John Walker’s Belongings Sold at IRS Auction

Convicted spy John A. Walker Jr.’s possessions, from his house to his Navy medals to his anti-bugging equipment, were sold for $52,940 at an Internal Revenue Service auction Wednesday.

The IRS had placed a lien on Walker’s property for $252,000 in back taxes owed by the former Navy chief warrant officer who spied for the Soviet Union for 17 years.

The auction drew more than 250 bidders interested either in collecting souvenirs or in buying items at a low price to sell later.

“I figure it can’t do anything but go up,” said Clyde Jackson of Norfolk, who bought Walker’s coin collection for $3,700.

Walker’s two-story, brick and frame house was sold for $27,500 to Jim and Juanita Tosh, who drove more than 200 miles from their home in Collinsville for the auction.

“Yippee!” Juanita Tosh shouted when her husband won the bidding. Besides their payment to the IRS, the couple will be responsible for a $50,000 mortgage on the house.