suicide

Cause of death unclear for Johnson.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 November 1950.

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In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 312 South East Street, Allie Cannon, 45; son James D. Cannon, 8; son-in-law Ernest Johnson, 33, cement mixer at concrete block company; wife Brownie M., 27; and daughter Helen R. Kirby, 10.

Earnest Johnson Jr. died 20 November 1950 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 17 June 1917 in Plymouth, N.C., to Earnest Johnson Sr. and Mary Rose; lived at 312 East Street; and was married. He was buried in Plymouth Cemetery, Washington County, N.C.

The death of Henry Ray.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 October 1945.

I don’t know Henry Ray or his frame of mind, but I am suspicious of this quick conclusion about his manner of death. His death certificate underscores the cursory nature of any investigation into his shooting, listing his cause of death as “probably suicide gun shot wound in chest” (emphasis added.)

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In 1942, Henry Ray registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was lived in Sharpsburg, Wilson County; was born 23 October 1923 in Nash County, N.C.; his contact was H.P. Massengill, Sharpsburg; and he worked on the Claud Albritton farm, Sharpsburg, Nash County, N.C.

Henry Ray died 5 October 1945 in Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was single; was 20 years old; was born in Nash County to Coley Ray of Nash County and Ida Barnes of Wilson County; he worked in farming; and he was buried in Sharpsburg.

Murder, then suicide in county jail.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 March 1950.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 March 1950.

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In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: street laborer George Bryant, 42; wife Jane, 32; and children George, 14, Walter, 11, Floyd, 7, Luther, 4, Rosa Vell, 2, and Nathaniel, 3 months.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer George Briant, 52; wife Jane, 42; and children Floyd, 17, Luther, 15, Sister, 11, Nathaniel, 9, and Willie, 6.

In the 1930 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer George Bryant, 61; wife Jane, 51; and children Luther, 24, Nathaniel, 18, and Eugene, 8.

In the 1940 census of Glisson township, Duplin County, N.C.: farm laborer Nathan Bryant, 30, and wife Eula Mae, 25.

Nathaniel Bryant registered for the World War II draft in Duplin County, N.C., in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 4 February 1910 in Wilson County; his contact was wife Eula Mae Bryant, Mount Olive, Duplin County, N.C.; and he worked for farmer Lizzie Herring.

Eula Mae Bryant died 3 March 1950 at her home at 1002 Wainwright Avenue, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 3 December 1913 in Duplin County, N.C., to Rose(?) Everett and Virginia Branch; was married; and worked in farming. The cause of her death: “hemorrhage (massive) due to 5 1/2 inch knife wound to lower left abdomen.”

Nathaniel Bryant died 7 March 1950 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 February 1910 in Wilson to George Bryant and Janie Lucas; was a widower; lived at 1002 Wainwright Avenue; worked as a laborer for the City of Wilson; and was buried in Granite Point Cemetery.

Ray found dead at roadside near Elm City.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 October 1945.

Given the circumstances — gone squirrel-hunting, headed home — Sheriff Weathersby’s determination that Henry Ray committed suicide seems hasty. His death certificate is more equivocal, citing his cause of death as “Probably suicide Gunshot wound in chest” and noting that the incident occurred “near house.”

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In the 1940 census of Rocky Mount township, Nash County, N.C.: Callie Ray, 55, widow, and grandson Henry, 16, both farm laborers.

In 1942, Henry Ray registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 23 October 1923 in Nash County, N.C.; lived in Sharpsburg, Wilson County; his contact was H.P. Massingill, Sharpsburg; and he worked on Claud Albritton’s farm, Sharpsburg, Nash County.

Henry Ray died 5 October 1945 in Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 20 years old; was born in Nash County, N.C., to Coley Ray of Nash County and Ida Barnes of Wilson County; was single; worked in farming; and was buried near Sharpsburg, Nash County.

The deaths of James and Oscar Lewis.

In this follow-up to yesterday’s post about James W. Lewis‘ murder of his wife Annie Bethune Lewis, we learn who killed James Lewis seven years later — James’ son (and Annie’s stepson) Oscar Lewis, who drowned himself after.

Wilson Daily Times, 21 December 1949.

“Asphyxiation die to drowning (in Great Swamp at tressle along A.C.L.R.R. near Black Creek NC; aggravated by his homicide of his father; suicide by drowning.”

Unidentified suicide.

Wilson Daily Times, 18 March 1932.

The decedent was Jesse Strickland, a cafe proprietor who lived on South Lodge Street. (The man who shot Leroy Lucas was, in fact, Roger Shelley.)

“Suicide Shot self in head with revolver”

This close-up of a section of an 1940 aerial image of Wilson shows the location of the Park Avenue bridge over Hominy Swamp.

The death of Albert Gay Sr.

Wilson Daily Times, 4 October 1932.

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In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Sam Gay, 54; wife Alice, 50; and children Charlie C., 23, Edgar B., 25, Lucy, 17, Samuel, 14, Albert and Beatrice, 10, and Lily, 4.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Charlie Gay, 28, wife Ella, 28, and Charlie, 18 months. Next door: Samuel Gay, 65, wife Alice, 55, and children Albert, 20, and Lilly, 15.

On 20 February 1913, Albert S. Gay, 23, of Wilson, son of Samuel and Alice Gay, married Annie B. Jacobs, 18, of Wilson, daughter of Jesse and Sarah Jacobs, in Pasquotank County, North Carolina. Rev. N.D. King performed the ceremony at his residence at 38 Bunnell Avenue, Elizabeth City. Witnesses included Albert’s sister, Mrs. Mamie R. King.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Alice Gay, 45; daughter Beatrice, 26; grandson Jerome Wood, 11; granddaughter Gereddine, 10; son Albert, 30; daughter-in-law Anabell, 24; grandsons Albert Jr., 4, and Jesse, 2; son-in-law Fredrick Bolling, 35; daughter Lillie, 23; and grandchildren Delma, 4, and Fredrick, 2.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 623 Green, widow Annie B. Gay, 30, a laundress; husband Albert, 40, a bellboy; mother-in-law Alic, 73; and children Albert Jr., 14, Jessie, 11, Hal, 8, Samual, 6, Mirrian, 4, and Ralph, 2. The house was valued at $8000.

The death of Hattie Rodgers, 13.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 July 1916.

Thirteen year-old Hattie Rodgers was pregnant. The newspaper reported speculation that her death was a suicide resulting from her family’s response to her condition.

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In the 1910 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: tenant farmer Berry Rodgers, 35; wife Florence, 23; and children Bessie, 10, Hattie, 7, Eula, 4, Nora, 2, and Nannie B., 11.

I have not found Hattie Rodgers’ death certificate.

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.

Lewis, former sailor, hangs himself.

Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 2 July 1910.

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Possibly, in the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Clarisea Lewis, 43, widow, farmer; and children Emma, 18,, 15, Gertrude, 12, Whit, 10, George, 8, Mattie, 6, and Hattie, 3.

In the 1910 census of Connecticut State Prison, Wethersfield town, Hartford County, Connecticut: Edward Lewis, 25, prisoner, born in N.C., does not work; “This man is insane.”

The Government Hospital for the Insane was later known as Saint Elizabeths Hospital.