Edward Ploughman, Special Constable 

Binger 

During the summer of 1905, Thurston C Renfro was the clerk of the local school board in Binger. Although he contended that his term was not up for another two years, another election was held and a new clerk was elected.  Renfro refused to turn over any records to the new clerk and a warrant of replevin was issued on July 10^th. Ed Ploughman was appointed a Special Constable to serve the warrant. On the morning of July 12th Ploughman went to Renfro’s home to obtain the books. Renfro refused to turn the books over to Ploughman. Ploughman left and obtained an arrest warrant for Renfro for resisting an officer in the service of process and refusing to deliver the property.  On Thursday, July 13, 1905, Special Constable Ed Ploughman went to serve both of the warrants accompanied by Thomas Gibbons, Director of the school district. The two men found Renfro near his home. Ploughman told Renfro he was under arrest and Renfro did not protest.  Ploughman then told Renfro he was going to search his house for the missing records and at that time Renfro ran into his house and advised the men not to come in without a search warrant.  As Ploughman and Gibbons approached the east door of the house Renfro started shooting. Ploughman ran to the southeast corner of the house. Renfro ran out of the west door and to southwest corner of the house where he saw Ploughman and shot him in the back with his 25-35 Winchester rifle and killed him. When the shooting was over, however, Renfro and Ploughman were both dead. Gibbons was charged with the murder of Renfro, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. A few years later the State Supreme Court overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial. Ploughman was survived by his wife and three children