In the quiet expanse of Monroe County, Arkansas, a brave lawman met a sudden and violent end on a Saturday in early spring. James R. Ryals, a 69-year-old male Deputy Sheriff, was killed in the line of duty on March 11, 1922, while attempting to apprehend two men suspected of a robbery. His final moments were a testament to his dedication to upholding the law, a dedication that ultimately cost him his life.
The events leading to the fatal encounter began the night before, with a hardware
store robbery in the nearby town of Wheatley. Deputy Ryals, in his pursuit of justice, sought the assistance of two local men, Alfred Camp and his father, whom he deputized to help in the arrest of the two suspects. Together, the three men located the alleged robbers in the community of Monroe. As they moved in to make the arrest, the quiet confrontation erupted into chaos and bloodshed. One of the suspects, without warning, opened fire with a shotgun.
The sudden blast of the shotgun proved deadly. Deputy Ryals and the newly deputized Alfred Camp were both struck and killed by the gunfire. Camp'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 bordered the area, hoping to evade capture. The community was left to grapple with the shocking loss of two of its own, one a seasoned officer and the other a civilian who had stepped up to help.
The escape of the two men was short-lived. A determined posse was quickly formed, and within hours, both suspects were tracked down in the swamp and taken into custody. The wheels of justice began to turn for the slaying of Deputy Sheriff Ryals and Alfred Camp. One of the suspects, a 21-year-old man, was charged with two counts of murder. On May 1, 1922, he was convicted of the charges and sentenced to death for his crimes. However, his sentence was later commuted to life in prison on October 18, 1922. Deputy Ryals, a widower, was survived by a community that mourned his sacrifice.
