In the rural landscape of Monroe County, Arkansas, a brave decision cost a young man his life on March 11, 1922. Alfred Camp, a 21-year-old White male, found himself in the midst of a law enforcement action that would end in tragedy. He had been enlisted as a deputized civilian, a testament to his willingness to uphold the law in his community.
The day's grim events began to unfold when Deputy Sheriff James R.
Ryals, age 69, sought assistance in apprehending two individuals suspected of robbing a hardware store in the nearby town of Wheatley the previous night. Alfred Camp and his father answered the call to assist the veteran lawman. The trio located the two suspects, and as they moved in to make the arrest, the situation turned deadly.
Without warning, one of the suspects discharged a shotgun, the blast striking with lethal force. Both Deputy Ryals and Alfred Camp were killed in the sudden onslaught of violence. Alfred's father was also wounded in the attack. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the two suspects fled the scene, disappearing into the dense swampland that characterized the local terrain.
The escape of the two men prompted a swift response from law enforcement. A manhunt was organized, and within hours, the two suspects were located and taken into custody. One of the men, who was 21 years old at the time, was charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of Deputy Sheriff Ryals and Alfred Camp. The legal process moved forward, and on May 1, 1922, the suspect was convicted of both murders and subsequently sentenced to death. However, on October 18, 1922, the sentence was commuted to life in prison.
