The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-03
THE KILLING OF MURPHY.
The Interesting History Of Remark
able Crime and a Famous Trial.
A Cowardly Conspiracy by Men Who Feared
to Meet Their Victim 0penly-Vain Eff
forts to Save Ford and Murphy.
sw Orleans Letter in New York Sun.

New Orleans Letter in New York Sun.
Since the action of the Board Of Pardons in
this State on Saturday in refusing to commute
the sentence of Pat Ford and John Murphy, I'M
der sentence of death for killing Capt. T. j.
Murphy on Dec. l. 1884, the story of the murder
has been in everybody's mouth. The way has
at last been cleared for terminating, for two at
least of the principals engaged in it, the most
important and hardest fought criminal trial ever
witnessed in Louisiana. The high position of
the accused men, the holiness and audacity of
the crime they committed, and the social, politi-
cal and financial influences brought to bear to
prevent justice being done, made the trial duel
between the State on the one hand and the de-
PENDANTS on the other. The fact that the pris-
oners with one exception, were officers of the
law and for the preservation of the peace, inten-
SIZED the popular feeling that. if they could by
boldness, audacity and political influence, escape
the penalty of the law. life was unsafe in New
Orleans. To the people of this city it seemed
that the question was not one affecting them
only, but it was test of the power and strength
of American institutions.
The central figure in the tragedy was Judge
Thomas /. Ford, late recorder of the city Of New
Orleans, and now under sentence of twenty
years in the penitentiary Ford was one of the
shrewdest and smartest Of the city politicians
He had worked himself rapidly to the front, until
he was 'boss' of the Fourth ward, with absolute
control over it's political Gestinies. He was re
spected and not a little feared by the other city
politicians, always making his influence felt.
With large following of devoted admirers, some
of whom were even willing to commit murder in
his behalf. he was filled with ambition, and pro-
claimed his intention to be the next mayor OF
New Orleans. In the last Democratic conven-
ton he surprised everybodyb by suddenly appear
ing as a reformer, denouncing in the most vigor-
Gus style what he styled the ring-the faction in
control of the State and city governments, and
of which he was Misunderstanding apparently
for the support of the more respectable people.
Elected recorder Of the city in 1880, he filled
that Office with great credit and was deemed
such model officer that he was unanimously re-
elected by nearly tho largest majority on the
Democratic ticket
1t was whispered that the Judge used this Of
6ce for political advancement, that he was par
ticularlv severe with his personal enemies who
came before him. and that dangerous characters
and hoodlums were released to bind them more
effectually to him in future campaigns But, if
this was true it was never publicly proclaimed.
and Judge Ford was respected and praised by
the press and the people as model official.
There was one thorn in his side. constant
annoyance and worry to him-Captain A H.
Murphy, or Cap Murphy as he was universally
known. Murphy also was politician, and held
the office of superintendent of the city work
house. He was of good Mississippi family, a
cousin Of ex Congressman John e. Ellis, of this
State and he had the reputation Of being a
man Of extraordinary courage and determine
tion. He was an amateur slugger and q
very obstinate man. but withal good -natured.
The quarrel between Ford and Murphy dates
back four years. Ford had several chances at
his enemy. and did not neglect them. When
Murphy was brought before him FOR a violation
of law Ford denounced him as hoodlum city
official and gave him the extreme penalty of the
law. Murphy replied with challenge, and when
the Judge declined this offer Of battle posted
him throughout the city as a coward, liar and
thief He asserted that he had proof that
Ford had been discharged by his employer when
young man for filching from the till, and ne
proclaimed this so often and so publicly that the
Judge finally had him indicted for criminal libel.
Up to the day of his DEATH Murphy claimed that
he had ample evidence that would free him from
this charge and prove Ford before the world
thief and embezzler. He never offered that evil
dence. for the very day before his trial for libel
when he expected to bring this evidence out in
justification he was murdered by a party Of
seven or eight men.
The murder was the boldest and most auda-
cious ever committed here, done at midday in
the most populous portion of the city, with two
lines of street cars near by and actually in the
presence of hundred or more persons, and yet
the murderers walked off unarrested and with
out anyb body knowing who they were.
There was so much perjury in the trial of the
case that the jury found it no easy matter pick
out the truth. but the facts, as near as could be
got at are as follows:
Cap Murphy, accompanied bv two keepers of
the work house and party of fifty or sixty men,
was experimenting the cleaning Of the Claiborne
canal. He was seated on the doorsteps at the
corner Of Claiborne and st. Ann streets when
two men stepped around the corner and, without
word, opened fire on him. He ran into the
middle of the street. and drawing his revolver.
returned the fire. AS each of the assailants had
moro than one weapon, ne was outmatched in
shots and finally turned and fed up the street
and around the corner, pursued by the two MUIR
derers, who continued firing. At the corner two
other men were stationed, who joined the first
party of his assailants, and also opened fire on
him. He fled down Claiborne street, his pursu
ers growing more numerous as he ran, until,
when he finally turned into Dumaine street, there
were half dozen men or more in pursuit all
firing at him, until the discharge of firearms re-
minded people of battlefield. On Dumaine
street one of their bullets finally brought him
down, when two Of the murderers walked up to
his body. turned it over, and fred bullet after
bullet into it until life was extinct, and the body
horrible sight, with its dozen or so fatal
wounds. A large crowd had assembled by this
time, but the party of murderers disappeared as
suddenly and mysteriously as they had come.
mitted, the reckless fusillade on the street, in
which an innocent looker,on was wounded, the
evident conspiracy of band of braves to COM
NIT murder aroused the deepest popular excite
ment. which was further intensified by the fact
that there seemed, at first. to be no trace what
ever of the murderers. When however Judge
Ford, his brother, Pat Ford, his cousin, Officer
John Murphy. and Officers Buckley Caulfeld
Favetto and Bader-in all, five officers of his
court, all af them guardians of the peace-were
arrested as implicated in the crime, the press and
people were more than ever indignant and ex-
cited.
Nevertheless it took all the influence of the
press. all the strength of sober public opinion to
prevail against the prisoners, even after they
were arrested. The district attorney who was
to prosecute Judge Ford was nominated by his
influence and was his dearest political friend;
some of the deputy sheriffs of the court before
which he appeared owed their places to him, and
with social and political backing, with plenty of
money for the defense, with boldness, audacity