Nansemond County Virginia USGenWeb Archives News.....Wreck, 1939 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ "Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 17, No. 141, Sep. 6, 1939, p. 1 ROTARY CANCELS MEETING George R. Rice, president of the Suffolk Rotary Club today announced cancellation of the weekly meeting of the club, scheduled for tomorrow, on account of the death of two past-presidents, Dr. J. Lewis Rawls and John E. Martin. 3 Killed As Car Plunges Off Broad Street Bridge Dr. J. Lewis Rawls, John E. Martin and His Brother, Bruce, Are Victims 27-FT. FALL CRUSHES Collide With Car Driven By John Turner, Negro City Employee The lives of three men, two prominent Suffolk citizens - John Epps Martin, superintendent of Suffolk schools, and Dr. J. Lewis Rawls, widely known obstetrician and secretary of staff at Lakeview hospital - and a Norfolk railway man, Bruce E. Martin, brother of John E., were snuffed out about 10:30 o'clock last night when the automobile in which they were riding, after colliding with another vehicle atop the Broad street bridge, swerved to crash through an iron grill guardrail and plunged 27 feet below to land, upside down, on the tracks of the Virginian railway. The Martin automobile was crushed, as were its three occupants. When the top had been pried by cable sufficiently to permit extrication of the three men, the Martin brothers were dead. It was believed Dr. Rawls still had a slight pulse. An ambulance took him to Lakeview Hospital three blocks away, but he was dead when removed. The other car involved was driven by John Turner, colored, a city street department employee, whose wife was riding with him. Turner's car was damaged, but he and his wife were unhurt. MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE A charge of manslaughter was placed against Turner today and he was released under $500 bond for his appearance Saturday at a hearing of the charge before Justice E. Roland Custis. While the bodies were being removed and the tracks cleared, Turner, a middle- aged Negro, told reporters and police that as he and his wife were passing over the highest point in the overpass bridge, he noticed a car come over the south approach and almost straddling the white line which marks the traffic lanes. He said he drew as near to the west rail as possible. As the cars drew nearer, Turner said he noticed the approaching car swing out to give him room for passing but the swing came too late, the car hit his left front wheel, breaking it and stalling his vehicle. The other car, he said, swerved and, before the driver could right it, plunged through the guardrail to the tracks 27 feet below. The Negro man looked over the rail and then ran the remaining distance across the bridge to a North Broad street residence where he notified a householder, who, in turn, called police headquarters. Turner waited that the scene of the crash until officers, lead by Police Chief H.W. Churn, Dr. Edward C. Joyner, coroner, and an ambulance arrived. Great crowds of Suffolk citizens swarmed about the bridge and the railway tracks below last night. They continued to visit the scene today, after evidence of the tragedy had been removed. POSTPONE OPENING Charles P. Taylor, chairman of the Suffolk School Board after a conference with Assistant Principal William T. Harry, Jr., and School Board members, last night cancelled arrangements for the opening of all city schools today. The School Board chairman informed the News-Herald this afternoon that the schools would open Friday at 1:30 p.m., following the funeral of the late superintendent at 11 a.m. FUNERAL SERVICES Funeral services for the two citizens were announced by their families today. Rites for Mr. Martin will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Oxford Methodist church, with the pastor, the Rev. H. Conrad Blackwell, assisted by the Rev. Herbert H. Tucker, rector of St. Pauls Episcopal church, officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Hill cemetery. Final rites for Dr. Rawls, as announced today, call for the body to remain at the funeral home of I.O. Hill & Co., 447 West Washington street, until 5 p.m., Thursday, at which time it will be removed to the Rawls residence, 921 Maryland avenue, to repose until Friday at 3:30 when funeral services will be conducted at Main Street Methodist Church, with the pastor, the Rev. Dr. A.L. Franklin, in charge. Burial will be in Cedar Hill cemetery. Arrangements for final rites for Bruce J. Martin awaited arrival of his family here today, it was announced at the R.W. Baker & Co. funeral home, where the body was being prepared for burial. SURVIVORS Surviving Dr. Rawls are his widow, Mrs. Azzie Gatling Rawls, a son, J. Lewis, Jr., and a daughter, Miss Nancy Elizabeth Rawls; two brothers, Richard W. Rawls, of Rocky Mount, N.C., and Ernest Rawls, of Gatesville; three half brothers, Marvin Rae, of Concord, N.C.; Dr. George Rae, of New Tazewell, Tenn., and Blackwell Rae, of Trottville, N.C., and four sisters, Miss Frances Rawls, of Suffolk; Mrs. H.B. Moore, of Rocky Mount, N.C., and Mrs. Frank Lawrence, of Windsor, Va. Surviving Mr. Martin are his widow, Mrs. Virginia Jenkins Martin, a son, John Epps Martin, Jr., his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Willis V. Martin, of Prince George County, and a sister, Miss Mary Martin of Norfolk. MISSION OF MERCY The Martin brothers were headed for Hopewell last night to bring their father, who was seriously ill, back to Lakeview Hospital here for treatment. They had obtained Dr. Rawls to accompany them and make their father as comfortable as possible during the journey. HERE SINCE 1916 Mr. Martin had headed the public schools of Suffolk since 1923. A native of Surry county and a graduate of Washington & Lee University, he came to Suffolk in 1916 as principal of the high school, after having been an instructor in English at Washington and Lee and having taught in private schools. During the World War be obtained leave of absence from his school duties and served in the U.S. Navy with the rank of Ensign. HIGH RANK Mr. Martin had attained high rank professionally and in other activities. He was president of the Virginia Education Association in the school year 1935-36 and served as Governor of the Virginia district of Rotary International during the club year 1933-34, before the state was divided into two districts. During his long service in the public schools Mr. Martin developed the Suffolk system into one of the (Continued on Page 6) [3 photos, captioned:] Victims In Tragic Crash JOHN E. MARTIN Dr. J. LEWIS RAWLS Photos by Hamblin; flash by Sherr Above is a flashlight scene of the wreckage (arrow points to bodies of Martin brothers) in which three lost their lives last night as the crashed car plunged 27 feet from the Broad Street overpass to the Virginian railway tracks. Schools To Open Friday, 1:30 P.M. The opening of Suffolk’s public schools today was postponed last night by order of the City Board as a mark of respect to John E. Martin, superintendent, who was killed in an automobile accident. The School Board announced today that all public schools would open Friday at 1:30 p.m. following funeral services for the late superintendent at 11 a.m. No statement could be made at this time regarding supervision of school affairs, except that they are in the hands of the School Board and the several principals. p. 6 THREE KILLED (Continued From Page 1) outstanding public schools of the state. He was particularly interested in having the schools serve the needs of the community, and as a result of this attitude, introduced vocational instruction and guidance programs in the high school. During his years at Washington and Lee, Mr. Martin in association with other students, founded the student honor society of Omicron Delta Kappa, which now is a national fraternity of high standing. Mr. Martin has served in scores of civic capacities. The Rotary Club, the Old Dominion Area Council, Boy Scouts, various drives and campaigns for welfare and social improvement have all known his aid. ACTIVE PHYSICIAN Dr. J. Lewis Rawls was born March 23, 1886, in Gatesville, N.C., the son of the late John B. Rawls and Elizabeth Brown Rawls. He was educated at Littleton Military Academy in North Carolina, Trinity School in Durham, University of North Carolina, graduated in medicine from Jefferson Medical University in Philadelphia, was an interne in Camden, N.J., hospital, and has taken a post graduate course in Lying-In Hospital in Philadelphia. He was s member of the Main Street Methodist church, a teacher of a young ladies Bible Class. He was a member of the North Carolina Medical Society, Medical Society of Virginia, Tri-State Medical Society of Virginia and Carolinas, South Side Medical Society, American Medical Association, vice president of Medical Society of Virginia and North Carolina, the Seaboard Medical Association of Virginia and North Carolina. Like Mr. Martin, Dr. Rawles was active in many civic capacities, both had served as president of the local Rotary Club; Mr. Rawls had been a director and was one of the founders of the Tidewater Memorial Hospital in Princess Anne County for treatment of tuberculosis; was active in the Medical Society, the Tuberculosis Association, the Red Cross and numerous other organizations and movements. ****************************************************************************** "Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 17, No. 142, Sep. 7, 1939, p. 1 [photo, captioned:] The Plunge To Death This flash photo by Sherr shows among the first to arrive at the scene of the Broad street tragedy Tuesday night, which took the lives of Dr. J. Lewis Rawls and John E. Martin, of Suffolk, and Mr. Martin's brother, Bruce Martin of Norfolk. The car, after a collision on the bridge, plunged through the guardrail and dropped, upside down, to the railway tracks 27 feet below. (AP Mat). CHANGE HOUR MARTIN RITES Funeral Moved Back Half Hour Tomorrow Morning Funeral arrangements for John E. Martin and his brother, Bruce Martin of Norfolk, were changed from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Friday, it was announced today. The service will be held at Oxford Methodist Church, with the Rev. H. Conrad Blackwell, pastor, assisted by the Rev. Herbert N. Tucker, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, officiating. Members of the Suffolk public school faculties today requested all teachers to meet at the high school building Friday at 10:30 a.m. to attend the final rites as a body. The American Legion has bean requested to assemble at 10:45 a.m. for the Martin rites and at 3:15 for the funeral of Dr. J. Lewis Rawls. Services for Dr. Rawls remain unchanged as announced in the News-Herald yesterday. Services will be conducted at Main Street Methodist Church Friday at 3:30 p.m. by the Rev. Dr. A.L. Franklin. The two, who were killed when their automobile plunged off the Broad street overpass after colliding with another vehicle, will be buried in Cedar Hill cemetery. ****************************************************************************** "Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 17, No. 143, Sep. 8, 1939, p. 1 TRIBUTES PAID CRASH VICTIMS Final Rites and Burial Of Three Held Here Today; Churches Packed By Friends Suffolk friends and neighbors today paid final tributes to the memory of two community leaders and the brother of one of them - all victims of an automobile crash Tuesday night. Services for John E. Martin, long time city superintendent of schools, and his brother, Bruce E. [sic; J.] Martin, of Norfolk, were held at Oxford Methodist Church this morning at 11:30 o'clock. Friends packed the church auditorium and overflowed into Broad street. The rites were held only two blocks from the scene of the fatal plunge off the Broad street overpass. There were several truck loads of flowers. The rites at the church and at the grave in Cedar Hill cemetery were conducted by the Rev. H. Conrad Blackwell, pastor at Oxford, and the Rev. Herbert N. Tucker, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal church. Special music by an augmented church choir sang at the service. This afternoon at 3:30 o'clock the same people, or many of them, were joined by others who had not been able to attend the morning services, and paid their tribute to Dr. J. Lewis Rawls, popular physician and civic leader. The Rawls rites were held at Main Street Methodist Church, with the Rev. Dr. A.L. Franklin, pastor, and the Rev. Dr. John G. Truitt, of Suffolk Christian Church, conducting the service. Active pallbearers for the service included: Dr. D.L. Harrell, Dr. W.T. Day, Dr. J.R. Ellison, Dr. W.H. Chapman, Dr. G. Richardson Joyner, Dr. Challis H. Dawson, Dr. Thomas L. Carter, of Gatesville, N.C.; Dr. Gilmore Holland, of Holland; Dr. O.R. Yates, Walter F. Story, A.G.M. Martin, Jr., and O.W. Sheffield. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Nurses Alumnae Association of Lakeview Hospital; members of the Suffolk Rotary Club and the American Legion, Stewards of Main Street Methodist Church, physicians and friends of the family. There was a profusion of flowers. Hymns sung by the Main Street Choir included "The Wondrous Story," "The Old Rugged Cross," "In The Garden" and "Asleep In Jesus." Dr. Rawls, as was Mr. Martin, was buried at Cedar Hill cemetery. ALL OFFICERS RE-ELECTED BY COUNCIL Council Observes Silent Prayer for Martins and Rawls; Have Busy Session Suffolk City Council went through the formality of re-organizing with the same organization last night as the five-member board carried out the charter requirement following last June's city election. The only new officer resulting from the election was appointment of Raye V. Knight as collector of delinquent taxes, succeeding the late John H. Palmer. With the re-organization required, members of council re-elected the following council and city officers: Jack W. Nurney, president of the council and mayor at Suffolk; Charles B. Pond, vice-president of the council; John K. Hutton, city attorney; Charles L. Hutchins, city clerk; Mrs. Rachel Walton, deputy city clerk; E. Roland Custis, city police justice; Willis B. Cohoon, substitute city police justice. Mayor Nurney called attention to the tragic loss recently sustained by the city in the loss of its superintendent of schools, John E. Martin; his brother, Bruce Martin, and in the loss of Dr. J. Lewis Rawles. At the request of the mayor, the council sat in silent prayer for a short period in memory and sorrow for the three. An ordinance regulating the parking of trucks, trailers and semitrailers on the city streets from 12 midnight until 6 a.m. was adopted, having been made an emergency measure. These vehicles may not park on any city street longer than one hour from midnight until 6 a.m. except on the factory district, on Hall avenue, east of Morgan street and south of the Norfolk and Western. Police have been instructed to warn truck drivers for a certain length of time, before penalties are imposed. An ordinance marking Jackson street, from South Saratoga to Lee street a one-way street for west bound traffic only was also adopted and proper signs will be erected at once. The ordinance making two-hour parking west to North street to Wellons was placed on its first reading. G.A. Harris, attorney, appeared before the council in behalf of W.H. Burchett, relative to water flooding Mr. Burchett's property on South Broad and Virginia streets. Mr. Harris told of the damage that exists because of the ponding of water and declared it collected on average and was not the immediate result of the recent floods. The matter was referred to the proper council committee. CUSTIS TO HEAR TURNER CHARGE Driver of Car Involved In Crash Fatal to Three In Court Tomorrow The case against John Turner, Negro, charged with involuntary manslaughter in the connection with the deaths of John E. Martin and Dr. J. Lewis Rawles of Suffolk, and Bruce E. Martin, of Norfolk, brother of John E., will be given a preliminary hearing before Police Justice E. Roland Custis tomorrow morning in the city court. Turner, employed by the city for many years, was arrested at the scene of the fatal crash by Sergeant J.A. Daughtrey and Officer E.M. Harrell and taken to police headquarters to be booked on the charge. He was later released on a $500 bail bond for his appearance in the court tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. ****************************************************************************** "Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 17, No. 144, Sep. 9, 1939, p. 1 Nolle Prosequi In Crash Case; Turner Freed A nolle prooequi was requested and granted today in the charge of manslaughter against John Turner, colored, driver of an automobile involved in the accident which took the lives of three prominent men here Tuesday night. As the hearing opened before Justice E. Roland Custis in police court this morning, J. Melvin Lovelace, commonwealth's attorney asked the court to enter an order of nolle prosequi in the case. The court granted the request promptly. Turner was on hand to testify, and had employed Attorney Charles B. Godwin, Jr. to defend him. The nolle prosequi made testimony unnecessary. ****************************************************************************** Additional information: Dr. John Lewis RAWLS, obstetrician, Army Medical Corps veteran of WW-I, b. 23 Mar 1885, NC, killed in wreck 5 Sep 1939, Suffolk, interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery (Block U, Lot 21), Suffolk, 8 Sep 1939 Cedar Hill list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cedar_p.txt Find a Grave Mem. #92106158 includes newspaper photo, posted by Martha Fontaine Byrum John Eppes MARTIN, Superintendent of Suffolk schools, Navy veteran of WW-I, b. 3 May 1891, Waverly, Sussex Co., killed in wreck 5 Sep 1939, Suffolk, interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery (Block C, Lot 35), Suffolk, 8 Sep 1939 Cedar Hill list, another extension of the SCHS Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cedar_m.txt Find a Grave Mem. #86186938 includes photos & additional newspaper coverage, posted by Jessica Bennett & Martha Fontaine Byrum The obit ("Suffolk News-Herald," June 30, 1953, p. 2) of Virginia (JENKINS; Mrs. John E. Sr.) MARTIN is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/m635v1ob.txt James Bruce MARTIN, of Norfolk, collector for lawyer, former R.R. billing clerk, b. 18 May 1886, Wakefield, Sussex Co., killed in wreck 5 Sep 1939, Suffolk, interred in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Norfolk, Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Cemeteries, Forest Lawn list: http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/norfolkcity/cemeteries/forestlawn/flc09-lum-mar.html Find a Grave Mem. #91101893 includes photos & additional newspaper coverage, posted by Martha Fontaine Byrum Willis Vaughan & Annie Jane (EPPES) MARTIN, parents of John & Bruce, are also buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by File Manager Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/newspapers/19390906nh.txt