Night patrolman Ben Frye was fatally shot during the early morning hours
of Monday, June 9, 1930, by a robber trapped in the W. E. Ferguson & Company Feed
Store at 417 South College Street.Wounded by five shots, Officer Frye told officers
from his death-bed that he had found the store's front door unlocked and entered the store
to investigate. When he flashed his light inside, the robber opened fire before the
officer had a chance to defend himself.
Officer Frye was able to crawl out the back of the store, over a platform and through
an alley to the front of an adjoining store to attract the attention of a watchman. He was
carried to Mercy Hospital, where he died at 5:15 a.m.
Officer Frye, 44 years old, born in Moore County, was praised by Chief R. Horace Moore
as being "one of the best men on the force, both in point of character and
service."
