Evening star., 1909-05-16
FAMILY PHYSICIANS VIEW
Regards Tragedy as Certainly Acct
dental Shooting.
DR.. QUICK THINKS OTHERWISE
Deceased Was One of the District
Volunteers in the Spanish War.
Business Prosperous.


Why Bedford NJ Downing, Falls
Church. Va, merchant, shot and killed
nlmSelf Is question that has not been
explained to the entire satisfaction of the
people living in the Virginia town. 1t
was known by those who were better ac-
quanted with him that he was a quick
tempered man, although outward appear
ances indicated just the contrary.
But. said one of Downings friends
last evening, ut was probably a great ex-
eTtion most of the time for him to put on
so good a front"
That he took his life Intentionally is
the opinion OF most of the residents of
Fails Church, although Dr. George B.
fadeley, his family physician told Star
reporter last evening that he would GER
talnly give a certificate of accidental
shooting. He was alone in the room at
the time the rife was discharged, said
the physician, and he did not question the
dying man about the circumstances under
Which 1t was done. The physician said he
was there to ease Downng's pain and to
make an effort to save his life, although
ne realized from the first that the case
was practically hopeless.
Anxious About His Insurance.
DIR. Fadeley So id that Downing made a
request of him that he look after His in
surance and see that his wife and chill
drens financial interests were protected
The physician promised he would do so,
and his promise seemed to relieve the suf-
ferer. DR.. T. c. Quick who was called
In consultation, was satisfied that the shot
was fired by the young man for the pur-
pose of ending his life, although the
wounded man was unconscious when he
reached the house. 1t was about o'clock
in the morning when DIR. Quick reached
the wounded man, DR.. Fadeley having
called him In consultation to determine
the question of the advisability of per-
forming an operation.
When DIR. Quick, who is chairman Of
the health board, reached the home Of the
Downing family he saw at glance that
the diagnosis of DR.. Fadeley was cor set;
that an operation would be of no benefit
to Downing. The wounded mans first re-
quest when DR.. Fadeley reached the
house was that he be given q dose Of
morphine to ease his pain, and that was
followed by the request respecting his in
surance and financial matters. Rumor
has 1T that Downing did the shooting
shortly after he had a few unpleasant
words with a member of his family, but
no definite statement about it was OBJ
tainable last evening.
DOWHlHS was III tnlS city FRIDAY after-
noon, having come here for the purpose Of
making some purchases, his purchasing
including fresh meats and necessaries for
the family Of his attending physician.
After returning home he was In the store
attending to business and remained there
until 10 o'clock. the closing hour Thomas
A. Williams. mayor of the town. and his
Wife were among the customers who ap-
peared in the store Friday night after
Downing returned from this city.
In Good Spirits Friday Night.
He seemed to be III the best of spirits
when we were in the store,' said the
mayor. there being nothing about his
conduct to indicate that he was giving the
question of self-destruction any thought" !"
Mayor Williams, who also acts as cor
oner, said the question of holding an in
quest had not arisen in the case. The
tragedy. he thought, was "a plain one Of
suicide"
When Downing had closed his place of
business for the night, it is stated. he
went to the dining room and remained
there in conversation with his wife until
shortly before he went to the children 8
playroom and fired the fatal shot. With
in fifteen minutes of the time the shot
was fired DR.. Fadeley was in attendance.
Friends Of the Downings say it was q
usual occurrence for the husband and wife
to sit up an hour or two after the store
was ClOSeu, So THAT lH6T6 was nOlulHS uu-
usual in the fact that they were up late.
When the family physician reached the
house he found that short Springfield
rifle had been used, the barrel having
been pressed against the left breast over
the heart and the bullet having passed
slightly downward and out through his
back, lodging in the wall. indicating he
was leaning over the weapon when 1t was
discharged. The merchant had not dis
robed before the shot was fired. and his
lofh ohD xrrh0 hn hill ant
was powder stained. 1t is thought the
bullet passed through the left lung and
severed one of the large blood vessels
near the heart Death was undoubtedly
due to hemorrhage.
Poor Bedford" remarked a resident of
the town as he alighted from an electric
car at the station last evening, having
read in The Evening Star the exclusive
account of the affair. Il wonder what
made him do it? Well. he was quick
tempered. but then he was lovable fell
low and had no real troubles. unless It
was that the Cuban fever affected him.
You know Bedford responded to his coun-
try's call during the war with Spain and
went to Cuba. He got sick and the gov
ernment pensioned him."
His Business Prosperous.
It was said last evening by his friends
that his financial condition was good.
He had good paying business and was
popular in the town, his business having
increased in every one of the six or
seven years he served the residents of
Falls Church. In addition to his lucrative
business, Downing had an interesting
family, consisting of his wife and three
children. All the friends of the deceased
and his family Opeak in the highest terms
of him. He was only thirtyone years
of age. came from an excellent family
at Front Royal, Va. and was possessed
Of some little means left him by his
father, in addition to what he had also
earned. He was vice grand master of
Falls Church Lodge. No. II. I. 0. 0. F.,
next to the highest Office within the gift
of the lodge, and had every prospects of
a bright future. His wife, who was a
Miss Alice Weaver, came from a well
known Virginia family near Luray in the
Shenandoah valley. not many miles dis
| ings are so well and favorably known.
And" said the wife of the family
physician. ''she is a lovely woman, was
| a faithful and loving wife and made the
home surroundings just what they should
| have BEEN"
Downing a District Volunteer.
There are some people in Falls Church
who think the experience Of Downing
while serving In Cuba had something to
do with what transpired Friday night.
| He had the Cuban fever. 1t is stated. and
his condition was such that the govern
ment felt he was entitled to a pension,
and his name was on the pension rolls
up to the time the fatal shot was fired.
When the President called for volunteers,
| it Is stated, Downing hurried to this city
| from Front Royal and rendered his
L 1,