Nansemond County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Walls, John C. Walls, 1931 

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John Walls, Prominent Nansemond Farmer, Dies Of Self-Inflicted Wound 

Well-Known Citizen Succumbs In Virginia Hospital Where He Was Taken 
   After Tragic Act Believed Committed In Moment of Despondency. 

  John C. Walls, aged 68, prominent Nansemond county farmer, died at 
Virginia Hospital of wounds thought to have been self-inflicted at an early 
hour this morning.  A steel bullet from a 32-20 Smith and Wesson revolver had 
entered his chest just above the heart and had penetrated the body, coming out 
of the back in a declining angle.  Mr. Walls did not regain consciousness 
after being wounded. 

  The shooting took place early this morning at the family home at the forks 
of the old Metal and Sumpton roads near Riddick's service station on the new 
N.C. highway.  Mr. Beasley, who lived most of the time with Mr. Walls, had 
started to leave the yard when he heard the report of a pistol shot. 
Hastening into the house, he found his aged friend lying on the bed mortally 
wounded and a revolver at his side. 

  He summoned Sheriff Rawles and called the Suffolk police station for 
Sergeant Eugene Walls, son of the wounded man.  Sgt. Walls was on a hunt with 
members of the fire department, so Chief H.W. Churn went to the home.  Mr. 
Walls was carried to Virginia Hospital, but medical or surgical aid was in 
vain.  Death came at 12:30 p.m. 

  Friends of Eugene Walls found the hunting party and notified them of the 
tragedy.  Young Mr. Walls came back to the city and was with his father when 
death came. 

  Mr. Walls had been in ill health for some time but was not noticeably 
despondent.  He was in Suffolk yesterday afternoon to see his son and seemed 
to be very cheerful.  In October he was attacked and injured by Ollie Dawson, 
Norfolk negro, who has been sentenced to die for murder, but had recovered 
from a blow on the head.  He lived alone on his farm except during the visits 
of Mr. Beasley, a friend. 

  One son, Sergeant Eugene Walls, of Suffolk police department, and one 
daughter, Miss Maria M. Walls, of Port Norfolk, survive him. 

  Funeral services had not been decided upon definitely, but it is thought 
that services will be held at the home Sunday afternoon and burial will be 
made in the family burial grounds near Cypress Chapel. 


John Casey WALLS, farmer, 
b. 12 Dec 1862, Sunbury, PA, suicide 9 Jan 1931, Nansemond Co., 
interred in the ELEY family cemetery*, White Marsh Rd., 20 May 1930, 
"Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 8, No. 248, Fri., Jan. 9, 1930, p. 1 

*Additional information: 

Unmarked. 
   Nansemond Co. Miscellaneous Cemeteries, Vol. 2 (NV-II-48), an extension 
   of the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/nanvol2.txt 

D.Cert. 1655 (Suffolk #6) 

No Find a Grave Memorial 

His wife's obit ("Suffolk News-Herald," May 19, 1930, p. 1) is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/w420p1ob.txt 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
File Manager Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/w420j6ob.txt