Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-23
TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
Suicide of the President of the Alexan-
dria Board of Trade.
Frank A. Reed Sends a Bullet Into
His Brain and Dies-Despond-
ency the Cause.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
ALEXANDRIA,, Va, August 23.-Frank
A. Reed, a well-known citizen Of this city.
committed suicide at his residence near the
corner of Prince and st. Asaph streets this
morning. -.o,~
Shortly after 0 o'clock the employees Of
the post office, just across the street. were
startled by a pistol shot ringing out on the
morning air. They rushed quickly to the
doors and windows, but nothing could be
seen. It was learned very shortly, how
ever, that the sound had emanated from
the residence Of Mr.. F. A. Reed, and even
then he was dying man. DR.. Klipstein,
who lives next door, was hurriedly sum-
moned, and in few moments was at Mr..
Reeds side, where he found that he was
sinking rapidly from large bullet hole
just back of the right ear. 1t was found
also that the force of the bullet had shat
tered the skull horribly. Everything known
to medical science was done to revive the
rapidly sinking man, but it was seen that
there was little hope of saving his life. He
fingered until about II 80 o'clock, when he
died.
Actions Preceding the Act.
Mr.. Reed had been down town during the
greater part of the morning. having been at
the corner of King and Fairfax streets
about 9 o'clock, talking to various friends.
1t was not noticed at that time that he
was either in an excitable or despondent
mood, and he gave no sign Of what it was
evidently his intention at that hour to do.
From this corner he went straight to his
home, and to his own room, saying moth
ing to any of the members Of his family
there, and the first they knew of any de-
sire on his part to end his existence was
the sound of the pistol shot echoing through
the building. The members of his family
and the servant hurried to the room and
found Mr.. Reed stretched on the floor in a
pool of blood that had flowed from the bull
let hole in his brain. y
Mr.. Reed had been very respondent over
business and personal affairs for some
months past and has been indulging a lit
tie freely for the same length of time In
intoxicating liquors, presumably for the
purpose of relieving this despondency and
deadening his unhappy feeling. 1t is be-
lieved that his brain had become affected
from this cause and his mind unbalanced,
though 1t was never dreamed it would re-
suit as disastrously as has been the case.
The pistol used by Mr.. Reed to end hts
and had been in the house, it is thought,
for some time. He leaves a wife, who has
been an invalid for some time. They had
no children.
His business, Career.
Mr.. Reed came to this city some time be-
fore the war from Massachusetts and en-
gagged in the grain and commission bust
ness with Mr.. Eldridge, which business
they carried en- successfully during and
some years after the war OF late years
he has been in business with Mr.. Riordon,
under the firm name Of F. A. Reed & Com
pany, ice dealers. This Arm are the agents
for several lines Of steamers plying on the
Potomac river and Chesapeake bay. He
was one Of the most prominent business
men of the city and has always been ac-
lively engaged in everything to the best
interests and promotion Of the city, and at
the time Of his death was president of the
Alexandria board of trade and also mem
ber Of the board Of Washington, where he
ably represented the interests of this city.
1t was Mr.. Reed that first conceived the
idea and finally carried into ehect the cleo
trio railway line between this city and Mt.
Vernon. He secured the interest OF many
capitalists in this now thriving enterprise,
and for the first year was the superintend-
ent of the lire. after which, until his death,
he was vice president of the Washington,
Alexandria and Mount Vernon electric rail-
way. His name has always been promi-
nently connected with all matters apper-
tanning to the city's interest and his death
will be a great loss to the community. Mr..
being a past eminent commander of the
Grand Commandery Of Virginia and grand
senior warden Of the Grand Lodge of Ma
sons of Virginia.
At the time of his death Mr.. Reed was
about sixty years old. The arrangements
for his funeral have not yet been made,
though it is anticipated that he Will be
buried with Masonic honors.
All day long the many friends of the de-
ceased man have called at his late resi-
dence to express to his beloved wife their
deepest and most heartfelt sympathy in
her hour Of great bereavement.