Evening star., 1909-05-15
MYSTERY IN SHOOTING
Falls Church Merchant Dies of
Pistol Wound.
DOCTOR SAYS ACCIDENT
Citizens of Virginia Town Disin-
clined to Discuss Tragedy.
WAS PROMINENT ODD FELLOW
Dead Man Proprietor of General
Store and Popular Among
Villagers. x

The town of Falls Church. Va. has q
mystery on it's hands today in the death
of Bedford NJ. Downing, who was shot
morning at o'clock after a physician
had done everything in his power to save
him. Falls Church has not been stirred
SO deeply by anything OF the kind for
many a day.
Bedford NJ. Downing was the proprietor
of one of the neatest and most pros
perous-looking general stores on Broad
street. which runs crossfise to the
main street of the town. The store jutted
out from the big white and cool-looking
frame house in which the Downings live.
the second floor OF the living apartments
being above the roof of the store and
slightly back from the front cornice
There is a typical country store. un-
rallied porch In front, on which Downing
used to stand and gossip with the farm
ers when they rode into town. Downing
was one of the most popular men in all
Falls Church. He had a rapid rise in the
affections of the community, since he
came from Front Royal, Va, about seven
years ago. He Joined the Odd Fellows.
and since then rose TO the second high
est Office. that of vice grand master.
Consequently, there is scarcely a soul
In Falls Church who has not said to-
day:
He was the last man in the world to
do thing like that, wasn't he?"
Few Disposed to Talk.
Star reporter went TO Falls Church
this morning as soon as the news of the
occurrence reached the city. He found a
wall of mystery surrounding the town.
and scarcely a person who would speak
outright on the subject.
Did Downing commit suicide?"
Well" said young man in feed
store, lit looks that way. but there isn't
anybody saying anything about 1T. Did
you know Downing"
why do you suppose he shot himself.
tlen?"
"Wen. he was an irascible fellow. He
provocation sometimes"
"Wel, he didn't have any business
troubles did he?''
'Of course not
That Is a fair sample of the guarded
way that every man in Falls Church has
been talking OF the affair today.
Believes It Accident.
DR.. George B. Fadely. who was sum-
moned on the telephone shortly after
midnight last night, gave it out this morn
ing that he was of the opinion that
Downing shot himself through accident.
When he reached the man he was in q
room next to one in which he had been
talking with his wife, and Mrs. Downing
was holding DOwnings head in her lap.
Downing was still conscious. and asked
the doctor to give him some morphine. as
the pain of the wound was too great to
bear. Shortly after that Downing fell
.,,A, fvrn1 In,
that state until death The doctor was
out of town this morning and the state
ment in regard to his movements was
gathered from others.
p. A. Williams, mayor of the town, and
who also acts coroner at times. went
out of Falls Church this morning, and
could not be found by Star reporter.
The cashier of the bank at Falls Church
said that while he did not know any
thing about the law in cases of this kind
he had heard that there was not going to
be any inquest, or If one was held it
would be in the quietest manner possible.
Mrs. Williams was asked where her hus-
band was, and replied that he had gone
to Arlington.
The other source of public news. in
most cases, is the police department. In
Falls Church the police is represented by
a town sergeant.
Where is he?" asked The Star re-
porter.
He is not on duty was the only re-
ply to half dozen inquiries.
Talked in Low Tones.
Along the shaded Main street this MORN
ing groups of women and children talked
in low tones. When a stranger approach
ed they would resolutely stop talking until
the stranger had passed out of hearing.
NO one would have thought it, Isn't
it terrible?" What do you suppose made
him. Sentences of that sort were
caught by The Star reporter, but the at
telmpts lie made at joining the conversa-
ton were quickly frowned upon-he was
a stranger in town.
Whatever funeral arrangements will be
made depend upon Mrs. Downings
brother who is i'm Baltimore, and who has
been sent for. 1t is understood that Mrs.
Downing will remain I'm Falls Church with
her three small children.