Fifth Generation

240. John Willis (Wilse) Bray^1,97. Birth: 16 January 1904, Morgan County, Tennessee.⁹⁷

Census: 1910, Anderson County, Tennessee. Wilson 7 son, male, single, white, farm laborer, born TN, father and mother born TN.

Death: 4 January 1945, age 40, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee.⁹⁷

Sharp Funeral Home Records: Name: Wilse Bray : Address: Devonia,TN : Race: White : Married: Divorced (Oma Bray) : Ordered : Mrs. Donna Alverson Si. Occupation: Miner : Date Of Birth: 1-19-1904 Age 41: Birthplace: Morgan: Father Name: John Bray : Mother: Bell Taylor : Date Of Death: 1-4-1945 Place of Death: West Nashville,Tn : Date of Funeral: 1-7-1945 : Devonia, TN : Cemetery: Bray.

Burial: about 7 January 1945, at Bray Cemetery Anderson County, Tennessee.⁹⁷

Anderson County News, Clinton TN, Friday, 21 August 1934 (Microfilm roll 2015) has the following account: Earlier in the week (of 21 August), two men were killed in the New River section of Anderson County. John M. LYTLE, an herb doctor, and his helper, Joseph M. GORDY were in community collecting herbs and selling their potions to the populace when they were robbed and killed by three locals, Walter KENNEDY, John Willis (or Wilce) BRAY, age 14 years, and Elmer BUNCH. On the day of the murders, KENNEDY tried to trade a shotgun with Clarence BUNCH for a pistol, but Clarence was unwilling. KENNEDY told him, "I'm going down and rob a show truck." Lytle and Gordy had a car pulling a covered wagon-type trailer. Clarence advised him that he shouldn't do that, and Kennedy said, "I guess that I won't do it then." A day or two later, the three were caught and taken to Clinton to jail and await trial. KENNEDY had offered BRAY $5 to help in doing the deed, but later told him that he could have half of the loot. Elmer BUNCH admitted that only the three of them were involved, but KENNEDY did! the shooting. The bodies of the two men were found in Tiger HOLLOW (Tenth Civil District of Anderson County about twenty miles west of Clinton). Several eyewitnesses were held (these might be the other five of your "eight arrested").

Anderson County News, Clinton TN, Friday, 28 September 1934: Trial began Thursday, 27 September, with nine jurors being selected; they were: Sherman BURTON, J.S. WALLACE, Carl ARMSTRONG, Silas BULLOCK, Elmer SMITH, William WEST, Joe MARTIN, Lige STITAM and Sam WHITE. The prosecuting district attorney was Howard H. BAKER (later a U.S Representative from TN).

Anderson County News, Clinton TN, Friday, 5 October 1934: Trial took place on Monday 1 October. BUNCH accused BRAY (age 18 years) and KENNEDY (age 32 years) of doing killing. KENNEDY accused BUNCH (now indicated as being age 17 years) of firing the shots and BRAY not being present. All were found guilty; BRAY and KENNEDY received sentence of death and BUNCH got 21 years in the penitentary. BRAY and KENNEDY were to be electrocuted on Thursday 6 December. Cellmates reported that the three told of getting a watch and ninety cents off the bodies of the medicine man and his helper.

Anderson County News, Clinton TN, Friday, 12 October 1934: BUNCH had accepted his sentence while KENNEDY and BRAY tried for a new trial. The request was denied. (The execution did not take place as scheduled, being postponed by appeal on 28 December until meeting of county court in autumn session of the next year.)

Anderson County News, Clinton TN, Friday, 29 November 1935: "Brutal Murder Case Affirmed by Supreme Court."

Clinton Courier Jan. 23, 1936 Ones Dies: Other Has 99 Years Walter Kennedy, died in the electric chair in the state prison in Nashville at 5:37 a.m. Tuesday, while his alleged companion in crime, Wilse Bray, who was to have died with him received a communtion of his sentence to 99 -years in prison. Both were convicted of the murder of John M. Lytle, Knoxville herb doctor in September, 1934, near Stainsville. Before Kennedy died he signed a statement"clearing Bray".

John Willis (Wilse) Bray and Oma Marriage: before 1945,.

Divorce: before 1945.

Oma⁹⁷. Birth: about 1904,. Her birth date is estimated from her husband's birth date. (RGB)