He was the son of Michael Murtaugh. He graduated from Allegheny College in 1896; and from Cornell Law School in 1899.[1] At Cornell he was a member of the Quill and Dagger Society, a member of the football team, and captain of the baseball team.
He married Nellie O'Day (d. 1915), and they had four children. He was a member of the Board of Supervisors of Chemung County for four terms; and Corporation Counsel of Elmira from 1904 to 1908.
He died at The Ansonia Hotel after taking poison by mistake.[5] He was served "Roach salt"[6] (NaHF2, an insecticide) instead of Rochelle salt (a purgative), and died about three hours after ingestion. He was buried in Elmira.