Umatilla County Facts

Movies Filmed in Umatilla County
1915, Where Cowboy is King, filmed in Pendleton
1924, Passing on the West, filmed in Pendleton
1924, Shackles of Fear, filmed in Pendleton
1924, Trail of Vengeance, filmed in Pendleton
1928, Our Daily Bread, filmed in Pendleton
1930, The Big Trail, filmed in Pendleton
1931, Singing Waters, filmed in Pendleton
1952, Sioux Uprising, filmed in Pendleton

First Legal Execution in Umatilla County
The first legal execution of a white man took place on January 5, 1881, in the jail yard at Pendleton. Edward (or Arthur) Murphy was hanged by Sheriff Martin for the murder to T.D. French, near Heppner, the previous May. Murphy was herding a band of sheep for S.S. Snyder, and allowed them to trespass on French's field. Snyder complained about this and another herder was sent to take charge of the herd. That night French was approaching the camp, when Murphy seized a pistol, went out to meet him, and after a few angry words shot him dead. Murphy was tracked for three days, when he turned himself in at Heppner. He was almost hanged then, but was taken to Pendleton for trial. He was convicted and sentenced in November.