Friday March 29th, 2024 10:09AM

Lula, Hall County pause to remember fallen officers from 1923

LULA — National Peace Officer Memorial Day took on special meaning for Hall County and Lula on Monday.

That’s because Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch and deputies from his agency, Lula city officials and the Lula-Belton Historical Society joined together to remember Henry Vilus Martin and Jack C. Bryan, two Lula city marshals who were shot and killed in the line of duty in 1923.

“Law enforcement agencies around the country will have appropriate ceremonies to mark the loss of their own, and in Washington, D.C., there will be formal observances at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial,” Couch told those gathered. “So it’s very fitting that on this day here in Hall County we take the opportunity to memorialize two of our community’s early lawmen whose lives were taken in the line of duty.”

Couch said the modern peace officer funerals that draw national attention are a far cry from 100 years ago.

“In 1923 it was very different,” Couch said. “On that day, the City of Lula and Hall County lost two lawmen in the line of duty, and while we’re certain their deaths were marked and mourned by friends and family at the time, there doesn’t seem to have been any significant note of recognition for the sacrifice they both made in the service of their community.

“So today it’s our goal to rectify that, and to ensure that future generations will know of that sacrifice,” Couch said.

Hall County Sheriff’s Office 1st Lt. Bonner Burton did much of the research on the incident that claimed the lives of Martin and Bryan.

On March 8, 1923, brothers-in-law Martin and Bryan were shot and killed by Robert Hope as they were in the process of arresting him near the old city jail.

“Mr. Hope had apparently been fined $15 by the City of Lula for a minor crime, and he’d subsequently written a bad check to cover it,” Couch said. “It was the duty of Martin and Bryan to take Mr. Hope into custody so that he would be held accountable — for $15 — and they lost their lives for it.”

Couch said Martin and Bryan, as all law enforcement officers do, accepted the task of enforcing the law, whether for a heinous crime or a minor rule.

“They didn’t lose their lives for $15; the lost their lives for the betterment of their community, their homes, their families, their friends and neighbors,” Couch said. “$15 had nothing to do with it. Doing the right thing had everything to do with it.”

Anthony Kim Martin, great-grandson of Lula City Marshal Vilus Martin and great-nephew of Lula City Marshal Jack Bryan, attended Monday’s observance and choked up discussing with AccessWDUN the tribute to his ancestors.

Choking back tears, Kim Martin said, “It’s getting me in my heart right know, to be honest with you. I never expected anything like this. I really appreciate it. The things that I see are very nice, for all the turnout and the people here today to show their respect for something that happened a long time ago. It’s just a real nice thing.”

Following Couch's remarks and the unveiling of the rendering of a memorial plaque to the fallen officers that will be provided by Memorial Park Funeral Homes, Couch, deputies and others toured the old Lula City Jail.

City officials then treated about 75 emergency personnel from Hall and Banks counties to hotdogs and hamburgers prepared by the staff at city hall.

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