been murdered.  The question for investigation is, was he
murdered for the money he was supposed to have sold his land for, or was
it done by an enemy for some other reason.
Mr. Duffy is supposed to have a brother at Lawton who has been written to
telling him of the sad affair.
The mystery of the murder of J. J. Duffy near Erick a few days ago has
been solved by the arrest of the murderers, Monroe Pumphrey and Claude
Walkup, both of or near Delhi in this county.
Monroe Pumphrey was arrested by Deputy Sheriff George Bradshaw near
Melrose, New Mexico, where he had gone after the murder and brought back
to Mangum, and placed in jail charged with the crime.  Claude Walkup was
arrested in Arkansas by Deputy Sheriff Gub Moore and is now in jail at
Mangum charged with murder; both parties made statements to the officers
after their arrest.
(13 Jun 1907, Thursday, Beckham County Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK):
THE MURDERERS OF DUFFY CAUGHT.
Monroe Pumphrey and Claude Walkup are Supposed to Have Committed the Crime.
"That the killing was done by Claude Walkup of Delhi on the night of 23 of
April or the morning of April 24th.  Walkup came to Erick on the morning
of the 24 of April with Duffy to get a deed drawn for Duffy's farm and
they returned home the next morning about 10 o'clock and told him
(Pumphrey) that he had done the work, and left the deed in Duffy's pocket
and for him to go with him and get it, which he refused to do.  They
started at once for New Mexico, but were arrested at Erick for carrying a
gun near Delhi, he (Pumphrey) was placed in jail at Mangum and lay out his
fine, Claude Walkup paid his fine and left the country.  After he
(Pumphrey) had lain in jail eighteen days he was discharged and left the
country for New Mexico where he was afterwards arrested and returned to
the Mangum jail under charge of murder."
Claude Walkup's statement is substance as follows:
"He and Monroe Pumphrey were picking cotton and Monroe Pumphrey proposed
to him that they kill old man Duffy and get his money.  He says he refused
to have anything to do with it, but they were on the "scout" and decided
late one evening that they would go to Duffy's and stay all night in order
to keep the officers from arresting them on the pistol charge.  Just
before they got to Duffy's he (Walkup) stopped on the creek, he heard
Monroe Pumphrey call Duffy, heard a pistol fire, saw Duffy fall face
downward, then Monroe Pumphrey returned to him and stated what he had
done, he then asked Monroe what he had done it for and Monroe stated that
he wanted to kill him anyway, they then started for New Mexico and were
arrested at Erick on a pistol charge.  He (Walkup) paid his fine left the
country and went to the Indian Territory, and from there to Arkansas,
where he was arrested, and returned to the Mangum jail under a charge of
murder."
The officers deserve great credit for the promptness in arresting these
murderers, when the fact is known that they had not the slightest clue to
go on.
(10 Sep 1908, Thursday, Sayre Standard, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Walkup Acquitted.
A verdict of not guilty was returned by the jury in the case of Claude
Walkup, who was charged with the murder of J. J. Duffy during April last
year.
The jury first reported that they could not agree, after having been out
several hours.  They were sent back, and finally brought in a verdict of
not guilty.  It is reported that one or two members of the jury were in
favor at first of conviction.
Monroe Pumphrey, who was jointly charged with the murder with Walkup, was
discharged after the acquittal of Walkup.

---------------------------------------------------------
Return to Beckham County Archives:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.htm