Milford chronicle., 1924-12-05
Prominent Lawyer Of Delaware
And A Leading Democratic
Politician.
KILLED BY FREIGHT TRAIN
Thanksgiving Night At Railroad
Crossing 10 Bridgeville, Where
He Was Born.

John G.. Gray, prominent local at
torney, resident of ClaymOnt, and
well-known worker in Democratic
political circles, was instantly killed
shortly after 10 o'clock ThanksgiV-
ing might when an automobile he
was driving was struck by a south
bound freight train at the main rail-
road crossing in Bridgeville, near
the Bridgeville station.
Mr.. Gray, who was alone in his
new Buick sedan, had been spending
the evening with Newell Ball, at
BridgeVille, discussing a business
transaction. He eft Mr.. Balls home
about 10 o'clock, and it was only a
few minutes later when Mr.. Ball re-
ceived a telephone call advising him
of the accident, in which Mr.. Gray
lost his life.
Two freight trains were passing
at the time he arrived at the cross
ing and he evidently failed to see the
train on the further track approach
ing Just after the train next to him
passed and when he started to cross
over he was right in front of the
engine when it struck him, and it
was too late.
Before the engineer could apply
the brakes the engine struck the
automobile squarely, carrying the
wreckage As to so feet before it.
Witnesses. of the accident hurried
to the wrecked machine and called
local physicians and the police sta
tion. An examination of the body
showed that Mr.. Gray apparently had
been instantly killed. Although drag
ged along with the wreckage, how
ever, it was found that his neck and
one leg were broken, but the body
was not mutilated.
Accident Shocks Friends
News of the accident came as a
sudden shock to Mr.. Gray's numer-
GUS friends in all parts of Delaware, |
as he was always prominently iden-
titled with civic affairs, especially in |
Brandywine hundred, where he took |
prominent part in the activities of |
the Democratic county committee.
Mr.. Gray was 81 years old, and a
widower, his wife, who was daugh- |
ter of former Governor William H. |
H. Ross, having died about eight |
years ago. He is survived by two
sisters, Mrs. Eta Gray Jones, Of |
Bridgeville, and Miss Marian Gray,
with whom he made his home at
''Wrenwood," in Claymont.
Held Government Position
He was born in Bridgeville, where
he took a prominent part in school
and other civic affairs. While never
having occupied any prominent eiec-
tive political position, Mr.. Gray was
appointed to a government position
in Washington under the Cleveland \
administration, and while employed
by the government read law. He
went to Wilmington and opened
law Office there about 80 years ago.
In late years he has been interested
in the promotion of large business
enterprises with headquarters in ]
New York city. He was graduate
of Delaware College, class of 1885. {
He was at one time member of the
Street and Sewer Department, and ]
for the past two Democratic state {
has acted as chairman. E
Not only was Mr.. Gray active in
Democratic politics, but he was t
well-known throughout the State as f
a forceful speaker. During the last !
campaign he made numerous speech s
es at political gatherings throughout l
the State.
In addition to his other political
activities, Mr.. Gray was the pro-
genitor of the Democratic Legion Of
which since its incep-
ton, has been the mainstay of the
Darty's organization and largely in
in carrying on its cam
paigns. =
The funeral ceremonies were held 7
IN Sunday afternoon from the old
Gray homestead in Bridgeville with
hundreds of leading citizens from all q q
PARTS of Delaware present, represen- l.
ing political, social and judicial g
,ircles.
The pail bearers and honorary Il Il
,all bearers were: Former Senator /"
Willard Salisbury, Judge William
I. Boyce. Judge Victor B. Wooley, u
-udge Hugh M. Morris; former Sen =
tor ]. r. Clements, of Clayton; u
senator Charles D. Murphy, presi- Z
lent pro-tempore of the State Sen %
tie; Norman Collision, of Bridgeville; -
Dr.. J. A. Ellegood, of Wilmington; y y
robert Orr, of Silversire, and J. " "
Frank White, of Wilmington. "