J. Frank Tranmer: Murder 1st Degree A Case That Went Into Criminal History

J. Frank Tranmer was born John Franklin Tranmer on 18 Feb 1867 in Peoria, IL. to William Blackburn Tranmer (1830-1891) & Sarah Phedelia Davis (1845-1924). He married Jeanette Dopp 3 Feb 1908 in Twin Falls, ID.

Inmate: #1414 Nevada State Prison

Rec: 14 July 1911

Crime: Murder 1st Degree

Term: death by shooting

Commuted to Life.

Nimrod Urie only 23 years old at the time along with J. Frank Tranmer robbed a saloon and killed the owners, Mr. & Mrs. Quillil, shot dead, on or near the 6th of Jan 1911.

They were arrested and Nimrod confessed to the whole thing, except he claimed J. Frank Tranmer was the only one who shot the Quillil's. Here are some wonderful newspaper clippings on the murders.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45251297/j_frank_tranmer/



https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45251338/j_frank_tranmer/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45251225/j_frank_tranmer/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45251133/j_frank_tranmer/


The Trial

So the people ask for a second trial because they want the death penalty.

So now we start the year 1913

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45250211/j_frank_tranmer/

They had 2 trails one for the Mr. Quillei and one for Mrs. Quillei.

He gets a life sentence in the first trial.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45250211/j_frank_tranmer/

Here's the year 1915

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45250794/j_frank_tranmer/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45250881/j_frank_tranmer/

Here's a photo of his parents

Here's the year 1916

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45249980/j_frank_tranmer/

So then the prison runs out of money and they can't execute him and he gets a life sentence.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45249949/j_frank_tranmer/

The year 1917

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45251056/j_frank_tranmer/

Nimrod wants a pardon

May of 1918 they both ask for parole

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45250911/j_frank_tranmer/

J. Frank Tranmer dies in prison 16 Sep 1918, Carson City, NV.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45251487/j_frank_tranmer/

This is very interesting, J. Frank Tranmer with Guy Tranmer (William Gay Tranmer), Ed Diffendarfer, and Nimrod Urie, killed Frank Dopp a young white boy. These men claim the Indians did it. Here is the clippings I found.

J. Frank Tranmer's wife had two sons Frank & James, one born 1894 & the other 1896. I am claiming these boys are not Tranmer's since they married in 1908. I believe Dopp was her first husbands name.

There's a mystery to be solved here, I looked for records Jeannette Dopp was born 1872.

It's also interesting that Tranmer was asked by the judge how he wanted to die and he stated he want to be shot not hung. Then they run out of money and he isn't executed.

This is an awesome story for someone tree. I made a tree for him and added everything. There are several trees for him but none have he died in prison and is buried in the prison cemetery, none have any newspaper clippings attached or any reference that he was an out law.   



Here is Nimrod Urie's mugshot