The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-22
Well Known Birmingham Man Found Dead Near Mountain
 Creek Soldiers Home
SOME THINK ROBBERY
 WAS BASIS OF CRIME
Investigation Was Begun Yesterday and Will Be Resumed This Morn ing-SOn Went to Scene
 Yesterday Morning

Frank McEwen, who was killed near Mountain Creek Tuesday afternoon, was well known in Birmingham, having been employed by the Birmingham Paper com pany as a salesman for about nine years. His tragic death was a great shock to his fellow employees
 Although it Is said that he was mur- dered, the theory is advanced that he committed suicide by T. M. Mcclellan, president of the Birmingham Paper com pany. MT. Mcclellan has a number of reasons to support his theory. He made the following statement to an Age-Herald reporter last night:
 Although it is said that McEwen was suicide. There are a number of things that lead me to hold this theory. Chief among these is the fact that during the entire nine years that Mir McEwen was employed by us I never knew him to carry revolver. Monday evening be- fore going to Mountain Creek MT. Me Ewen went to the Birmingham Arms company and purchased a revolver. do not think that he had any enemies there, and had no reason to buy a re- volver as he was afraid of nothing.
 "On Monday evening he drew a small amount of money from us but said noth- ing about his intended absence from Br- mingham. This was the first time that he has ever left town without asking per- mission. On Tuesday afternoon we re- ceived a letter from him telling us of l1 I1 41..t did not amount to S2O. We have allowed him to overdraw several hundred dol lars, and there was no reason for him to report the sales except that he did not want us to think that he had collected the money and committed suicide.
 Mountain Creek was MT. McEwen's S old home, and I believe that he went to the two men being held by the coroner are innocent, and I am going to go to Mountain Creek in the morning to hear the remainder of the testimony. MT McEwen had little money and robbery could not have been the motive of the killing. However, when he was found his coat, hat and money were gone.
 q was talking to G. W. ColburR today, with whom McEwen spent Monday night. He states that McEwen was sober and appeared to be in his right senses when he left Tuesday morning. I think he be- came Respondent and decided to end it all"
 A statement in direct opposition to the theory of MT. Mcclellan was made yes- terday afternoon sby Walter Wright, who was a friend of McEwen. MT. Wright states that he saw McEwen Monday aft ernoon and that McEwen told him that he was going to visit a sick friend at the Old Soldiers home. He added that someone had threatened his life in Noun tain Creek. Mir. Wright says that Me- Ewen told him that The had good gun on his hip with 50 cartridges, and no one had better threaten his life.
 The coroner of Chiffon county held a preliminary inquest over the body yes inquest will be completed this morning. Two men are being held on suspicion. picion.
 Mr McEwen had wife and one son residing in Birmingham at 204 Sixtieth street, Woodawn. His son, William McEwen, went to the scene of the killing immediately after the news reached him yesterday morning. His daughter, Miss Lila McEwen, is in New York at pres- ent. The elder McEwen did not live with his wife, although on friendly terms with her.
 The funeral was held at Mountain Creek yesterday.