Evening star., 1937-10-19

tdiZliiS lid6iiiCiilS liic OAHoiAO oeoi ;
of a one-time prizefighter of the bare
knuckle" days, wrestler, circus strong
man, inventor and building contractor,
who had lived as hermit for the last
quarter of a century in bare 'mys-
terry house" at 4840 Reservoir road.
The aged recluse, Littleton w
Walker, was found dead yesterday aft
ernoon in a coffln-like sleeping box
in little cupola bed room atop the
unfinished house he had built ano
fortified with strong fence and locks
against intruders.
The body today lay in the District
Morgue, while officials awaited word
from his son, Jay Walker. who is
United States vice consul at Cairo,
Egypt. Coroner A. Magruder Mac
Donald said Walker appeared to have
been dead for at least week. He
attributed death to natural causes.
In an effort to clear up the mystery
of the aged mans life and death po-
lice we're searching through trunks OF
letters and pictures and piles of en-
gineering books and tools which were
covered with dirt and dust in the bare
rooms of his hermit home.
About 50 Years Old.
The few people with whom Walker
had spoken in recent years were able
to supply only scraps of information
hi 1ifa EN-nf11 thPcp there
emerged this incomplete story:
Walker was about 80 years old
nobody knew his age exactly.
In his youth he Travelled with cir
Gus as a strong man-driving nails in
boards and breaking clans with his
bare hands. He also had talked OF
performing the famous Hindu rope
trick with the circus.
He then was prizefighter and
wrestler for while, boasting that he
once was a sparring partner for John
L. Sullivan, who won the interna-
tional "bare-knuckle" championship
in 1882 and later the heavyweight
prizefighting title under Marquis of
Queensbury rules.
He quit the prize ring because a
man he had beaten in the ring later
died Although the death was ad-
judged accidental and he was not
blamed, Walker said he never could
fight again after that tragedy.
Building Contractor.
Then he attained some prominence
in middle life as building contrac-
tor. He had spoken of building post
Offices in SO States.
He was q master carpenter and
stoneworker, as attested by the fine
quality of workmanship on the ''mys-
terry house" he never finished.
The story grows confused when it
comes to Walkers more personal life.
His first wife was believed to have
died. He married again, and appar-
emily about this time-some years
ago-started building the house in
which he died. Then domestic trouble
developed. Some say his second wife
left him and went to Canada-others
that he divorced her.
hPpdl CllVly. lllc lhC 90 q ASSihoS
gan then. But his mind was still
active. In his effects police found a
letter from the law firm of Dorsey 81
Cole, local patent attorneys. which
led to the disclosure that he had
obtained a patent 10 years ago for a
combined wheel scraper and brace for
Wheelbarrows."
Patent Issued in 1927.
Patent office records show the patent
was issued to Walker on November g.,
1927. His invention consisted of a
blade of spring metal attached to the
wheel of the wheelbarrow to scrape
off mud, and widening at the rear to
brace it.
Among Walkers effects was a nice
ly preserved portrait of a beautiful
girl, apparently about %. wearing d
hustle in the fashion of the first part
of the century.
K. H. McCraw of Roanoke, Va,
appeared at the mystery house" today
and told police his father had known
Walker and had heard him speak OF
his days as pugiiist and sparring
partner for John L. Sullivan. Nc
Craw happened to be in Washington
on business and saw newspaper ac-
counts of the hermit's death.
He said he believed Walker had
brother. John Walker. a retired
policeman. living in Norfolk, Va, and
other relatives in Lynchburg, Va.
Quiet, Pleasant Spoken.
Walker was described as a quiet,
pleasant spoken" character by DR..
Frederick L. Benton, neighbor at
1928 Reservoir road.
Il had known him casually for
about IA years." DR.. Benton said. He
usually passed my home morning and
night and occasionally would stop to
speak. He had . bad heart afniction
and in recent years stopped every 100