ROANOKE COUNTY, VA - OBITUARIES - George Etter Floyde, 24 Aug 1942 ----¤¤¤---- Article on August 24, 1942: HEAD INJURIES FATAL TO MAN Struck by Hospital Negro Employe in Scuffle George Floyde, 30, of Hollins, died at Lewis-Gale hospital about 12:15 a.m. today of head injuries received when he became violent immediately after entering the hospital's emergency ward for treatment and examination Saturday night, police reported. Waddell Rush, 29, a colored employe of the hospital, had been arrested at the scene and charged with felonious assault, but the charge was changed to murder early this morning after Floyde's death. HURLED DOCTOR AWAY Floyde was brought to the hospital in an automobile shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday by his father, O. M. Floyde, his brother-in-law H. J. Pollard, and his uncle, Harry Settle, apparently in an unconscious condition. While an interne was making a preliminary check of heart and lungs in the emergency ward, the man, who was tall and powerful, suddenly hurled the doctor away from him and began a brief rampage of violent destruction in the ward, said the police report. Officials of the hospital said his father was unable to restrain him, and that he rushed down the corridor to an outside entrance which opens on an alleyway. There he encountered Rush, and received the injury which apparently caused his death. Hospital officials said Floyde knocked over table, smashing bottles and equipment to the floor, broke the glass out of an inside door, hurled bottles and a fire extinguisher against the wall, crossed the corridor to an examing room where he knocked another patient out of a chair, and tore off the screen door at the outside entrance. Police said that he was shouting "They're after me. They're trying to get me, " during his rampage. Floyde underwent an emergency operation shortly after receiving the head injury, and rallied slightly during yesterday. A surgeon said his skull was badly fractured and the brain tissue seriously injured. COLLAPSED IN FIELD The police report quoted the father and other relatives as saying Floyde collapsed in a field near his home Saturday night, and was picked up unconcious, remaining unconcious or semi-conscious during the ride to the hospital. No one else was injured, apparently, during the disturbance in the emergency ward. Police said they found they man lying in a pool of blood in the alleyway when they arrived in response to a hurry call from the hospital. Rush was standing nearbye, they said. Investigating officers included Sergeant H. L. Stanley, and Officers R. S. Cassell, J. C. Harman, and W. L. Turman." Obituary on Aug 25, 1942: "George E. Floyde Funeral services for George Etter Floyde, 30, who died in a local hospital Sunday night will be conducted at Enon Baptist church Wednseday at 2:30 p.m. by the Rev. R. Edward Dowdy assisted by the Rev. C.E. Jamison and the Rev. W. R. Hubbard. Interment will be in Cedar Lawn Cemetary. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Bertha Sue Jamison Floyde, three children, Danny, Roma Ann and Monte; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. M. Floyde of Hollins, and a sister, Mrs. Horace J. Pollard, of Hollins. Pallbearers will be: H.J. Pollard, H.L. Carner, O.H. Huffman, G.F. Sink, J.E. Jamison, and Herman Underward." ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Nola Redd nredd@ernestgroup.com ___________________________________________________________________