The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-24
SUICIDE OF FRANK REED
ONE or rnE MOST PROMINENT MEN
OrdLEX.fNDRTd,y "a.
Leaving His Wife, lie Returned 10 HIS
Room and Fatally shot Htm-e" WIZ"
II Large Horse Pistol.

ALEXANDRIA. VA. Aug. 8-spec'ai-
Tnis community was shocked aDo"'
O'Clock this morning by the announcement
that sIr. Frank 4. Reed, a pIohliiie"'
man OF the town. had committed su'clue
by shooting himself through the ho"u
with a large-sized revolver
Mr. Reed had been seen at his once
and on the wharf, whore a large vesSoi y
unloading a cargo OF ice, and wheh on
his way to his home. opposite the post
office he stopped and talked with ""i''-
Der OF friends and others, ana none
had any suspicion Of what was co'i'4"s'
TEE CIRCUMSTANCES.
During the past year Mr. Reed has felt
the effects of increasing business matters
ana refused 20 take the recreation heces-
sary TO his health, until, II u leai
he became not only III in BODY az lini'S'
but weak In mind. 10
knew Last night he walked the moor,
complaining OF his head. and at breaNiaSt
said he felt badly. and II he felt no Deter
after going 10 the Office. ne would re
turn and, have Or. klepstein. M ms "'N'
door ncighbOr, come IN ana see MIN.
At the Office ne opened his mail, dictated
some letters, and gave some INSTRUCTIONS
About o'clock he went up the street
frequently stopping 10 speak with itleius'
He went home, and on entering the SIT
tirg-room told Mrs. Reed he felt badly
and would go 10 his room and lie doWu
awhile As soon as he had gone mp stairs
Mrs Reed sent Miss Eldrldge, niece,
in 20 DR. Klepstoin 10 get him to come
and see Mr. Reed before he should go
back down town.
THE FATAL SHOT.
As she returned the pistol shot rang
out and on reaching the room me uh-
fortunate man was found on lounge
near TIE window with an Old-iashiohca
horse pistol at his side.
Drs Klepstein and Smith responded az
Cnce and q crowd gathered before ire
house. They found the ball had gone
from behind the right car clear through
20 the right temple. the bone
of which was broken. He was
unconscious; and there We're. od
course. 800 hopes OF saving him, yet ne
fingered until after , I'm the afternoon,
during which time hundreds Of frierds
called az the house many OK whom saw
him.
tie was about sixty years Of age. A
THE cAusF.
It is said tonight the death under pc
cuiiarly sad circumstances Of superin-
tcndcut Holden. Of the Electric railway,
ay have had a great deal 10 90 with
t. as the deceased had appeared detected
every time Holden's name was mentioned.
The funeral arrangements are not COM
pleto, but they will doubtless be OF
Masonic nature. and the largest funeral
that mas ever taken place here.
sKErcH or HIS LIFE.
Mr. Reed came 10 Alexandria from
Massachusetts about forty years ago. en-
tering the shipping ana commission house
of Vi. Eldrdgc & CO., whom, IN 1870. he
succeeded. and added the lee business
now one Of the principal Industries here.
che firm shipping by rail all through this
section. up the valley. and even into
North Carolina and West Virginia and
Lower Maryland.
The firm Of +. A. Reed & Co also
controls large business I'm Washington
under the name Of the National Capital
Ice Company. The house has done the
principal shipping business here since
the palmy ante-belum days, being agents
for William +. clyde q Co. a New YORK
line. one OF the Norfolk lines the Balu-
more line. two local and three river lines,
as well as excursion boats.
Mr.. Reed was prominent man III
Alexandria during the war. As young as
of the Council and chairman Of the Com
mittee on Claims. under military APP
rcintment, during the reconstruction pc
riCd. and gave general satisfaction 20 ne
people in % neral tie las been several
times tendcr., nominations FOR MAJOR
and other positions. ana cOuli easily have
bee1 the Republican nominee for Con
gress several times. He was mover ln
many things OF progressive spirit. AS
member of the Alexandria and Washing
ton Boards OF Trade. he inauglratcd
number of enterprises and improvements
that probably never would have D'eu
considered by others. lie worked hhtH
for the proposed boulevard from W ASH
ington TO Mount vernon anu N"en
saw IL was no use, be called the attth-
zion of street-railway magnatea 10 the
feasibility OF running an electric ROAD
along the river shore from TINS Guy 70
that place. one of these iinaNy cohsli.
eraI The matter and was waited on ana
enaii- decided that IL would he the very
thing. The road was built Mt keed
MANAGED in. and the Washington DraNci
has been begun, while today cas- sl"i 1,-
from the AQucduct 20 Arlington on lhAl
branch an TO the credit OF tniS one i i,ani
Mr. Reed was a member or the oilslhai
Worlds Fair Commission, ana mas hdu
many hOuOrs thrust upon him, noth Dete
and elsewhere. North and south
he was very prominent Mason,
coming a member of the craft just aiief
me war. organizing the local command
cry. knights Templar.
lie was Grand Senior warden or the
Grand Lodge Of Masons or virginia,
Grand King of the Grand Chapter OF
ROYAL Arch Masons Of Virginia. and
past Grand Commander or the Grand
romrnanderv Of Virginia. He vas a
zealous craftsman and the esteem in
which hc was held by his brethren is
att.sfed hy ,ho fact that he was chosen
10 nm the hi-h Offices named.
Tie was also head of the local orders of
ROYAL Arcunum and Knights of Honor.
FOR years he was "a prominent mem
Der of the old First Presbyterian church.
and since its close has been with the
Second church people.
Mr.. Reed married a sister Of Captain
Eldriige. his old employer and friend
and this union has ever been regarded
happy and contented enc. They have no
children.