Slain officer gets marker at Joplin grave after 84 years

JOPLIN, Mo. -- A gravestone has been provided for a Springfield, Missouri, police officer who was shot by two suspects in 1932.

Officer Charles Houser of the Springfield Police Department was among six law-enforcement officers killed by brothers Harry and Jennings Young at their family farmhouse in rural Greene County, Missouri, KOLR-TV reported.

"Back then, they did things a little bit different. Kicked the back door in, the sheriff did, and when he did, he was met with a shotgun," Springfield Police Department Lt. Culley Wilson said.

Greene County Sheriff Marcell Hendrix was the first law-enforcement officer who was shot.

Greene County Deputy Wiley Mashburn and four officers from Springfield, including Houser, also were killed.

After the incident, Houser's body was returned to Joplin for burial at his family plot, but his grave remained unmarked for more than 80 years.

A mortuary in Jefferson City, Missouri, donated the headstone for Houser's grave. It was placed at his burial site Friday.

"We're very proud and honored that the law-enforcement community come together and did this," said Fred Parks, a cousin of Houser.

Houser at least partly inspired Parks' career in law enforcement. Parks said he went on to work for the sheriff's offices in Crawford County, Kansas, and Newton County, Missouri.

The Young brothers reportedly died after shooting themselves in Houston.

Their bodies were transported back to Missouri for burial, but the residents of Greene County ensured they weren't laid to rest near Houser.