Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Johnston, Clair Sylvester, 1953 

************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm
************************************************

CLAIR SYLVESTER JOHNSTON

INJURIES RECEIVED IN QUARRELL CAUSES DEATH OF MAN

   Funeral services for Clair Sylvester Johnston, 54, manager of Deer Path 
Farms, near Franklin, who died in a Norfolk hospital early Friday morning, 
July 17, were conducted in the chapel of W.J.M. Holland & Sons on Monday 
afternoon at 2:30 o’clock.  Rev. Ira D. Hudgins, pastor of the Franklin 
Baptist Church, officiated.

   Interment was in Poplar Spring Cemetery. Acting pallbearers were J.P. 
Bradshaw, Gordon Bridges, H.G. Councill, Sr., R.C. Councill, Sr., L.E. 
Edwards, Dale Landers of Richmond, C.C. Vaughan, 3rd, and Martin O. 
Wagenbach.

   Mr. Johnston was the son of Mrs. Cassie Clemons Johnston of Kenosha, Wis., 
who survived him, and the late Sylvester Johnston.  He is survived also by his 
wife, Mrs. Evelyn LeHew Johnston; three daughters, Sandra and Sherry Johnston 
of Franklin and Mrs. R.W. Crouch of Falls Church; two sons, Robert and David 
Johnston of Barron, Wis.; three brothers, Dr. R.A. Johnston of Cameron, Wis., 
and Charles and Theodore Johnston of Kenosha; and a sister, Mrs. Gordon 
Seymour of Kenosha.

   Mr. Johnston’s death is believed to have resulted from a head injury 
received about noon on Monday, July 13, when he was engaged in an argument 
with Floyd Chaplin, 40, near the store of the Hunterdale Supply Co.  According 
to Sheriff T.B. Bell, Chaplin had been employed at Deer Path Farms, owned by 
C.C. Vaughan, 3rd, for about two weeks, and had been discharged by Johnston. 
The argument had arisen over the termination of Chaplin’s employment.  From 
all accounts, Johnston was attempting to induce Chaplin to enter the store 
when the ex-employee struck him in the face with his fist, causing him to fall 
to the ground, his head striking a rock with such force as to fracture his 
skull.

   Taken to Raiford Memorial Hospital, were the nature of his injury was 
ascertained, Johnston was transferred to Dr. Paul Hospital, Norfolk for 
treatment.

   Chaplin, who was originally from Illinois and who had lived in Norfolk and 
Elizabeth City, N.C., before coming to Franklin, was arrested Monday night by 
Sheriff Bell and State Trooper Ryland Brooks.  He was held in custody until 
Thursday, when he was released under bond of $2000.

   Charged with murder, Chaplin will be put on trial at the September term of 
court.  To defend him have been retained Junius W. Pulley, F. Bert Pulley and 
Richard E. Railey of Courtland.


Clair Sylvester JOHNSTON, manager of Deer Path Farms, near Franklin, 
WW-I veteran, Kenosha, WI native?; 
attacked 13 Jul 1953, Hunterdale; d. 17 Jul 1953, Norfolk, 
interred in Poplar Spring Cemetery (Annex 3, Section B, Plot 4*), Franklin, 
   20 Jul 1953, 
"The Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), July 23, 1953 

*Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, 
   Poplar Spring list: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/psanx3.txt 


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/southampton/obits/j523c1ob.txt