Pic 1. Mr Edward Murphy married Miss Bridget O'Dea on 10 October 1850 in Tumut NSW Australia.



Senior Counstable E Murphy and Constable D Patton were the first regular police stationed in the area. The station was then at COCKATOO on the River about six and a half miles down stream from the township. They were under the supervision of Henry Bingham,Commissioner for Crown Lands. These officers had to accompany Bingham on his tours of the Murrumbidgee area-from Yass to the junction of the Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers. Bingham insisted upon decorum and the officers had to travel in full dress uniform with white bandolier,a sword and revolver. Counstable Murphy had been a member of the first WATER POLICE SQUAD. After 25 years service as Chief Constable at Tumut he resigned and selected a grazing property near Wyangle where he died on 6th September 1882. His widow sold the property to Patrick Geary,and with her son,Harry, went to live in a cottage in Newtown on land now occupied by the Old Peoples Homes. She died 19th July 1915.

On Wednesday last the news reached town of the death of MR EDWARD MURPHY,of WYANGLE. On that morning the deceased,who during his illness had been assiduously attended by the REV. FATHER CURLEY,departed this life at the advanced age of 76. He leaves a widow,five grown up sons,and two daughters.In the early days of Tumut Mr Murphy,who was known as the "Chief" was a very useful man in our town.He was at the head of the police here,and proved himself a very efficient officer. The population of the place was of course comparatively small and much scatted,but Mr Murphy maintained excellent order,suppressing crime and quickly bringing offenders to justice,he had few equals in the service of the Crown. He was a good disciplinarian though his manner was quiet and unobstrusive. In the exiquition of his duties he had many encounters with desperate charactors,but his cool determintion ever brought him safely through. The stirring adventures in which he shared would be well worth recording. The deceased enjoyed a robust constition,which was taxed by the hardships of his early life. His death resulted from a general decay of the system. As an example of his cool courage we may state that some years ago,when the deceased resided in Tumut,he was gored by a cow. The furious beast rushed Mr Murphy,and one of her hornes entered the pit of his stomach. His inards were protruding from the wound,but the Chief replaced the parts,and then ,holding his hands over the place,coolly walked fully 200 yards to get the wound dressed and attended. His friends though his life was in danger,but the veteran speedily was about again,though ever since he has suffered from the effect of the disaster.