Charles Francis Gay Jr., a detective with the Philadelphia Police Department, was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a murder suspect on Christmas Eve 1925. Gay was born in Wilson or in Philadelphia just after his Wilson-born parents, Charles and Lucy Mitchell Powell Gay, migrated north.

Philadelphia Inquirer, 26 December 1925.

Pittsburgh Courier, 2 January 1926.

Lancaster New Era, 4 October 1926.

Philadelphia Inquirer, 8 January 1927.

Nolly was executed by electric chair in September 1927.

——

In the 1870 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Charles Gay, 35, wife Emma, 25, children Charles, 5, and Mary, 1, and two farm laborers Rich’d Harper, 20, and Haywood Watson, 17.

In the 1870 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Susan Mitchell, 35, and children Anna, 17, George, 12, Lucy, 9, Louisa, 7, Edwin, 4, and Joseph, 4.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Emma Gay, 35; children Charlie, 15, a steam-mill worker, Mary, 11, Etheldred, 8, and Willie, 6; plus a boarder Fannie Thompson, 19, cook.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Spring Street, washerwoman Susan Mitchell, 47, with children Lucy, 19, and Louiza, 15, both house servants, Eddy, 12, and Joseph, 9.

On 18 October 1880, Lucy Mitchell, 19, married Mashal Powell, 18, at Susan Mitchell’s house, witnesses were Small Blunt, Mary Blunt, and Susan Mitchell.

In the 1900 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA: driver Charles Gay, 36, wife Lucy, 37, children Nellie, 11, and Charles, 7, and brother William Gay, 26, all born in NC.

Charles Gay died 22 December 1908 at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his death certificate, he was 44 years old; was born in North Carolina; was single [sic]; worked as a laborer; his regular residence was at Iseminger Street; and he was buried in Merion Cemetery. W.P. Allmond was informant.

Lucy Gay died 13 June 1912 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per her death certificate, she was a widow; was born 20 May 1872 in North Carolina to father [first name not given] Mitchell and an unnamed mother; resided at 1229 Quarry Street rear, Philadelphia; and was buried in Eden Cemetery.

In 1917, Charles Gay registered for the World War I draft in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his registration card, he was born 13 April 1893 in Philadelphia; lived at 146 North Isenminger Street, Philadelphia; worked as an ink mixer(?) for Ault Wiborg Company; and was single.

Pennsylvania World War I Veterans Service and Compensation Files 1917-1919, 1934-1948, http://www.ancestry.com.

In the 1920 census of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: at 146 Iseminger Street, Clarence Gross, 40, pool room proprietor; wife Nellie, 30, born in North Carolina; brother-in-law Charles Gay, 26, city police officer; brother Fred Gross, 35, automobile porter; and roomer Joseph Bargon, 36, hotel bootblack.

Charles F. Gay died 25 December 1925 at Hahnemann Hospital, Philadelphia, of “Gun shot wound Homicide.” Per his death certificate, he was 33 years old; was born in Pennsylvania to Chas. Gay and Lucy Mitchell, both of North Carolina; worked as a police officer; lived at 1326 Brown Street; and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery. Mrs. Nellie Gross was informant.

U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918, http://www.ancestry.com.

Nellie Gay Workwell applied for a military headstone for her brother in 1937. The application reveals that Gay had been a sergeant in Company C of the 813rd Pioneer Infantry, who were among World War I’s famed Buffalo Soldiers.

U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans 1861-1865, http://www.ancestry.com.