VA The Homicide or Suicide of Mary Ford Christian, 1946

[merrysee]

Mary Ford Christian died at age 44 in our house of a gunshot wound in 1946 on her husband’s 50th birthday. Her death certificate states the cause of death was first homicide but was changed to suicide. Just she and her husband lived here, and he had just returned from overseas where he served as an officer in the US army. They had no children and little family otherwise. Mary had one living cousin. I have done extensive research on them, contacted the sheriff’s office, and they told me they don’t have incident records that old. What happens to them? Can anyone here help me locate the police report records, or find any kind of information indicating the truth of her death?

 

[cenazoic]

What a fascinating story! (And sad, whatever the cause of Mary’s death).

contacted the sheriff’s office, and they told me they don’t have incident records that old. What happens to them?

Unfortunately, a lot of police deptartments just…threw their old records away over the years, ostensibly to ‘save space’.

If you haven’t already, I’d start by digging:

- through old local newspapers; online if available, at the local library on microfilm if not. I’d be especially looking for police calls to the house prior to her death, so searching for their names and/or the address of the house. Has the address changed since 1946?

- contacting the coroner’s office to see if they might have any old records.

- any local museums or historical societies that may have newspapers, court cases, maybe police records? They often become sort of dumping grounds for a huge variety of papers, donated by people and city departments that want to get rid of stuff but think their stuff may have historical value. This stuff is usually not indexed or archived, since these museums/societies are usually run by well-meaning volunteers. You might turn up some gems!, but it’s a job to go through this stuff. (But kind of a fun one.)

- do you know what happened to the husband afterwards? Did he stay in town, move away, remarry, etc?

 

[rob525]

I would make the assumption that the top copy is the final report? Further, I would presume that the bottom was a draft copy. It also appears that someone different filled out the homicide /suicide portion of the bottom document? Perhaps, it is an explanation as simple as difference in opinion which led to the manner of death being left blank on the final copy? It is curious that the two documents contain different information. Although, this doesn't do anything to help shed light upon the mystery.

 

[SophieRose]

What a fascinating story! (And sad, whatever the cause of Mary’s death).



Unfortunately, a lot of police deptartments just…threw their old records away over the years, ostensibly to ‘save space’.

If you haven’t already, I’d start by digging:

- through old local newspapers; online if available, at the local library on microfilm if not. I’d be especially looking for police calls to the house prior to her death, so searching for their names and/or the address of the house. Has the address changed since 1946?

- contacting the coroner’s office to see if they might have any old records.

- any local museums or historical societies that may have newspapers, court cases, maybe police records? They often become sort of dumping grounds for a huge variety of papers, donated by people and city departments that want to get rid of stuff but think their stuff may have historical value. This stuff is usually not indexed or archived, since these museums/societies are usually run by well-meaning volunteers. You might turn up some gems!, but it’s a job to go through this stuff. (But kind of a fun one.)

- do you know what happened to the husband afterwards? Did he stay in town, move away, remarry, etc?

Looks like the husband had been married before and had a son and daughter from that marriage. They divorced in 1936, and wife remarries a few years later. Couldn't find when he married Mary, but she's not his contact on his 1940 draft registration. Mar 1945 article reports the husband returns to wife after being overseas for two years (WWII?.) In early 1946 the couple buys 12 acres of land in Virginia. On the 1950 census he is living with his son and son's family in Virginia and his marital status is listed as separated. I couldn't find anything on this wife, no marriage or divorce records. He dies in 1955 (born in 1895, also saw 1894 and 1896., and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

 

[cenazoic]

Couldn't find when he married Mary, but she's not his contact on his 1940 draft registration. Mar 1945 article reports the husband returns to wife after being overseas for two years (WWII?.)

Interesting! And a little peculiar, too.

Mostly because he would have been 45 in 1940, and the original Selective Service Act of 1940 (which enacted the draft for WWII) required men 21-35 to register. A later revision bumped the ages to 18-40 for eligibility for military service, although men up to age 65 were required to register.

In other words, while, under the requirements of the 1941 amendment to the SSA, he would still have been required to register with his draft board, he wouldn’t have been required to do so in 1940. It’s also very unlikely he was actually drafted, regardless .

Since he registered, we have to assume he wasn’t then active duty military already. In 1942, voluntary enlistment was closed to men 18-37 (the idea was to keep some men at home for national defense.)

So why (and how) did he go overseas, since it seems unlikely to have been via the military? (Not suggesting anything nefarious here, just puzzling enough to get me curious. )

Do you have any (web) links to his history?

 

[SophieRose]

Interesting! And a little peculiar, too.

Mostly because he would have been 45 in 1940, and the original Selective Service Act of 1940 (which enacted the draft for WWII) required men 21-35 to register. A later revision bumped the ages to 18-40 for eligibility for military service, although men up to age 65 were required to register.

In other words, while, under the requirements of the 1941 amendment to the SSA, he would still have been required to register with his draft board, he wouldn’t have been required to do so in 1940. It’s also very unlikely he was actually drafted, regardless .

Since he registered, we have to assume he wasn’t then active duty military already. In 1942, voluntary enlistment was closed to men 18-37 (the idea was to keep some men at home for national defense.)

So why (and how) did he go overseas, since it seems unlikely to have been via the military? (Not suggesting anything nefarious here, just puzzling enough to get me curious. )

Do you have any (web) links to his history?

Sorry I took the son's record, a jr. The husband was a Major.

 

[Richard]

Note that her husband, M.H. Christian, was born in 1895. This would have made him of an age to have served in World War One.

It is quite possible that he served in the National Guard for years after that war and went back on active duty during WWII.

It is interesting that the Certificate of Death was not signed until 29 September 1948, two full years after her death. Also note that it indicates findings are included on the back of the certificate (over).

 

[cenazoic]

It is quite possible that he served in the National Guard

Ahh, of course, the National Guard!

Thanks Richard, that seems the most likely explanation.

Maybe you have the answer to another small mystery: his grave in Arlington shows he served with the 3rd Service Command (WWII). To my knowledge, the service commands only served state-side?

 

[SophieRose]

Took me a while but I finally found her mother, her maiden name was Agnes Lewis Palmer. She died of typhoid fever when Mary was only two months old. Her father was Henry Clinton Ford, quite distinguished and a colonel in the military. He married a few years later and had three children with his second wife. Died in 1936.

VMI Archives Historical Rosters: Henry Clinton Ford

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archivesweb.vmi.edu

 

[Vern]

Ahh, of course, the National Guard!

Thanks Richard, that seems the most likely explanation.

Maybe you have the answer to another small mystery: his grave in Arlington shows he served with the 3rd Service Command (WWII). To my knowledge, the service commands only served state-side?

@merrysee

Have you attempted to FOIA his service records?

After the war ended, there were some 'skilled' individuals within the Service Commands (Engineers, Munitions, Signals, Transportation & Movements, Medical, Supply - Contracting/Procurement/Sustainment (Quartermaster), Ordnance (weapons & munitions), Chemical Warfare (Manhatten Project etc), Maintenance (Technical & Logstics) who were eligible for 'reeassignment' into Europe and North Africa.

I presume those individuals were then employed in similar to their war-time tasks - planning, coordinating & executing redeployment movement & transportation of US personnel, equipment etc back to the continental United States, running the Logistical tasks of the Lend-Lease programs, Reconstruction. etc etc.

I presume, carrying the rank of 'Major', he would also have been considered as ''skilled" and eligible for employment in a Ground Staff (NATO G-System) staff capacity for planning & execution purposes. His civilian occupation pre or post war may give you a hint at what capacity he was 'skilled', thus employed within the Service Command.

IMO.

 

[Richard]

Unfortunately, many US Army individual service records were damaged or destroyed in a fire at the National Military Personnel Records Center (NMPRC), St. Louis, MO in July 1973.

However, there has been an ongoing effort to rebuild those files through research of various other types of records.

In this case, the National Archives Military section probably has records and rosters of the 3rd Service area command on micro film or micro fisch. Arrival and detachment dates of officers, as well as their billet assignments (jobs) would be noted.

The state adjutant general's office might also have records if you know what state to check.

If you could locate a late war or post war photo of him in uniform, the ribbons above his left pocket can give you clues as to where he served.

 

[SophieRose]

Took me a while but I finally found her mother, her maiden name was Agnes Lewis Palmer. She died of typhoid fever when Mary was only two months old. Her father was Henry Clinton Ford, quite distinguished and a colonel in the military. He married a few years later and had three children with his second wife. Died in 1936.

VMI Archives Historical Rosters: Henry Clinton Ford

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archivesweb.vmi.edu

Mary was not raised by her father but by her elderly great uncle, Colonel Thomas Lewis and his wife Mary, a childless couple. He was born in 1832, died in 1909, and his wife was born in 1837 and died in 1929.

VMI Archives Historical Rosters: Thomas Lewis

A layout example that shows off a responsive product landing page.

archivesweb.vmi.edu

 

[merrysee]

What a fascinating story! (And sad, whatever the cause of Mary’s death).



Unfortunately, a lot of police deptartments just…threw their old records away over the years, ostensibly to ‘save space’.

If you haven’t already, I’d start by digging:

- through old local newspapers; online if available, at the local library on microfilm if not. I’d be especially looking for police calls to the house prior to her death, so searching for their names and/or the address of the house. Has the address changed since 1946?

- contacting the coroner’s office to see if they might have any old records.

- any local museums or historical societies that may have newspapers, court cases, maybe police records? They often become sort of dumping grounds for a huge variety of papers, donated by people and city departments that want to get rid of stuff but think their stuff may have historical value. This stuff is usually not indexed or archived, since these museums/societies are usually run by well-meaning volunteers. You might turn up some gems!, but it’s a job to go through this stuff. (But kind of a fun one.)

- do you know what happened to the husband afterwards? Did he stay in town, move away, remarry, etc?

Thanks for these suggestions. I have done most, but I’m curious about how you would find police calls to the house. The local police and courts say the don’t have records of any incidents, the police say theirs don’t go back that far, the courts says have no info. Is there somewhere else to find information like the police calls? Thanks for you help!

 

[merrysee]

Mary was not raised by her father but by her elderly great uncle, Colonel Thomas Lewis and his wife Mary, a childless couple. He was born in 1832, died in 1909, and his wife was born in 1837 and died in 1929.

VMI Archives Historical Rosters: Thomas Lewis

A layout example that shows off a responsive product landing page.

archivesweb.vmi.edu

Thank you. I have every last little thing I could find about her and her family, just not about her death- nothing.

 

[merrysee]

@merrysee

Have you attempted to FOIA his service records?

After the war ended, there were some 'skilled' individuals within the Service Commands (Engineers, Munitions, Signals, Transportation & Movements, Medical, Supply - Contracting/Procurement/Sustainment (Quartermaster), Ordnance (weapons & munitions), Chemical Warfare (Manhatten Project etc), Maintenance (Technical & Logstics) who were eligible for 'reeassignment' into Europe and North Africa.

I presume those individuals were then employed in similar to their war-time tasks - planning, coordinating & executing redeployment movement & transportation of US personnel, equipment etc back to the continental United States, running the Logistical tasks of the Lend-Lease programs, Reconstruction. etc etc.

I presume, carrying the rank of 'Major', he would also have been considered as ''skilled" and eligible for employment in a Ground Staff (NATO G-System) staff capacity for planning & execution purposes. His civilian occupation pre or post war may give you a hint at what capacity he was 'skilled', thus employed within the Service Command.

IMO.

I have not. Where would I be able to obtain a FOIA on his service records?

 

[Richard]

I have not. Where would I be able to obtain a FOIA on his service records?

You don't need to go the FOIA route. Simply go on line to the website for the National Military Personnel Records Center (NMPRC) and request a copy of his form DD 214, Summary of Service.

Since his record is over 62 years old, it should be available - that is, not restricted due to the Privacy Act ( to which the Freedom of Information Act is related) it helps to state why you want it. And that you know he is dead..

From that, you might ask for further specific documents.

 

[merrysee]

Thank you so much.