Death of Hut Murry, 1867 - Smith Co, TX Contributed by Vicki Betts August 11, 2002 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************************** TEXAS REPUBLICAN [MARSHALL], August 7, 1867, p. 2, c. 1 Troubles in Smith County.—Reports have reached this place for eight or ten days representing a state of affairs in Smith county that were most deplorable. The negroes acted very badly on one occasion, marching around the public square with guns, and evincing by their manner that they desired to provoke strife. On Saturday evening last a difficulty occurred at Tyler, between two citizens, a Mr. Perry and a Mr. Hut Murry. Before any blows were struck a U. S. Sergeant, by the name of Crowley, connected with the stationed troops, interfered, and taking a stick from Perry struck Murry one or two blows and the latter drew his knife, and inflicted several wounds upon the Sergeant. Hut Murry was immediately arrested and taken to jail. At night a number of soldiers attacked the jail, with the intention of taking vengeance upon the prisoner. Lt. Col. Montgomery, commanding the troops, fortunately made his appearance and stopped the riotous proceedings. The next night the soldiers returned in stronger force, secured the keys, brought forth the prisoner and shot him. We learn there were a sufficient number of troops guarding the jail to have prevented this outrage, had they performed their duty. Murry, Perry and the Sergeant are all represented to have been intoxicated. This is bad conduct on the part of a portion of the troops. From what we have heard of Col. Montgomery, the guilty parties are likely to be punished.