US Marshal Thomas Purnell of the Western District of Texas had been given arrest warrants to serve on Thomas and James Flynn, two brothers accused of committing several post office robberies in the Galveston area. Deputy US Marshal Frank Griffin had been looking for the brothers for several days and interviewing neighbors. Purnell, Griffin and a large posse left Galveston at 3:00 a.m. headed to the Flynns home 2 miles north of the city. Just after daylight Purnell, Griffin and several possemen knocked on the door and identified themselves. There was no answer so they entered the house. Deputy Griffin pushed open the door and was met with a shotgun blast. Sixteen pellets struck him in the chest and he dropped to the floor, dying within minutes. Purnell emptied his pistol unsure if he hit anyone. The posse opened fire on the house. There was return fire from within the house. Purnell ordered the house to be torched. The Flynn brothers came out and surrendered. Griffin was buried the next day in Galveston. There is no record of the case being tried.
