Murray K. Jacob Crosby

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My father, Murray Jacob CROSBY was born on 12 Nov 1913 in Beaver, Beaver, Utah. He died when I was 7 months old, and before my sister was born, on 28 Jun 1937 in Provo, Utah, Utah from Multiple stab wounds to chest and abdomen, murdered while driving cab in Provo. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Springville, Utah, Utah. Murray married Melba Almira JOHNSON on 5 Sep 1935 in Logan, Cache, Utah.

His life was summed up in his death certificate:

DEATH: Utah Death Certificates, 1904-1956
Name: Murray K. Jacob Crosby
Death Date: 28 Jun 1937
Death Place: Provo, Utah, Utah
Birth Date: 12 November 1913
Estimated Birth Year: 1914
Birthplace: Beaver
Death Age: 23 years 7 months 17 days
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Race or Color: White
Spouse's Name: Melba Almira Johnson
Father's Name: Guy Le Roy Crosby
Mother's Name: Blanch Norma Warby
Film Number: 2260359
Digital GS Number: 4120596
Image Number: 1372
Certificate Number: 310

From what I have been able to piece together of his life, it was a tough one. Some have said he was named after King Jacob.

The 4th of 10 children, but only his older brother, Allan, surviving older than him, a lot of the farm chores must have fallen to him.

Children like to build their self esteem by picking on those weaker than themselves, but Murray would have nothing to do with that. He refused to be bullied and taught himself to box. The other kids quickly learned to leave him alone.



He loved horses and rodeo sports. His young cousin Bill Warby Jr. told me Murray often told him to "take off running," then Murray would lasso him and send him tumbling through the dust and sage brush.
From Bill I got the only reminder I have of my father's life, a letter he wrote from the Springville CCC Camp shortly after marrying my mother.



1928 was a horrible year for the family as *Marjorie explained in her telling of my fathers story. Allan was 15, Murray 14, Effie 12, when their youngest brother was born. After giving birth to her last child Norman Guy Sept 29, 1928, their mother, Norma Blanch Warby Crosby began hemorrhaging, and soon died.
Then after her funeral, their home caught fire and burned to the ground.

Winter coming on - no home, no clothes, no nothing! What a prospect for Christmas.

Somehow the family survived.

As soon as he could, Murray joined the CCC camp and ended up working in Springville canyon where he met my uncle Garn Johnson, and soon, my mother, Melba, as she was picking strawberries.

CCC Camps. The CCC enrolled mostly young, unskilled and unemployed men between the ages of 18 and 25. The men came primarily from families on government assistance. Men enlisted for a minimum of six months. Each worker received $30 in payment per month for his services in addition to room and board at a work camp.

He and my mom both played the guitar and loved singing.

I was born, and Murray took a job driving cab.
One day he picked up a lady and her daughter at the old Orem Depot in Provo. On returning ti the train station, another cab driver said "you took my fare" and stabbed him 5 times in the stomach.

Somehow my grandfather, Oliver David Johnson happened on the scene and heard his last words; "I'm dying. What will happen to Melba?"





The End of the story is that his killer's lawyer argued that my father was a boxer, therefore not unarmed.
He was ordered out of the state of Utah for 18 months, went to California where he murdered an elderly couple and died in the gas chamber.

The Daily Herald Provo, Utah 29 June 1937 (Tuesday)

Taxicab Driver Stabbed To Death
Assailant Held In County Jail Pleads Defense
Quarrel Over Parking Place Leads To First Murder in Provo in More Than 5 Years;
Inquest in Progress This Afternoon
Slashed five times in the chest and abdomen during a stabbing affray at the Orem depot Monday night, Murray “Bing” Crosby, 23, Yellow Cab driver, died at the Aird hospital at 11:30 p.m. His assailant, Carl Roger, 26, Red Cab driver, is a prisoner at the county jail, held without bail while awaiting his arraignment. Police early today said Rogers had confessed to wielding a small pocket knife with which he inflicted five wounds on Crosby, one of them proving fatal. Inquest into the case began at 2 o’clock today in Judge Don R. Ellertson’s court. Jurymen, accompanied by the judge, attorney, and County Physician Stanley Clark, will view the body, following which charges to be preferred against Rogers will be heard at that time. Police, who took Rogers into custody last night, are holding him on a temporary charge of “assault with a deadly weapon.” Immediately after the tragedy Crosby was rushed in an ambulance to Aird hospital, but he died even as Dr. W. Woolf sought vainly to preserve life. The knifing had disemboweled him, and in addition to four cuts in the abdomen, Crosby suffered superficial cuts on his chest. His only remark, attendants said was “I am dying.” Crosby is married and the father of a baby boy. His wife, formerly Melba Almira Johnson of Springville, spent a sleepless night, but was bearing up well this morning. Her mother, Mrs. Oliver Johnson of 56 North Fourth East, was with her. The Crosbys live at 74 North Fourth East. While the mother wept this morning, the baby, little Guy LeRoy Crosby, who is but seven months old Sunday, slept on in his grandmother’s arms, unmindful of the tragedy that had taken his father. The knifing occurred at the cab stand in front of the Orem station shortly before 10 p.m. Rogers told police he was sitting in his cab awaiting the 9:30 train and cleaning his finger nails with the knife. He told Officers Ren L. Thompson and O. E. Pedersen that he got out of his cab and walked over to where Crosby was and slapped him on the back. He said, they reported that Crosby started to “cuss” him. Previously Clifford Wald, Red Cab company owner, had asked Rogers to take Mrs. Waid and Verda Gren home, Rogers said. As they got into the cab, Rogers reported Crosby was doing the swearing. Rogers told police he was going to get into the cab to take the two women home, when Crosby came around and jumped onto him. He said he started to fight back, officers said. Rogers said he had the knife in his hand, but could not remember if he struck Crosby with it. Later he told Officer Thompson he knew what he had done. Asked which blade of the knife he had used, he stated “the small one.” They reported. One of the blades was 2 ½ inches long, the other 1 ½ inches. Both were quite sharp and pointed. Immediately after the affray, Rogers went to the police station and stated he wanted to swear out a complaint against Crosby. Noting a cut on Rogers head, Officer Thompson asked if perhaps they had not better take care of the wound first. Meanwhile Traffic Sergeant Pederson phoned in telling Thompson of the crowd about the cab stand, and learning that Rogers was at the police station, went on to Aird hospital. Rogers was put under arrest, surrendered the knife, and “made a clean confession of the whole thing.” Officer Thompson reported. Rogers is temporarily booked on the charge of “assault with a deadly weapon.” Six persons were listed as witnesses to the fight, including Mrs. Waid, Miss Gren, Vern Clark of Belmont apartments; Bill Rovlance, Orem station employee; N. McBride, and George H Henderson, 185 South First West. Mr. Henderson related this morning to the Herald that he noted the two engaged in what seemed to him to be a friendly scuffle. He crossed into Center street, where a passing car caused him to glance back. As he did so, he saw Crosby slump over the fender. Fearing something was wrong, he dashed to the car, where he found the dying youth. Doctor and ambulance were summoned. Henderson, a friend of the family, solicited one of the cabs and drove to tell Mr. Johnson, Crosby’s father-in-law, of the accident. Both the Johnsons and Mrs. Crosby were present when the youthful driver expired. Asked if any bad blood existed between Crosby and Rogers, Mrs. Crosby replied that she had never heard her husband comment on Rogers, only that he had said that new driver had started for Waid, referring to Rogers. She said her husband had commented on having difficulties over parking problems at other times, but she did not consider the matter serious. Crosby had only been driving for a month and half here. He was born in Milford, November 12, 1913, but early went to Beaver with his family. He was a student at Beaver high school. He came to the Rock Canyon CCC camp and worked there for 22 months, then left to take employment in the Kimberly gold while he was at the CCC camp that he met his future wife. The married September 5, 1935, in Logan L.D.S. temple. Crosby was the son of Mr. Guy LeRoy Crosby of Beaver. His mother is dead. Four brothers and two sisters also survive; Allan of Kimberly, Garth and Garnell of Beaver, and Norman of Salt Lake City; Mrs. S. E. Thompson of Beaver and Mrs. Effie Taylor of Springville. Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. in Springville Third ward with Bishop Will Whitney presiding. Interment will be in Springville under direction of the Claudin funeral hom.

The Daily Herald
Provo, Utah
30 June 1937 (Wednesday)
Rogers Faces First Degree Murder Edict
County Attorney to File Complaint Against Taxi Driver
Murder in the first degree will be charged against Carl Rogers, 26, of Provo in connection with the knife slaying of Murray Crosby, 23, local taxicab driver, Monday night, County Attorney Arnold C. Roylance announced this afternoon. Indications pointed to Rogers’ appearance in Judge Don R. Ellertson’s court within a week for preliminary hearing on the charge. If Rogers should be bound over to district court, it is expected that his trial would come up shortly after the fall term opens in September. Although the charge had not been signed by Sheriff E. D. Durnell nor filed with the clerk of court at 2 p.m., Deputy County Attorney Dean Terry announced that this action would be completed soon. Rogers, following inquest proceedings completed this morning, was reported by a coroner’s jury to have feloniously wielded the knife causing Crosby’s death following a fight into which the two entered at the Orem station cabstand Monday night. “Murray Crosby was killed during a fight or scuffle by one Carl Rogers, who was in possession of and was wielding a knife which instrument made several wounds upon the body of said Crosby, from which wounds Crosby died. This act on the part of Rogers was felonious,” the coroner’s jury composed of Elmer Mill, Wells L. Brimhall and Fred E. Ray decided after a short deliberation this morning. Vern Clark, owner of the knife which Rogers wielded, was the first called to testify at Wednesday morning’s closing session. Clark, Arrow cab driver, stated Rogers asked him for the knife Monday morning while both were at Virginia Ham House. Rogers told Clark he wanted to clean his nails with it. They then became interested in watching a pin marble game and Clark said he forgot about the knife. He stated he had not seen it since until examining it this morning at the inquest. Clark said he spent most of the day with Rogers. In the afternoon they were at Wicks together he said, but there was no mention of Crosby. Asked if Rogers feared Crosby, Clark replied, “I don’t know – couldn’t say.” Clark said he met Rogers about two weeks ago. He described him as not hot-headed, not entirely “quiet”, but jolly. “I pulled up with a lady passenger in my cab,” Clark said recalling the fight. “I heard the boys scuffling on the opposite side.” Clark got out and started over to stop the two when they quit, he continued. He described Crosby as trying to get a “headlock” on Rogers. “Rogers got in; he had blood on his face. I never took any notice of Crosby. As Rogers got in the he said, “I am going up to the police station and report this. I’ll fix you.” “McBride and Taylor were hollering at Crosby to wake him up. He was laying stretched out jerking his head. It was about a minute or two after the fight.” Rogers went directly from the fight and got in his cab. Clark said. He then left for the station. “After we got Crosby out. We saw blood on his shirt and sent for the ambulance,” Clark stated. Oliver Johnson, father-in-law of Crosby and deathbed witness, described the scene, as Crosby died. “I spoke to him and he didn’t recognize me. Later, he did. I was in the operating room with him. I stepped to the head of the bed and took both his hands in mine, ‘Who are you,’ he said. ‘I am going to die. He has killed me. What will Melba (his wife) do.’ Johnson quoted Crosby as saying. “Those were the only statements he made that I heard.” Johnson concluded. Rogers was not in court this morning. The inquest began Tuesday afternoon in County Attorney Arnold C. Roylance’s office. Seven testified, including Rogers. Dr. Stanley M. Clark, county physician, found that any one of three of Crosby’s five wounds might have caused death. Rogers stated he was awaiting the 9:20 p.m. Orem car when he walked over to Crosby and slapped him on the back in a friendly fashion. Crosby shoved him away he said. When the train had pulled in Rogers said he was about to get in his cab to take Mrs. Clifford N. Wald, wife of his employer, and Miss Verda Gren home. “Crosby jumped on me,” said Rogers, “He was awfully mad and said if I wasn’t crippled he would kill me.” Last February Rogers had an ankle crushed while engaged as a Pacific States Cast Iron Pipe plant worker. Mrs. Waid said that as Rogers was about to get into the cab to take herself and Miss Gren home, Rogers was seized by Crosby and that both went behind the car and started scuffling. Miss Gren testified she went back of the car to separate them. Rogers and she then went to the police station to swear out the complaint she stated. Three other witnesses, Miss Donna Meiling; Mateland McBride and Willis Taylor, bore out statements as to how the scuffle began. Miss Meiling, seated in a neighboring cab, told of Crosby shoving Rogers as he was about to enter his cab. McBride testified Rogers had driven off to the police station before he and Vern Clark, noting Crosby slumped over his car’s wheel, pulled him out on the running board. Noting blood they rushed him to the hospital.

The Daily Herald
Provo, Utah
29 September 1937 (Wednesday)
Rogers Hearing Opens Thursday
The second preliminary hearing for Carl S. Rogers, 26, Provo, alleged knife slayer of Murray Crosby June 28, will begin in city court Thursday at 10 a.m. with Judge Don R. Ellertson acting as committing magistrate. District Attorney William Stanley Dunford asked to the new hearing, maintaining that the charge of voluntary manslaughter on which Rogers was bound over to district court is not high enough, Rogers was charged with first degree murder in the complaint filed against him by Sheriff E. G. Durnell.

MEDIA: U3118 - Murray Jacob Crosby 1st husband of Melba Almira Johnson he was stabbed to death while driving a taxi - Halls Tree of Belper - Public Trees Ancestry

BURIAL: Murray Jacob Crosby in the U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Name: Murray Jacob Crosby
Maiden Name:
Birth Date: 12 Nov 1912
Birth Place: Beaver, Beaver County, Utah, United States of America
Death Date: 8 Jun 1937
Death Place: Provo, Utah County, Utah, United States of America
Cemetery: Evergreen Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place: Springville, Utah County, Utah, United States of America
Has Bio?: N
Father: Guy Leroy Crosby
Mother: Norma Blanche Crosby
Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
Original data: Find A Grave. Find A Grave. www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi.

OBITUARY: The Daily Herald
Provo, Utah
4 July 1937 (Sunday)
Services Held for Murray Crosby
Springville – Funeral services for Murray Crosby, Provo taxicab driver, who was killed in a stabbing fray Monday night, were conducted in the Third Ward chapel Thursday afternoon, under the direction of Bishop William Whitney. Burial was in the Evergreen cemetery, under direction of Claudin funeral home. Speakers at the service were A. B. Gore and Captain Alvin Sessions of the CCC camp. Music was rendered by the Third Ward Relief Society chorus; Miss Phylis Smart gave a violin solo; Mrs. Linda Prince, and Mr. and Mrs. Guy Brown gave a vocal solo and duet, respectively. The invocation was by James Straw and the benediction by Samuel Roberts of Provo. William Mower dedicated the grave.



Melba Almira JOHNSON was born on 24 Jul 1916 in Cedarview, Duchesne, Utah. She died on 8 Feb 1984 in Austin, Travis, Texas. She was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Sprinville, Utah, Utah. Melba married (MRIN:3759) Murray Jacob CROSBY on 5 Sep 1935 in Logan, Cache, Utah.