The Chain of Murder: The Murder of Dave Wireman & The Events Leading Up To It

 

The summer of 1931 brings us back to Magoffin County, Kentucky, the scene of yet another murder.

When the news first broke, the reports stated that two men and two women were gunned down as they worked in the fields.  However investigators would learn that was not the case at all.  But let’s start from the beginning.

In 1929, Frank Johnson was charged with the murder of Frank Shepherd in Floyd County, KY.  And allegedly, he was also suspected in the robbery and murder of Nelson Hale in Magoffin County, KY that same year.  And he was wanted for a number of other robberies in the area. However, I was unable to find any details on either of the two murders.  But because of these murders, Mr. Johnson was on the run and had been wanted for more than two years.

On June 2, 1931, a posse lead by Floyd Wireman set out in search of Frank. When they found him, a shootout erupted and Frank Johnson was killed along with posse member Brack Pinks.   It was believed that Robert Johnson, brother of Frank, was wounded in the shootout but he managed to escape.

Dave Wireman, 
courtesy of Find-a-Grave

The next week, Dave Wireman was working in the fields when he was ambushed and shot.  Initial reports stated that four members of the Wireman family had been shot, but that proved to be untrue.

The Louisville Courier-Journal reported on June 11, 1931 that Wireman and his 7 year old son James were in the field working when the ambush occurred.  The shot, which came from a brush pile, came from a revolver. The bullet entered Wireman’s left chest. He died instantly, according to a report published on June 10, 1931 in the Kentucky Post and Times-Star in Covington, KY.  A second shot whizzed by James. James jumped into a creek and took cover.  After the threat had passed, he ran home and reported what had happened.

Police believe that Robert Johnson was responsible for the murder of Wireman, in revenge for the slaying of his brother Frank a week prior. Mr. Wireman and his son Floyd both had been a part of the posse that had killed Frank.

Immediately after the murder of Wireman, bloodhounds were brought in from Lexington to assist a posse in their search for Johnson.  Here is a report, copied and pasted directly from the Lexington Herald, Lexington, KY, July 12, 1921, in reference to the hunt. Oddly, it was the only article that I found that stated another reason for the killing:

“A thrilling chase of an outlaw-killer through  the mountainous country of Magoffin county was told by W R Sebree,  who returned to Lexington yesterday after having taken his bloodhounds 20 miles east Of Salyersvllle in an effort to capture the murderer  of Dave Wireman,  who was killed from ambush at Ordway Tuesday. 

According to Mr. Sebree, his hounds took up the trail of the murderer from the scene of the killing In a field where Wireman and his 14-year-old son, Jimmie Wireman, were working and followed the fugitive to a mountain around which a posse of approximately 300 men is now stationed awaiting the appearance of the killer.

 Mr. Sebree said that Robert Johnson, 28 years old, is accused of the killing and Sheriff Adam Carpenter, of Magoffin County, had ordered the posse to shoot to kill if he made his appearance on the mountain.

Wireman, who was postmaster at Ordway, is said to have gained the enmity of Johnson when he testified against him in a liquor case. Following the shooting Tuesday, a note was found on a tree near the scene of the murder in which the writer stated that he intended to kill three other persons.

 The murderer of Wireman also fired several shots at Jimmie Wireman when he attempted to reach his father after he had fallen. Panic stricken, the boy ran to his home and notified other members of the family of the shooting.   Fearing that others might be killed, no attempt was made to get the body of the elder Wireman until a posse had been formed several hours later.

During the man hunt which was carried out all day Wednesday,  Mr. Sebree said that several times the hounds were so close upon the fugitive that his footstep could be heard, but that they could not reach him because of the thick mountain undergrowth.”

And sadly, this is where the story ends.  I searched extensively trying to find out if Johnson was ever caught and brought to justice.  But just as the posse’s efforts were in vain, so were mine.

I want to thank Sharon Wireman Holiday for making me aware of this case.  I hope my research, as brief as the findings are, filled in some of the blanks for you and your family.