Willie Tunstall
Story furnished by
Clarence Crocker
Driver Held In Traffic Death Of Glendale Resident
A
corner’s jury ordered Charles (?), 25, of Victory
Homes, Camp Croft, S. C. held for further
investigation in the Sunday afternoon traffic death of
Willie Tunstall, 44, a Glendale textile worker.
Such were the sub-topic headlines of a two page article
appearing in the Spartanburg Herald on
Monday November 3, 1947, marking the 32nd traffic
fatality of the year in Spartanburg County. (Last name
of driver withheld to avoid embarrassing any living
relative).
According to the
article it appears that the accident occurred near Camp
Croft on State Highway 34 (now listed as Union Street)
approaching the Spartanburg city limits. Investigating
officers were S.C. Highway Patrolmen Frank Burris and
Joe Price, Sheriff Brockman and county officers R. R.
Souther, Jess Murph and Ray Hayes.
Testifying at the inquest held at the County Courthouse
by Coroner A. M. Cash, Patrolman Burris related how he
had found Charles’s (?) car, a 1941 Buick automobile
parked at Victory Homes with front damage about two
hours after Mr. Tunstall had been struck and killed. He
stated that “Charles (?) was lying on the bed asleep and
had the odor of alcohol about him when he was arrested.
Mr. Burris also told of his conversation with Charles
(?) and how he had confessed to Sheriff Brockman and
himself that he had taken a drink about 45 minutes
before the accident. He said that he and two other men
had together, drank about half a pint. Charles (?)
confessed ownership of the car and admitted that he was
driving at the time of the accident. He confessed that
he did not stop because he feared the officers would
smell whiskey . He said, “ I got scared and went all to
pieces.”
The jurors were told that the driver of the car had
slowed down and stopped briefly before driving away.
Patrolman Burris testified that Charles (?) appeared
very sensible, normal and very truthful at the time of
his questioning and arrest.
Under $4,000 bond, Charles (?) was represented by
Attorney John C. Williams while Attorney J. Allen
Lambright appeared as counsel for Mr. Tunstall’s family.
Circuit Solicitor Sam R. Watt represented the State.
Sheriff Brockman, Records Custodian, Troy Steadman and
Detective Jesse Murph were also in attendance.
Funeral services for Mr. Tunstall were held on Tuesday
November 4, 1947 in the Glendale Baptist Church with
interment following in the Glendale Community Cemetery
with Rev. Timothy Hottel and Rev. W.R. Carter
officiating.
His obituary published in the Spartanburg Herald stated
that he was survived by his mother, Mrs. Ona Tunstall
Millwood and his step-father, Charles Millwood of
Carline Street, Glendale; two daughters, Mrs. Leona
Donald, Saxon, S.C. and Miss Betty June Tunstall,
Glendale; one son, William Tunstall, Glendale; one
brother, Woodrow Tunstall, Glendale; three step-sisters,
Mrs. Irene Moss, Arcadia, Mrs. Guynell Hill, East
Spartanburg and Mrs. Grace Arlington of Glendale; four
half brother C. L. Millwood of Glendale, Ollie Millwood
of Gaffney, Paul Millwood Arcadia and Dave Millwood of
Waynesville, N. C; He was also survived by 2
grandchildren.
