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Submitted: 10/17/21 • Approved: 10/17/21 • Last Updated: 10/20/21 • R463674-G0-S3
April 24, 1928-July 12, 1980
*Photo/information, courtesy of Edith Guynes Stanley
*Obituary
Funeral services for Canadian sheriff's deputy and former Perryton policeman M. L. (Corky) Guthrie were held Monday morning in Wheeler. Guthrie was killed at about 3:45 a.m. Saturday while answering a silent alarm at Lad's Pharmacy in Canadian.
An Amarillo man, Paul Berry Bush, has been charged with capital murder in connection with the pre-dawn shotgun slaying. Bush was arrested at about 7 p.m. in Dumas, ending a 15-hour search by lawmen that reached into the tri-state area. Bush was reportedly out of jail on an appeal bond in connection with an 8-year sentence which followed a conviction for delivery of a controlled substance.
Deputy Guthrie received the burglary alarm call while in the sheriff's office, less than two blocks away from the pharmacy. The pharmacy's front plate glass window had been smashed, triggering the alarm. Officials believe that the burglar was in search of drugs, as the cash register was not tampered with.
As Guthrie turned the corner to pull into the pharmacy parking lot, the burglar fired the first of four shots from his shotgun.
The shotgun pellets passed through the windshield and hit the deputy in the head, according to Texas Ranger Bill Baten of Pampa, who was in charge of the investigation. Guthrie managed to radio to the dispatcher, "I'm shot, I'm shot." The patrol can then jumped the curb and rolled against the pharmacy door.
The armed burglar left the building, apparently cutting himself as he squeezed through the broken glass door. The second blast was unloaded from the hood of the police car and then the burglar reportedly walked tot he driver's side of the car ad emptied a third round into the car. all three shots hits Guthrie in the upper part of his body.
Lawmen originally searched for an Oklahoma fugitive and two other men for questioning in the case. Later in the evening, officials ruled out the man as a suspect and discontinued searching for the pickup he reportedly was driving. Area officials began searching for Bush after Potter County sheriff's deputies received a tip that he may have been involved in the slaying. Bulletins were broadcast for three cars the man was known to drive.
One of the cars was found near Fritch, shortly before his arrest.
The gun used in the slaying was a 12-gauge shotgun.
Guthrie joined the Canadian sheriff's office in May 1979. He had served on the Perryton police force for a bout a year and a half prior to moving to Canadian.
Born in Matador, he graduated from Wheeler high school in 1946 and attended Wayland Baptist College and San Angelo State College. He married Lydia Lsng on July 6, 1967 in Wheeler.
Surviving are his wife; his mother, Mrs. Laura Guthrie of Wheeler; three sons, Bobby of Amarillo; Joe and Steve, both of the home; two daughters, Rose Milburn of Canadian and Melinda of the home; and one grandchild.
(Published in The Perryton Herald (TX)-July 17, 1980)
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Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997
Name: Marion Lee Guthrie
Date of Birth: 24 Apr 1928
Gender: Male
Birth County: Motley
Father's name: Lee Guthrie
Mother's name: Linnie Laura Wimberly
Roll number: 1928_0003
Contributed on 10/17/21
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Record #: 463674