Collection: FND002 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Peace Officer Memorial Program
Series:
Tribute
Folder:
DIG
Item:
03047
Title:
George E. Moody
Date:
7/22/1863
Creator:
Inscription/Marks:
7/22/1863
Summary:
George E. Moody
Richland County Sheriff, Wahpeton
Date of Death: December 9, 1911 Richland County
He was 48 years old at the time of his death Wahpeton, North Dakota
Sheriff Moody Murdered!
Sheriff George E. Moody was shot and instantly killed while endeavoring to arrest an unknown man on the Shea farm seven miles west of Wahpeton last Saturday afternoon. The assassin escaped and on Sunday afternoon, after a chase of more than 24 hours, was shot and instantly killed on the Mat Paul farm 15 miles southeast of Vernon by a militia rifle in the hands of a Hankinson man.
Sheriff George Moody, better known as "Doc" Moody, along with Deputy Radde and Jack Steffes, was serving an eviction notice on a squatter on the farmstead of U.S. Marshal James Shea. While Sheriff Moody was attempting to talk with the squatter, he was shot as he stood on the porch of the farmhouse. The killer then rode off with the sheriff's team of horses and carriage. The mayor of Wahpeton at that time, Mr. Eberley, formed a posse of approximately 100 men, with orders to bring the killer in dead or alive. The killer, Bert Hudson, was found seven miles southwest of Hankinson, North Dakota. He refused to surrender. Hudson fired on the posse, wounding a horse. Shots were returned, striking the killer in the forehead and killing him instantly.
The assassin was later identified as Bert Hudson, a farm laborer, who has been in the vicinity of Wahpeton for the past year. The body of the assassin was identified by a number of Wahpeton people who had known the man. Nothing is known of his past history nor of his family. He worked for L. C. Reimenschneider on his farm west of Wahpeton for about four months last winter and during last summer and fall he spent part of the time working on farms near the city. He worked for the White Lumber Company for about a week during the summer. In the opinion of most people he must have been demented to have committed the murder.
George E. Moody was of Irish-American descent and was born in Richland County, Wisconsin July 22, 1863, the son of E. L. D. and Betsy A. Moody. He attended the public schools of his neighborhood and Colon Academy, St. Joe, Mich. When he was twenty-one years of age, he was Chief of Police of Richland Center, Wis., served a year and resigned. In 1887 he moved to Wahpeton, which city has since been his home. He was married to Miss Minnie M. Burau of Elizabeth, Minn., April 14, 1888. Their children are Hazel, 19 years; Grover E., 18; Claude George Henry, 13. They have also an adopted daughter, Myrtle, the daughter of a brother of Mrs. Moody.
He was known as Doc Moody as he was a veterinarian. He devoted his time for many years to horse trading and the livery business and was without doubt the best known man in this part of the country. It has been said of him that he knew personally every man, woman and child in Richland County.
He was first elected sheriff of Richland County in 1900 on the Democratic ticket and served two terms. He was again elected in the fall of 1910 but his election was contested and he did not take possession of the office until the spring.
The sympathy of the people of the entire county goes out to the bereaved family.
Sheriff Moody was married to the former Minnie Bauer and was the father of four children. He had served as sheriff for 11 years.
Red ID: FND_I_77316 Image ID: 509136 Image Notes: 10950 00002 03047
