This is one of the oddest yet one of the saddest of stories that I've come across while doing genealogy. Of course, like my previous posts, I came across this while working on the Gibson Cemetery meticulously back in August and September.
A little bit of backstory about the people involved in this story.
Nora J. Walker and Eldridge Lee Walker were children of Eldridge Ellis Walker and Mary Babb. Nora was born on July 13th, 1877, and her younger brother on April 25th, 1880.
The assailant in this story was Owen Thomas Koonce, the son of Owen Thomas Koonce and Martha Ann "Mattie" Gibson. He was born July 7th, 1877. He was married to a sister of Nora and Eldridge -- Annie Walker, who was born on May 15th, 1885.
According to the article: Owen Koonce admittedly declared his intention to take Nora home with him and possibly kill her. Nora had been staying with Owen and her sister Annie out in Zion. She came home; she was living, it appears, with her brother Eldridge.
Eldridge was informed that evening by their other brother, Ernest, (born January 14th, 1893) who only lived a block away from Eldridge and Nora, that Owen had informed him that he was coming at 9 o'clock that night to kill Nora.
Thinking he wasn't serious - Eldridge went to bed... but then he heard Nora exclaim, "Oh Lord, here he comes now." Eldridge jumped up and went to the window and thought he saw Owen coming towards the house with a pistol (something shiny.)
Eldridge ran out of the room to grab a shotgun and when he returned, he saw Owen had raised a chair to strike Nora. Apparently Owen spotted the shotgun and immediately grabbed Nora to use her as a human shield just as Eldridge shot the gun. Eldridge states he shot at Owen's head - so he was almost sure he had hit him as Owen was taller than Nora.
They both fell to the floor, but it wasn't until Owen clabbered up and ran out of the house, that Eldridge realized, he'd killed his sister instead. It was later discovered that when the police was contacted the first time over interference between the Walker's and Owen Koonce, he'd said he wasn't scared of them and he'd kill them if they came after him.
Thinking he wasn't serious - Eldridge went to bed... but then he heard Nora exclaim, "Oh Lord, here he comes now." Eldridge jumped up and went to the window and thought he saw Owen coming towards the house with a pistol (something shiny.)
Eldridge ran out of the room to grab a shotgun and when he returned, he saw Owen had raised a chair to strike Nora. Apparently Owen spotted the shotgun and immediately grabbed Nora to use her as a human shield just as Eldridge shot the gun. Eldridge states he shot at Owen's head - so he was almost sure he had hit him as Owen was taller than Nora.
They both fell to the floor, but it wasn't until Owen clabbered up and ran out of the house, that Eldridge realized, he'd killed his sister instead. It was later discovered that when the police was contacted the first time over interference between the Walker's and Owen Koonce, he'd said he wasn't scared of them and he'd kill them if they came after him.
In 2021 -- if someone were to threaten the police with that, they'd have been locked up and the unfortunate event that unfurled between Owen, Eldridge, and Nora wouldn't have happened. Nora could have filed an emergency protection order and her life could have been saved. Sadly, in 1919... things like that didn't exist. There wasn't the police presence there is today. There wasn't the manpower to protect like there is now. It's cases like Nora's that help today's police take threats like this seriously.
After the ordeal - Eldridge was arrested, initially, for the shooting and killing of his sister. But after all the facts were gathered, testimonies were heard... a coroner's jury cleared him of all charges brought against him.
Nora Walker was laid to rest in Fernwood Cemetery on September 10th, 1919. She didn't have a Find-a-Grave until I came across this series of unfortunate events and I give reason to that as: she's buried unmarked. Her mother is buried in Fernwood as well, but her father is actually buried out at Liles Cemetery. Both parents passed away only two years after Nora's death.
I'm assuming Owen and Annie remained married after everything that happened as the two are indeed buried together (I certainly would have left the guy, personally) -- Owen died on April 13th, 1944, and is buried in Fernwood Cemetery. Annie ended up passing away in 1962.
Their brother, Eldridge, never married and never had children; he died on July 3rd, 1965, and is buried in Fairmont Cemetery with a tombstone marked 'Uncle.'
I'm assuming Owen and Annie remained married after everything that happened as the two are indeed buried together (I certainly would have left the guy, personally) -- Owen died on April 13th, 1944, and is buried in Fernwood Cemetery. Annie ended up passing away in 1962.
Their brother, Eldridge, never married and never had children; he died on July 3rd, 1965, and is buried in Fairmont Cemetery with a tombstone marked 'Uncle.'
A moment of silence for Nora - violently taken way too soon in life. A moment of silence for Eldridge - who had to live with that horrendous accident for the rest of his life.
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