Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-05
Highest of all in Leavcning Power.-Latcsto u % Spo
R@!A!::'.;!! B BS%dsg
ABSOLUTELY pURE

whIg stronghold Ike Richmond. ActiVe
In these DAYS and earnest In his politicai
work. his fair dealings honesty "l
nurnoae vet secured him the patronage
and friendship Of political o"171@nts *
well as political friends WITH MN plel
The lac, ono OF the old members OF me
once famous Democratic Club. ioun'ed
early In the Fs. ,,
Tn 1872 he incurred some adverse crti-
cism on account Of the prominent pa''
he took in his endeavor 10 secure nv
pardon OF Reed. who was converter %
piracy. and whom he believed 10 De IN
nocent. Reed had been a school-ielIo" -
his. and Reeds father had oeen hS
friend In childhood. CONVINCED OF Dis w
nocence and urged by a me senSe
gratitude and good fellowship DC u.s.
every honest method in his power ana
e-aIoyo1 everv energy 10 stay the exc
cution of a sentence that nc heid 10 We
unfair and unjust.
Virginian by adoption. as he vas VII
cinian In sentiment; when the war broke
ON, no ala all he could in the service OF
the cause. Too old for actual re d ser
vice. he Joined the reserves. DONG Ms
mart in civic duties and ready at all timeS
nben called out In defence OF Richmond
u Is weII-known that he Furnished ~
visions and equipments 10 various popies
NJ troops and rendered other valuable anu
as far az the opportunity allowed -
All during the years OF the war ms
tbree clerks-Piet. Cullen. ana flnheS'
ubo enlisted in the ranks. received from
him their salaries. ~ II the war had no.
interfered with business. ana during an
tho Years that have since Interviewer
no one ever heard him mention the Iac'
evon I'm the most casual manner.
Mr.. Downey was a man OF remarhdVt'
Judgment and or vigorous mIi'I'
xos q close observer and a great reader;
IIis memory was clear and retentive ana
dlled with interesting details. He was
particularly fond Of watching the couIse
of current affairs. and kept pace WIN inc
dolngs of the times. hut perhaps ne We
moro sincerely attracted by the historl-
cal adventures and episodes or the past
Irish history and French h~istory-eSpe--
cially of the Napolconic epoch-in both oi
which he was exceedingly well Nerseu'
appealcd most naturally TO his fancy.
Rather austere ana TaihfI cN''"'i,'
in manners and apt To be blunt In speech
he was I'm point OF fact 10 'hoSe ne ~,
mitted to his intimacy extremely seniai
and svmpathctic Rcsolute and honest
firm and aggressive from youth. ne was
in+oIerant only Of any display OF oppp-
liAAbI'A ahh 'aHs -.
cite characteristics. 4 man OF strong
cnInion and unyielding in his estimate
of characters and events. he was yet ior
mat very reason entertaining n On
gaging in his conversation ana crsI
and clear. II not always conNlnclns' III
his arguments. During a long ne ~
lost by death three generations OF tflehiS'
but others took the place OF the Ola ones,
and valued and esteemed him on account
of tbe rare qualities he discovered IN
rrivate ntercourse-such qualities as MS
Inc. itv TO the poor. his excellent
Judgment. and his scrupulous Integrity
Messrs. Percy and Charles O'Sniavan
relatives from New York. attended INC
funeral. Mr.. Downey also had othcI
relatives in New York. In brooklyn ana
in birmingham. Ala. His nearest folh-
tlyes are his sister and nephew VINO ooth
reside in Richmond.