Deputy Sheriff John A. "Alf" Wall

John A. "Alf" Wall

Deputy Sheriff John Wall was shot and fatally wounded while raiding a liquor still. He was taken to Rex Hospital in Raleigh where he died the next day.

Four men were arrested and charged with his murder.

All four suspects were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison June 22, 1919. In the fall of 1920 two of the men, one age 20, and his father-in-law the other, escaped from a prison work crew between Raleigh and Cary. Eight months later the Johnston County sheriff received word that the mother on the 20-year-old was going to take a train to Jacksonville, Florida, which would arrive there on June 3. The woman got off the train, met with her son, and then they both met with several Jacksonville police officers. He was returned to Raleigh's Central Prison. In 1927 his sentenced was commuted to 10 years and he was told if he behaved himself he would be released in 1930. Concerning the other two, one was paroled on April 11, 1927. There is no more information about the other escapee.