The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1917-02-11
PROMINENT ATTORNEY 90
BIRMINGHAM Mfffs
SHOCKING DrAfu
DEAD NAN NATIVE
or MISSISSIPPI
Was Member Of Prominent
Fsmily-Broiher Of Leroy
Percy.

-
Hon. Walker Percy. a native Of
Mississippi and brother Of LEROY Per.
cy. who IN the memorable caucus Of
1910 was elected to fill cut the un-
expired term Of the late A. j Me.
laurin as United States Senator from
Mississippi, met horrible fate at his
home in birmingham last Thursday,
having been instantly killed by the
premature discharge Of a shotgun
while he was making preparations to
20 TO Greenville for a hunting trip.
The following account of the trag-
edy is taken from the Birmingham
Age Herald Of Friday
Walker Percy, lawyer, statesman,
sportsman, civic leader, is dead.
A leader for 81 years in the growth
and development of Birmingham was
lost with tragic suddenness yesterday
afternoon shortly after 3 o'clock
when, while cleaning his shotgun for
hunt in Mississippi, il was acciden-
tually discharged, fired one she'll into
Mr.. Percy's heart and killed him in
tantly.
News that such figure in the life
Of Alabama, Birmingham and the
south had gone to such an untimely
death reverberated through the city
yesterday afternoon and cast an un-
1ertone of sorrow and grief over all.
All circles paid tribute to him
the legal world, where since 1886
he had proved himself a fearless
| fighter for right---wise and sagacious
in counsel; the civic world, to which
he contributed the commission form
Of government, and made possible
the abolition of the fee system; the
sporting world, with which he was
prominently identified as former
president of the country club, a de
votee of golf, an admirer of virile
athletics, and huntsman Of note.
OF all the sports that appealed to
him, none was as dear as hunting
Earlier in the afternoon Mr.. Percy
had engaged in conversation with
his son, Leroy Percy, about going to
Greenville, Miss, where they woult
hunt on the estate of his brother
Senator Leroy Percy. The propose
was accepted and arrangements were
being made for leaving Birmingham
last night.
An hour or so later, Mr.. Percy
vent up to his room. Communicat
ng with this is long, narrow room
which has served as a store place foi
his hunting equipment, his golf bag
and numerous other adjunets o
sport. To make ready for the hunt
it is presumed that Mr.. Percy wen
to clean his guns and get ready TO
he trip to Mississippi. The position
Of his body and the l2-gauge shotgun
with its one shell exploded, woul'
seem to indicate that he had stoopei
over to pick up the weapon and tha
its trigger became entangled in tn
straps of the hunting case or in othe
articles that were on the floor Tn
force of the shot took effect in hi
breast and he fell face downward t
the floor.
At the time Of Mr.. Percy's deatf
his widow and his son, Leroy Percy
were at home. The son was the fir:
to reach him, although it was sewers
minutes after his father had diet
Mrs. Percy, when told of the deaf
by her son, was prostrated with grie
An immediate call for the family ph!
sician was sent out, but he could /
Of no service. 1t was too late.
The news of Mr.. Percy's death WI
, followed by a steady stream {
friends, who came to the family res
dence to offer their heartfelt sympi
thy, and to offer their services
the bereaved family. Hundreds
intimate friends-for it was in thi
number that he had friends-flockt
to the palatial home on Highlar
avenue and Beach street.
While one Of the foremost citizel
of Birmingham for over 80 year
Mr.. Percy was a native Of Mississippi
He was born on November l8, l86
in Washington county, Mississippi
q He received his early education
Ie the schools of that state, bat becan
II student of the University of q
South at Sewanee in 1879. He W
graduated with the degree of mast
y of arts in 1888. and then enter
h the University Of Virginia law scho'
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