Nansemond-Augusta County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Murray, Dr. R. Wallace, 1900 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ NEWS FROM SUFFOLK AND OTHER PARTS OF VIRGINIA _____________________________________________ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ OUR SUFFOLK LETTER. ____ Dr. Robert W. Murray End Life With Bullet. ____ It is Not Known Whether the Shooting Was Accidental or Premeditated - "Star Roll" in Public and High Schools - Two Marriages. ____ (Special to the Virginian-Pilot.) Suffolk, Va., May 19.- The wires brought word to-night that Dr. Robert Wallace Murray, aged 39 years, had shot himself fatally at his home, in Greenville, Augusta county, Va. The first message announced the shooting. That was followed a little later by a declaration telling of the end. There was nothing in the telegrams which told whether death had been caused by accident or design. Many relatives and friends here hope and believe it was accidently done. There was nothing in his life to indicate that he wished to give it up. THE FATHER PROSTRATED. The deceased's father, Rev. James Murray, a prominent Presbyterian divine, was in Suffolk to-day. He was visiting his brother, Dr. William W. Murray. Rev. James Murray lived at Hampden-Sydney College, where he was connected with the institution. When the little yellow slips told of his son's sudden going the venerable preacher was almost prostrated. It was an only son. A SAD FEATURE. Rev. Mr. Murray was here visiting prior to leaving for an extended European travel. He meant to see his brother, Robert W. Murray, Esq., in Belfast, Ireland, and then go on to the Paris Exposition and other points on the Continent. He had already engaged passage on a steamer which will sail from New York next Wednesday. The sorely troubled parent left to-night for the scene of death. WELL KNOWN IN SUFFOLK. Dr. Robert Wallace Murray was well-known and very popular in Suffolk. He was a druggist here, having been in business with his uncle, Dr. W.W. Murray, ten years ago. He also kept a drug store in Augusta county. The deceased was a Mason of high order. News of his death will come as a shock to a large circle of friends. He never married. ****************************************************************************** DR. MURRAY BURIED. The remains of the late Dr. Robert Wallace Murray arrived here at 3:17 o’clock this afternoon from Greenville, Va., where death resulted from a bullet wound Saturday afternoon. The casket was accompanied by the father of the deceased, Rev. Dr. James Murray; an uncle, Dr. William W. Murray, a bosom friend, Marshall McCluer and Mr. and Mrs. H. Dunbar Murray, cousins. The funeral took place at 5 o’clock from the Main Street Methodist Church. The services were conducted by Rev. John Stanley Thomas, Presbyterian, and the pastor, Rev. William T. Green. The interment was in Cedar Hill Cemetery, these being pallbearers: Dr. H.W. Campbell, Dr. J.P. Whedbee, G.L. Barton, Arthur Woolford, W.B. Lawrence, H.P. Brooks, C.H. Causey, Jr., J.E. Booker, W.W. Eley. YET A MYSTERY. It will never be known for sure whether the shooting of Dr. Murray was accidental or premeditated. There are theories on both sides of the question, and there has so far been found absolute proof in sustention of either. The fatal bullet, of very small caliber, entered on the left side near the stomach. The dying man was found lying on his back on the bed. A theory which gives color to accidental shooting is that Dr. Murray had come home tired and lain down, and the pistol was discharged while being down from the hip pocket. Some of the deceased’s friends cannot reconcile suicide with the man’s life. There was no domestic nor financial trouble, nor were there any heart entanglements. A communication from the deceased to his father a day before the end was cheerful in tone, and there were promises of frequent letters during the foreign tour. There was a strong bond of affection between father and son. ****************************************************************************** Accidental Death of Dr. Murray. On Saturday afternoon last about 4 o'clock Dr. Robert W. Murray, a prominent physician of the Greenville neighborhood accidentally shot himself in the left side in his room adjoining his office, he died in about three-quarters of hour after great suffering. He had just returned from the post-office and had been talking to a friend in front of the office and not five minutes afterward a shot was heard and on entering he was found lying on his side with a small pistol which he usually kept uuder his pillow lying near the wound. Dr. Murray was in the habit of carryiug a revolver, but the one that inflicted the wound was not the same as the one he usually carried, but a small one that he kept in his room. Every one acquainted with the occurrence are of the opinion that when he laid down the pistol slipped from the place where it was usually kept and was accidentally discharged. The ball penetrated the abdomen as was ascertained on examination, causing death as above stated. Dr. Murray was a son of Rev. Dr. James Murray, for so many years the beloved pastor of Bethel Church, and was a man of the most noble traits of character, open hearted. frank and free in everything. He was an able practitioner, and was often called the poor man's friends, never refusing to answer a call whether the patient was able to pay or not. Dr. Murray's remains were brought to Staunton Sunday afternoon where they were met by his aged father and taken to Suffolk for interment. The funeral took place Monday afternoon from the Methodist Church of that city, and the large edifice was crowded with friends to pay the last sad rites to one who was loved by all who knew him. A number of friends of the deceased and of his father accompanied the remains to this city and some went on to Suffolk to be present at the funeral. Dr. Robert Wallace MURRAY, Jr., physician, d. 19 May 1900, at home, Augusta Co., age 39, interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery (Block E, Lot 39), Suffolk, 21 May 1900, "The Virginian-Pilot" (Norfolk, VA), Sun., May 20, 1900, p. 14, col. 2; "The Virginian-Pilot" (Norfolk, VA), Tues., May 22, 1900, p. 8, col. 2; "Staunton (VA) Spectator and Vindicator," Fri., May 25, 1900, p. 3, col. 4 Additional information: He was named for his paternal grandfather, who immigrated from Ireland. Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), and re-formatted by File Manager. file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/m600w3ob.txt