Historical/Genealogical Society to honor Crane City Marshall killed in the line of duty in 1927
Crane City Marshal David W. Waymire was killed in the line of duty in 1927. He was never given any recognition for his sacrifice at the time, so the Stone County Historical/Genealogical Society is honoring him now. The service will be on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 2:00 at the Crane Community Cemetery. The public is invited.
On March 8, 1927, Marshal Waymire and his deputy, William Miller, went to the home of Harrison Hemphill, about two miles west of Crane, in search of Raymond Smith and Elza Sisco. Harrison Hemphill was Raymond’s grandfather, and in some accounts, Raymond is referred to as Raymond Hemphill. Raymond, 22, and Elza, 16, were wanted for auto theft in Baxter Springs, Kansas. Marshal Waymire had a warrant for their arrest.
When the officers arrived, Raymond was fixing a tire on a car, perhaps the one he had stolen in Kansas. He immediately pulled a gun and shot Marshal Waymire in the abdomen. Both Marshal Waymire and Deputy Miller returned fire, but no one else was hit. Both of the suspects fled.
Deputy Miller immediately ran to the fallen marshal’s assistance and rushed him to Crane. He was taken to the Springfield Baptist Hospital. The bullet had passed through his abdomen, exiting through his pelvis, though not striking the bone. His intestines were pierced in ten places.
Raymond Smith fled to the home of an old acquaintance, Robert M. Lusk, in the Buck Prairie neighborhood near Marionville. While in the house, visiting with the family, a telephone call came informing them of the shooting. A posse was scouring the countryside with bloodhounds. The family was unaware that the gunman was right there in their midst. Smith left the house and went to the barn, where he told Mr. Lusk that he had shot the marshal. He then took his gun and shot himself in the heart.
Elza Sisco surrendered to authorities. It was determined he had nothing to do with the theft of the car. Smith had hired him to drive from Barnsdall, Oklahoma, to Crane. He was released to his parents.
Marshal Waymire lingered for five days before passing away. He was 62 years old. He was survived by his wife Rosa and two adult children, Pansy Carr and Earl Waymire.
Marshal Waymire and his family had lived in the Crane area for over twenty years. He had been a deputy sheriff and had served as Crane City Marshal for two years. Waymire and his wife had a restaurant in Crane, he had been a mail carrier, and they had farmed. As was the custom at the time, he held a variety of jobs to support his family.
The Waymire family was active in the Church of God at Crane, where he was a deacon. He was also an active member of the Odd Fellows. His wife, Rosa, lived out her life in Crane, passing away in 1951. Both are buried in the Crane Community Center.
The late Stone County Historical/Genealogical Society museum curator, Kay Vinsand, was informed by a friend at the Missouri Archives of the Waymire story. Kay immediately went to work and was instrumental in having the name David W. Waymire entered on both the Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial and the National Law Enforcement Memorial. She was planning a service for him locally when COVID-19 hit. Sadly while we waited for the pandemic to pass, Kay developed cancer and passed away. She did not see her project come to fruition, but we will have a ceremony that would make her proud.
The program will be short but dignified and respectful. It will feature the Missouri Highway Patrol Color Guard, the Crane High School choir, dignitaries from all over the county, a candlelight vigil, and a bagpipe solo of “Amazing Grace” to conclude. A reception will be held afterward at the Historical Society’s newly acquired building, the former American Legion building. You are invited. Please attend.
On March 8, 1927, Marshal Waymire and his deputy, William Miller, went to the home of Harrison Hemphill, about two miles west of Crane, in search of Raymond Smith and Elza Sisco. Harrison Hemphill was Raymond’s grandfather, and in some accounts, Raymond is referred to as Raymond Hemphill. Raymond, 22, and Elza, 16, were wanted for auto theft in Baxter Springs, Kansas. Marshal Waymire had a warrant for their arrest.
When the officers arrived, Raymond was fixing a tire on a car, perhaps the one he had stolen in Kansas. He immediately pulled a gun and shot Marshal Waymire in the abdomen. Both Marshal Waymire and Deputy Miller returned fire, but no one else was hit. Both of the suspects fled.
Deputy Miller immediately ran to the fallen marshal’s assistance and rushed him to Crane. He was taken to the Springfield Baptist Hospital. The bullet had passed through his abdomen, exiting through his pelvis, though not striking the bone. His intestines were pierced in ten places.
Raymond Smith fled to the home of an old acquaintance, Robert M. Lusk, in the Buck Prairie neighborhood near Marionville. While in the house, visiting with the family, a telephone call came informing them of the shooting. A posse was scouring the countryside with bloodhounds. The family was unaware that the gunman was right there in their midst. Smith left the house and went to the barn, where he told Mr. Lusk that he had shot the marshal. He then took his gun and shot himself in the heart.
Elza Sisco surrendered to authorities. It was determined he had nothing to do with the theft of the car. Smith had hired him to drive from Barnsdall, Oklahoma, to Crane. He was released to his parents.
Marshal Waymire lingered for five days before passing away. He was 62 years old. He was survived by his wife Rosa and two adult children, Pansy Carr and Earl Waymire.
Marshal Waymire and his family had lived in the Crane area for over twenty years. He had been a deputy sheriff and had served as Crane City Marshal for two years. Waymire and his wife had a restaurant in Crane, he had been a mail carrier, and they had farmed. As was the custom at the time, he held a variety of jobs to support his family.
The Waymire family was active in the Church of God at Crane, where he was a deacon. He was also an active member of the Odd Fellows. His wife, Rosa, lived out her life in Crane, passing away in 1951. Both are buried in the Crane Community Center.
The late Stone County Historical/Genealogical Society museum curator, Kay Vinsand, was informed by a friend at the Missouri Archives of the Waymire story. Kay immediately went to work and was instrumental in having the name David W. Waymire entered on both the Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial and the National Law Enforcement Memorial. She was planning a service for him locally when COVID-19 hit. Sadly while we waited for the pandemic to pass, Kay developed cancer and passed away. She did not see her project come to fruition, but we will have a ceremony that would make her proud.
The program will be short but dignified and respectful. It will feature the Missouri Highway Patrol Color Guard, the Crane High School choir, dignitaries from all over the county, a candlelight vigil, and a bagpipe solo of “Amazing Grace” to conclude. A reception will be held afterward at the Historical Society’s newly acquired building, the former American Legion building. You are invited. Please attend.