The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-09

Walker Percy. lawyer. statesman, sportsman, civic leader, is dead. \ leader for 31 years fin the growth and development of Birmingham was lost with tragic suddenness yesterday aft ern0On shortly, after o'clock when, while cleaning his shotgun for a hunt in Mississippi, it was accidentally dis charged. fired one shell into MT. Percy's heart and killed him instantly. l News that such figure in the life of 1 Alabama. Birmingham and the south had gone to such an untimely death rever- berated through the city yesterday aft ernoon and cast an undertone of sorrow and grief over all.
 All circles paid tribute to him--the le- gal world, where since 1886, he had proved himself 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 sport ing world, with which he was prominently identified as former president of the Country club, devotee of golf, an ad- mirer of virile athletics. and a hunts man of note.
 FOND OF HUNTING Of all the sports that appealed to him, none was as dear as hunting. Earlier in the afternoon, MT. Percy had engaged in a conversation with his son, Leroy Percy, about going to Greenville, Miss, where they would hunt on the estate of his brother, Senator Leroy Percy. The pro- posal was accepted and arrangements were being made for leaving Birmingham last night.
 An hour or so later, MT. Percy went up to his room. Communicating with this is long, narrow room. which has served as store place for his hunting equip ment his golf bags and numerous other adjuncts of sport. To make ready for the hunt, it is presumed that MT. Percy went to clean his guns and get ready for the trip to Mississippi The position of his body and the 12-gauge shotgun, with it's one exploded shell, would seem to indicate that he had stopped over to pick up the weapon and that it's trigger became en- tangled in the straps of the hunting case floor. The force of the shot took effect in his breast and he fell face down to the floor
 WIDOW AND SON AT HOME
 At the time of Mir. Percy's death, his widow and his son. Leroy Percy, were at Tho firSt fn ooh him, although it was several minutes after his father had died. Mrs. Percy, when told of the death by her son, was prostrated with grief An immediate call for the family physician was sent out but he could be of no service. It was too late.
 The news of MT Percys death was fol- lowed by steady stream of friends, who came to the family residence to offer u cir heartfelt sympathy and to offer their services to the bereaved family. Hundreds of intimate friends-for it was in that number that he had friends flocked to the palatial home on Highland avenue and Beach street.
 PLANS FOR THEIR TRIP
 
 his father, stated that they were to have gone to Greenville, Miss. Thursday night.
 Father had been at home all day." said MT Percy, "and we had talked after lunch about going to Greenville for a short hunt on the estate of my uncle The suggestion seemed to please him, and so he agreed to leave Thursday night.
 He left ms and went upstairs to his room. Shortly after 3 o'clock I heard a untitled noise, but did not pay any att tention to it. A few minutes later I went upstairs to talk with father con- cerning our plans, and it was then that discovered hisHbody. face down upon the floor in the room where he kept his guns, his golf sticks and hunting togs
 From the position of his body and the gun. 1t seems that he picked up gun with it's muzzle pointing toward him, and that 1t was accidentally discharged.