The morning times., 1895-08-24

Idnk a. 1tCcu.
Col Frank A. Reed, one Of the best
known and most prominent business men
of Alexandria, committed suicide in that
city yesterday by shooting himself in the
head with a heavy 45-caliber navy re-
volver IN his room at his home on Prince
street, just west of st. Asaph.
The fatal shot was fired about $40
O'Clock yesterday morning, but Dr. Reed
fingered in great agony until 2.15 p. m,
when he breathed his last. No cause has
yet been ascertaiued why Mr. Reed should
have taken his own life, unless it was
dependency due to sickness and worry.
He arose about s O'Clock yesterday '
morning and after brea kfast Went 70
his office on the Strand, as was his
custom, and looked over the mornings
mail He seemed to be somewhat de
pressed, but took a keen interest in busi-
ness affairs, asking Arthur Gray, young
clerk in the office, number OF questions
relative to some sugar stored in the ware
house at the wharf.
After finishing his business he arose
and walked out to the eud Of the pier
in front Of his office and stood for some
moments looking up and down the river.
Several persons who Were on the wharf
at the time and who spoke TO him no
ticed that he replied in an distracted
way, but nothing was thought OF it. He
returned TO bis Ofifea but only stayed
there a few minutes, leaving about $50
O'Clock.
PAIN IN HIS HEAD.
From his office he went direct to his home.
As he went in he was met by his wife, who,
noticing his depressed manner, inquired
what was the matter To her Mr.. Reed
said he was suffering greatly with pain
In his head, and thas ne would go to his
room and lie down.
Mrs Reed sent her niece, Mrs. Eldridge
for Dr. George F. Klipstein, who lives
next door, hoping that he would be able
TO give Mr.. Reed some relief The young
lady had hardly delivered her message and
| returned to the house when the sharp re-
port of pistol was heard coming from Mr..
Reeds room.
Mrs. Reed and her niece at once hastened
upstairs, and on entering the room found
Mr.. Reed lying on couch by an open Win
| dow with gaping hole in the right side
of his. head, just back and little above
| the ear.
BY his side lay the pistol with which the
| deed was done; one chamber alone was
| empty He had evidently, as soon as he
had gone TO his room. taken the pistol from
| the drawer in which it was kept, and lying
| down on the couch had pulled the trigger
| sending the ball crashing through his brain.
As soon as the two terrified ladies could
regain their senses DR.. Klepstein was at
| once summoned. He had only to glance at
! the wounded man to see that his mediCals skill
| could be of NO avail, and tina tdeath was only
! a question of few hours.
| Dr. VIM. NJ Smith. who had also been sum-
| moned, concurred in DR.. KIepstein's opinion
| of the case The bah, It was found, had
| passed entirely through the brain and had
| lodged under the left temple bone, which
was broken.
HE NEVER RALLIED.
Mr. Reed was unconscious when found
and he never rallied. About two hours after
he shot himself he began to grow cold, and
| gradually sank until death came TO his
relief.
| Mr.. Reed who was about sixty two years
| of age, was not a native of Alexandria,
but went there in 1865 and entered the Of
| flee of NJ. EIdridge & Co., To whose business
he eventually succeeded. He married q
sister of MIR. Eldridge, who survives him,
but had no children.
For the past year it was noticed that Mr..
Reed had been greatly failing in health,
and had lost much of the yivacity that had
made him so popular with all. He had
been a sufferer from insomnia, and Thurs
| day night he spent in walking about his
room, unable To sleep.
His friends had feared that his mind
| was giving away under the strain of
| business and sickness, and it is supposed
| that in a moments WEAKNESS of life, he
resolved to kill himself.
The news that Mr.. Rsed had shot himself
| Travelled with almost lightning like speed
| about Alexandria, and gave the citizens
| among whom Mr.. Reed was greatly beloved
and respected, a great shock Mr.. Reed
| was the leading business man OF this sec
| tion of Virginia. Besides conducting large
| wholesale ice shipping business, he was
agent for the Weems and several other
/ lines of steamers. He had from the first
| been identified with the Washington, Alex
| andria and Mt. Vernon Electric Railway
| and was largely instrumental in having 1t
| built, and at the time of his death he was
the vice president of the company.
PROMINENT IN BUSINESS
He was also president of the Alexandria
Board of Trade and was one of the few
| Alexandria merchants who were members
of the Washington Board of Trade. He
was also president of the National Capital
Ice Company of this city.
Deeply interested in all that concerned
Alexandria, he had devoted his time anC
money to advance its interests, and haC
been the means of inducing several large
manufacturing plants to locate near Alex
andria.
Mr.. Reed was a prominent Virginia
Mason and was known by members Of
the order throughout the Union. He wa
past master of Andrew Jackson Lodge
past eminent commander of Old DO
minion Commandery, past high prizes