The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-12-21
MIR. Governs Purchase of "A Pistol in Wash.
lngton.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16-1t is now learned
that Mr.. GoweD purchased the pistol with
which he fred the fatal SHOT from d. L
Walford, who keeps a cutlery store on
Pennsylvania avenue, below the National
Hotel. The purchase was made by MI.
Gowen between and O'Clock Friday
night. Mr.. Walford, in deseibiug the
visit of Mr.. Goweu of his stone and the
purchase OF the pistol, said:
"Between and O'Clock Friday even
ing gentleman came into my store. l
was behind the counter, and there was
no one with me, except my son, who was
in the back part of the store when the
gentleman entered. did not notice his
entrance. and did not know there was a
customer until | heard him speak He
said. L would like to look at some revolv-
ers.' | turned and saw we'll dressed,
handsome man, who was entirely calm
and collected.
"When he asked to be shown revolvers
l went to the show window to get one.
| saw fir. m his appearance that he was a
man who would probably buy a fiIsC-class
weapon. and SO got from the show will
dow Smith & Wessou 3S-caibre, five
barrelled revolver. 1t was single action
revolver, full nickel plated, and had a
pearl stock
las | started to get the revolver for
him, the man whom | am convinced was
Mr.. Gowcu, said: Il want a good one.'
laid the pistol on the glass showcase
before the gentleman. He picked the
revolver up, looked it over carefully, and
said it would do. | saw that he was not
man nsed to handling revolvers, and
that he knew but little about firearms
Single-action reyolvers are in but little
demand nowadays, and had this gentle
mau known as much about revolvers as
most 15- year-old boys do, he would have
bought double action revolver. | sell
hundred double action revolvers to
one single action.
81 want some cartridges for it," be
said. I asked him how many, and he
said a box When | went to get the
cartridges | found that there was not a
full box in the store. | got box
from which few cartridges were gone,
and asked him if that would do. He said
it would. l asked him if should put the
revolver in 3 bog for him, and he said,
No, just put a piece of paper around IT,
l wrapped the revolver and cartridges in
a piece of paper, aud he took them and
went out. He paid $3.50 for the revolver
and 60 cents for the cartridges. S14.10
altogether. He gave me two SO bills,
and | returned him s. so change.
The mans manners and appearance
were in the highest degree gentlemanly,
and have not often seen a man more
suave and pleasing in his manner. He
did not seem in the least nervous or
Hurried. saw that he was a man of
unusual cleverness and intelligence, and l
was rather surprised at such a man buy
ing a revolver.
The Probable Cause of MT. Cow ems Suicide.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 16.-l'he first
first reasonable explanation Of the suicide
of Franklin B. Gowen was given to day
by some of his friends, who say that
within month he had shown symptoms
that made him fear paresis. He was as
keen and bright as ever, but in CONVEX sa
ton would occasionally go wool gather
ing" seeming TO lose himself in thought,
and returning to the subject of converse
ton with an effort. He also developed
habit of talking to himself. While it
could hardly be said that his mind was
his friends think that he dreaded
an approach of insanity, and rather than
suffer loss of powers committed suicide |
This explanation is entirely consistent
with the theory of a temporary fiji Of in |
sanity, for such fits commonly herald q
loss of reason. The superstition is that |
he had brooded over the approach OF the
disease, and when he felt his mind giving |
way sought relief in death. The funeral |
services held Tuesday were strictly pri-
vate. The Reading Railroad directors
held a special meeting and adopted reso-
lutions expressive of regret for Mr.. |
Governs death, and ordering the general |
offices of the company to be draped in
The Sehuylkill County Bar
Association also took suitable action.