by Chad Frodyma

It was Wednesday, July 16^th, 1919 at 2:20 AM. Omaha Police Detective Frank Murphy was looking for a robber – a "highwayman" as they were called back then. Along with Murphy in the police automobile were Detectives Lundeen and Farrand. During the prior two weeks, a lone gunman had been terrorizing pedestrians and robbing them with regularity. This forced the Police Department to take extraordinary measures such as having detectives patrolling at 2:20 in the morning, looking for robbers.

Just the night before, at 2:20 AM, William Gorum was robbed of $4 at 25^th and Douglas Street. A few minutes later, H.J. Tanner was robbed of $8. The description of the lone robber given by both men was exactly the same – a dark blue suit, a white shirt with no collar, and a cap. Murphy, Lundeen and Farrand were now looking for this suspect in the area and at the time he last struck.

At 2:20 in the morning at 19^th and Dodge Street, Murphy saw somebody that sparked his interest. As the police automobile slowed down, Murphy stood up and yelled out to the man, who was wearing a dark blue suit. The man quickly drew a handgun and fired once at the police car. Murphy fell back down into the car. Detective Lundeen quickly produced his revolver and fired back. The gunman fell to the sidewalk. Murphy had been shot in the abdomen, a devastating injury even by today’s standards, but even more so in 1919. Lundeen’s bullet had pierced the heart of the gunman who shot Murphy. The gunman would die in a matter of minutes from this wound. But not before both he and Murphy revealed information that would make this tragic event turn bizarre.

Upon taking the gunman into custody, Lundeen and Farrand heard him speak his last words before dying. They must have sounded strange. Looking over to Murphy slumped over in the police car the gunman said, "It was Frank. I’m sorry." The gunman then died shortly afterwards. Going back to the car to take care of their wounded fellow officer, the two detectives heard Murphy say, "I know the man who shot me." That is all Murphy would say. Perhaps this didn’t sound too strange at the time, considering police officers (then and now) are known by name by the criminals they arrest. Officers get to know the criminals they arrest by face and name, but this was different.

The gunman was identified as Judd W. Tobias. Tobias and Murphy grew up together as best friends. They attended the Vinton Street grammar school together. Tobias was a regular fixture at the Murphy home at 1710 Oak Street in those days, living just around the corner on 17^th Street.

Murphy was rushed to Lord Lister Hospital, which was located at 14^th and Capitol Avenue. Murphy thought he was going to die right away, so he asked that a priest be summoned. A priest from Sacred Heart church at 22^nd and Wirt Street was taken to the hospital in a police car. Police Captain Vanous went to Murphy’s house at 3604 Grand Avenue to notify Murphy’s wife. She was rushed to the hospital. Murphy’s parents were also notified and taken to the hospital. Murphy’s father, Frank Murphy, Sr., was a former Chief of Detectives with the Omaha Police Department. The bullet that entered Murphy’s abdomen was slowed by his police badge, which he wore on his belt on the left side of his pants. Media reports from the day said the badge was "dented deeply by the impact." This, along with the good physical condition of Murphy before the shooting, gave doctors hope that Murphy would survive. The Omaha World-Herald even stated "The fine physical condition of the detective will probably enable Murphy to live." However, this would not be the case.

On Wednesday, July 23^rd, 1919 at 4:30 p.m., one week after being shot, Detective Frank Murphy died at Lord Lister hospital. Murphy had suffered a relapse the day before, and quickly took a turn for the worse. Gangrene had entered the wound, and ended Murphy’s life. At his bedside when he died were his wife, two sisters and his father. "He met his end like a man, and I am proud of him for that," Murphy’s father told the World-Herald.

Despite growing up together, the lives of Tobias and Murphy could not have been any more different. Murphy grew up the only son of a police officer. On September 1^st, 1917, Murphy himself became one of Omaha’s finest. He served until March 12^th, 1918, when he was given leave to enter the Army (a little thing called World War I was raging on in Europe at the time). He returned to the police force on January 12^th, 1919, and was assigned to the detective squad. Six months later, he was dead. "He was one of the best men I had," Detective Captain Dunn told the World-Herald. "He was one of the youngest, but one of the best."

Tobias was a felon, and described as a "drug fiend" by the paper, which stated that Tobias’ arm beared many tiny holes, which provided "eloquent corroboration" that he was a "drug-crazed outlaw." Eight years prior to this incident, Tobias was convicted of complicity in the murder of a druggist named Elton at 24^th and Bristol Street. A year before shooting Murphy, Tobias had shot Omaha Police Officer William Holden during an altercation at 715 North 17^th Street (I looked, but could find no information on this incident). Yet, Tobias continued to walk the streets of Omaha. In fact, Murphy and Tobias had crossed paths just two months earlier. Murphy and Detective Palmtag, also a boyhood friend of Murphy and Tobias, approached and arrested Tobias. "You fellows shouldn’t arrest me," Tobias told them on that day. "I’m sorry Judd, but it’s got to be done," Murphy replied. Tobias got 30 days for vagrancy. The next time Murphy and Tobias met, both boyhood pals would lose their lives.

Funeral services for Officer Murphy were held on Friday morning, July 25^th, 1919 at Sacred Heart church. Father Judd, who administered the last rites to Murphy at the hospital, led the ceremony. Officer Murphy was the 9^th Omaha police officer killed in the line of duty, and the 4^th in five years.

Today, the intersection of 19^th and Dodge Street looks nothing like it did on that early morning in July of 1919. But changing the landscape doesn’t change the fact that Officer Frank J. Murphy, Jr. died there as a hero, doing the same job that you and I have sworn to do. The next time you drive through that busy intersection, remember Murphy.

Stay safe.

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