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John M. Murphy

Case from Yavapai, AZ dated Dec 20, 1885

Victim Details

John M. Murphy

Male

Yavapai

AZ

1885-12-20

40

John

M. Murphy

06/23/2026

Case Description

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In the quiet expanse of Walnut Creek, some forty miles west of Prescott, Arizona, the life of Deputy Sheriff John M. Murphy, a 40-year-old man, was tragically cut short in December of 1885. Known as one of the most popular men in Yavapai County, his death sent shockwaves through the community.

The incident began when Deputy Murphy set out to question a man named D. W. Dilda about the recent theft of a gold watch. Unbeknownst to Murphy, Dilda had previously murdered a prospector and mistak ...
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Links to Additional Sources (3)

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  • Deputy Sheriff John M. Murphy
  • John M Murphy (1844-1885) – Find a Grave-?reminne
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    Forum Posts (1)

    I came across this case while diving into Arizona's history, and I can't stop thinking about the imp... ...Read More
    10/26/2023
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