Deputy Sheriff
Wallace Thomas McClure
Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department
Tuesday, February 7, 1928

Age: 57
Served:
Badge #:
Panel 14W, Line 22
Panel L9, Line 6

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident:
Tuesday, February 7, 1928
06:00 am
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
U.S. 52 near Maple Point
Incident County:
Tippecanoe
Incident Township:
Wea
Weapon Used:
.38-caliber handgun
Suspect Disposition:
• Sentenced to life
• Sentenced to life
Burial Place:
Marks Cemetery, Odell

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   Deputy Sheriff Wallace McClure and Deputy Sheriff John Grove were both shot and killed while transporting two prisoners to the Indiana Reformatory in Pendleton.

   They left the Tippecanoe County Jail in Deputy Grove's car with both men who had been convicted of armed robbery and about to serve 5- to 20-year sentences in prison.

   When they failed to arrive, a manhunt began and the next day one of the prisoner's uncle saw them driving Deputy Grove's car near Danville, Illinois.

   Two days later, the car with a bullet-riddled windshield was found abandoned in Decatur, Illinois, and Deputy Grove's hat was found three miles southeast of Lafayette near Maple Point, where it is believed both officers were killed.

   The decomposed bodies of both deputies were found on February 16 in a farm field by its owner and two men near Foster, west of Covington, in Warren County.

   Both deputies were found to have been shot in their backs and the skull of Deputy McClure had also been crushed by an automobile crank.

   The 20-year-old prisoner, who had left the jail with a secreted revolver used to kill both deputies, was arrested on May 21 at his uncle's residence in West Lafayette. He was subsequently found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury and sentenced to life in prison.

   In August 1931, the 19-year-old prisoner was captured using an alias in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he confessed. He was later found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury and sentenced to life in prison.

   Deputy Sheriff McClure, from Lafayette, was survived by his brother and sister.

Historical Note

• This incident was one of 24 which resulted in the line of duty deaths of two officers.



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Deputy Sheriff Wallace Thomas McClure - Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department - INLEM.org