Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-24
Suicide of Geo. w. Walker.

Mr.. Geo. w. Walker, Of Westmoreland
county, prominent lawyer aud most esti
mable gentleman, committed suicide on
Saturday last at Poplar Plains" the resi-
dence of bis brother. Rev w. w. Walker,
the cause being attributed TO incessant and
severe pain, the result of a wound received
at Mechanicsyile in 1862 while serving as
private. and ftom which he lost a ley. lie
was about forty three years old aud was
unmarried. He Was educated at Lynch
burg College, and selected the law for his
profession. At the outbreak of the war, he
entered the Confederate army in the For
tieth Virginia Infantry, and as stated above
in one of the battles around Richmond be
lost his right leg above the knee, and for
some time before his death had suffered the
most circulating neuralgia pains in the
stump. These paius were so severe that ne
was often deprived Of sleep for long time,
and it is probable that recent long attack
of insomnia had much to do with the stale
of mind which led him to commit the
fatal act After the war he resumed
the practice Of law, and by careful
and profound study and faithful and
conscientious attention to the inter
ests of his clients, won his way steadily into
o deserved prominence. He stood, by com
mon consent, at the head of the bar in the
Northern Neck, and it was hard tic. find
anywhere in the legal circle in Virginia his
equal as an advocate. He represented his
district some years ago in the House ol
Delegates. In all bis discussions of political
questions on the stump and in the legisla
tive halls, he met his opponents and de-
bated measures with ability and frmness,
but always with a fair, high-minded and
courteous consideration for the men and
measures against which he was arrayed.
All his work was characterized by patient
attention to details As friend he was
kind, gentle and sympathetic; as citizen,
no man was more beloved for the sterling
qualities which make up noble nature.
He was one of the delegates from the First
district of Virginia to the national demo-
cratic convention at Chicago.
A short time since, while in Baltimore
under medical treatment, Mr.. Walker pur
chased u costly hammerless breeoh loading
gun and carried it home with him. On Sn'
urdav morning, after eating his breakfast,
he took his gun and went out of the house
for the purpose, the family thought, of shoot
ing game. Soon afterwards the report Of
the gun was heard in the direction of the
icehouse. Mr.. W. w. Walker walked to
the building, which was only short dis.
lance from the dwelling, and there found
his brother we!tering in mis- blood. Oac
barrel of the gun had been discharged and
the load had entered his heart. Some
friends of the deceased say that there is
some probability that the shooting might
have been accidental. But this is not be
lieyed by those who are familiar with his
great suffering from insomnia and his wound
ed leg, which, they think, effected his mind
Another report of the sad affair is to the
effect that Mr.. Walker was so cool and de-
liberate over the act Of taking his life that
he removed his coat, vest and shirt before
be presented the gun at his heart.
The deceased was buried in the family
cemetery at Poplar Plains on Monday
Mr. Walker was, for short time, a resi-
dent of this city, where he practiced law
and took deservedly high position at the
bar. He made, during his sojonrn here,
hosts of friends who will learn Of his death
with deep regret.