Nansemond County Virginia USGenWeb Archives News.....Murder, 1920 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ "Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch," Aug. 9, 1920, p. 1, col. 7 SLAYS AND ROBS FARMER IN THE DISMAL SWAMP Charles Wolfrey, Who Had No Faith in Banks and Buried Money on Farm, Victim. BROTHER FINDS THE BODY Assassin Laid in Wait, Jumped on the Cart and Shot Wolfrey From Behind Through the Body and Head and Escaped With Booty. [Special to The Times-Dispatch.] SUFFOLK, VA., August 8. - Charles Wolfrey, a well-known white farmer of Nansemond County, was murdered last night on his way from the City Market in Suffolk, on the White Marsh Road, about four miles from the city. Robbery is supposed to have been the motive for the crime, as Wolfrey, a peculiar character in the neighborhood, had an aversion to banks and kept large sums of money concealed about his person, and is alleged to have other sums buried on his farm. Wolfrey lived with his brother, Orrin Wolfrey, both men being bachelors, between 50 and 60 years of age. Orrin Wolfrey saw the mule and cart standing at the barn gate this morning and on investigating found the body of his brother lying in the bottom of the cart. Charles had been shot through the back, the powder burns showing on his shirt. He was also shot through the head. The murderer is supposed to have laid in wait by the road, which is on the edge of the Dismal Swamp, jumped up in the cart, shot his victim and rifled the body of money. Officers are on the track of several suspects, it being their belief that the crime was committed by some person familiar with the habits of the deceased. ****************************************************************************** "Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch," Aug. 10, 1920, p. 8, col. 2 HOLD FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MURDERED FARMER Not Is Drawing Closer Around Man, Suspected of Killing Charles Wolfrey. (Special to The Times-Dispatch.) SUFFOLK, August 9. - Funeral services of Charles Wolfrey, murdered on the road to his home about four miles from Suffolk, on the road leading into North Carolina, were held afternoon at the residence on the White Marsh Farm. All day Sunday and today curious people have flocked to the farm, which is laden with some of the finest corn, cotton, peanuts and fruit in this section, gazing morbidly at the bloodstained cart, and the body of the dead farmer, who perhaps was better dressed than ever he had been in his miserly and hermit- like life. Sitting on the porch, the picture of dejection and woe, is the older brother, the only heir, whose life under the domination of the stronger willed and keener brain of Charles Wolfrey, has been that of a slave. Orrin Wolfrey, now a man of nearly sixty, has worked side by side with the brother whose murder Saturday night shocked this whole neiirhborhood, has not been into Suffolk in years, and is not mentally strong. Charles was not in the habit of confiding his business with his brother, and while it is known that he had made large sums of money in all the years the two had worked together, where this money is, is a source of speculation. The neighbors believe that thousands are buried on the farm, and that the dead man must have had $1,000 on his person when killed. Charles Wolfrey bought a piece of land some years ago, and paid for it with money ranging all the way from a dime to a dollar, brought in in a basket. With a farm surrounding him on which crops worth several thousands of dollars are growing, the two brothers lived in abject poverty, their but scantily furnished and with none of the decencies of life. The funeral services this afternoon were conducted by a minister, who gave his services, although the dead an attended no church; neighbors to whom he had rendered no kindly services were present, and sitting alone was the desolate brother, the embodiment of helpless sorrow. In the meantime county authorities are drawing the net closer around a suspect, who lived not far away and who knew that the dead man carried a big roll of money, and that he would pass along that road at the time of the murder. ****************************************************************************** "Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch," Aug. 12, 1920, p. 4, col. 5 THREE NEGROES CHARGED WITH MURDER OF FARMER Trio of Suspects Held for Examination in Connection With Wolfrey Case. (Special to The Times-Dispatch.) SUFFOLK, VA., August 11. - Sam Slade, Bill Sessoms, and Theodore Collins, all colored, were arrested today, and are being held for examination in connection with the murder of Charles Wolfrey, the Nansemond County farmer who was brutally done to death on the road from Suffolk to his home, four miles out on the White Marsh Road, Saturday night. The county authorities have not let up a minute on the search for clues that will lead to the conviction of the murderers, and circumstantial evidence of a convincing kind led to the arrests made today. It was understood tonight that other arrests will be made which will further help the solution of the murder mystery. ****************************************************************************** "Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch," Aug. 15, 1920, p. 5, col. 3-4 MURDERED FARMER LIVED LIFE OF MISER-RECLUSE Charles Wolfrey, Slain in Dismal Swamp, Was Isolated From Outside World. [Special to The Times-Dispatch.] SUFFOLK, August 14. - With three men in Nansemond County jail as a result of the murder of Charles Wolfrey, the wealthy farmer and hermit of the White Marsh Road, Nansemond County, and others being drawn closer into the net spread by the county officials, country people who travel that road are breathing easier. Sam Slade, Bill Sessoms and Theodore Collins, all negroes, are being held for investigation in connection with the tragic end of Wolfrey, almost within calling distance of his own home. Orrin Wolfrey wept as he gazed over the old farm lands and recalled the long years in which he and his brother, both bachelors, had worked side by side. "We came here," he said, "when we were little fellows, hust high enough to reach the plow handles, with our mother, who lies buried over in the graveyard." Orrin, while possessing an impediment in his speech which makes him appear at a disadvantage, has a more than a fair amount of "horse sense," and told with spirit of his indignation at the enterprising real estate men who came out to try to get cheap options on the prolific acres, before the body of Charles Wolfrey had been put away. He also told of how he had prepared for fortune hunters, who might have planned to do a little digging around the farm on dark nights, stating that he had been given a gun by his neighbors, and that it was loaded for such persons. Thinks Money Is Buried. Orrin also said that while he thought there was money buried somewhere on the farm, his brother had never told him anything about it, and that he has no idea where to search. He thinks there is money in a Portsmouth bank, and knew that Charles always carried a large amount on his person. Looking over the fruitful farm, one wondered how two men could do all of the work necessary to keep it looking so prosperous, until the timid brother described how they worked from dawn till dark, and often when the moon was shining until late in the night hours. That the murdered man had buried money was proven some years ago when he bought an additional farm. The attorney had prepared the papers, and had everything ready, when Charles Wolfrey reached down and brought forth a half- bushel basket, over which some leaves and grass had been placed. In this basket was $3,500, the purchase money, in nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars and lots of pennies. Not one piece of money was larger than a dollar. The attorney declined to count the accumulation and a bank cashier was called on. Without Comforts. In the little three-room house on this $25,000 farm, are none of the comforts of life. One room has an old-fashioned spinning wheel and nothing else. In another room are two "shakedowns" on which the brothers slept the few hours in which they were not working. The small cell contained a cook stove and pine table and a few dishes. Orrin Wolfrey said that on Saturday nights and Sundays he cooked up the food which lasted them far into the week, so as not to lose time. There were no union hours on this farm. Everyone who drives on the country roads near the Dismal Swamp at night, for business or pleasure, is eager for news of the arrest of the man or men who committed the foul deed. ****************************************************************************** Charles WOLFREY/WOOLFREY, Nansemond Co. farmer, Gates Co., NC native, murdered 7 Apr 1920, White Marsh Rd., age 58, buried in the family cemetery*, "White Marsh Farm," 9 Apr 1920 Additional information: *Site not known (Aug 2021) to the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project. D.Cert. 20261 (Cypress #137) gives Charles WOOLFREY, b. Gates Co., NC, son of Mary WOOLFREY; d. age 58, of Pistol shot in head; dead when found sunrise 8 of Aug. The D.Cert. 8670 (Suffolk #112) of his brother gives Thomas Henry Orrin WOOLFREY, res. 304 S. Broad St., Suffolk, b. 4 Dec 1860, Gates Co., NC, son of Mary WOOLFREY; d. 20 Apr 1944, of Chronic myocarditis; buried 22 Apr 1944, in Family cemetery of White Marsh Rd. Orrin WOOLFREY appears in the 1940 Census, on Hwy 642, Cypress Dist., Nansemond Co., age 75; farmer, Owns Free Farm #19. Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by File Manager Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/newspapers/19200409td.txt