The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-06
YOUNG WOMAN IS
 KILLED BY PISTOL Miss Fosters Death May Be
 Suicide or Murder M'FARLAND ARRESTED Note Addressed to Darling" Found, But Is Not Certain Who Wrote
 lt-McFarland Professes
 His Innocence
M'FARLAND ARRESTED

Following the report of a pistol in an upstairs room of the boarding house at 2315 Fifth avenue yesterday morn ing at o'clock. occupants of the house rushed into the room to find the dead body of Miss Dora May Foster. aged about 20 years, lying on the floor in a pool of blood with bullet hole through her head.
 A half hour later Fred s. Mcfarland, said to be an employe of the Southern railway. was placed in the city jail charged with the murder of the young woman.
 Immediately after the discovery of the body Coroner B. L.. Brasher was called to the residence, Detectives Burge. Moore, Jones and Sanitary In- spector Burson already being there. A thorough investigation of the premises was made, ending in the detention of Mcfarland. A letter. apparently writ ten by the girl. is given as the main reason for the arrest of Mcfarland. Although the officers would not give out the contents of the letter. it is said that it was fophd on the bureau of the room in which the killing took place. and that it was addressed, Darling" It also is stated that the letter is to the effect that the girl could no. live without Mcfarland, and would rather die than be left by him." Whether the letter was written by the girl or whether it was written by Mcfarland in an attempt to clear himself of an alleged murder. is the point the officers are working on at present. Just wneth- CT the affair is d murder or suicide is still mystery.
 Mcfarland Silent
 Last night at the police station Me Farland refused to discuss the affair. T have nothing to say" was his only statement, except that I am innocent"
 The belief was expressed that the young woman and Mcfarland had n quarrel yesterday morning in the room. Occupants of the boarding house stare that Mcfarland was in another room when the shot was fired, and that he rushed back into the room. It was said that he was the first person to open the door after the shot was fired, but that he opened 1t from the outside. Mrs Dix, who runs the boarding house, was downstairs asleep when the shot was fred the report awakened her. Two other rooms adjoining the room in which the killing took place, were oc- cupied at the time, and 1t was said last night that the persons in these rooms saw Mcfarland rush into the room after the shot was fired. 
 COroner's Opinion After making the investigation Cor oner Brasher stated: Tn my opinion Mcfarland killed the young woman. The revolver which Is supposed to have been used was found underneath the young woman's clothing" The police say they cannot see how the revolver could possibly have been placed where 1t was by the young woman after the shot was fired, as the bullet scattered her brains over the room, passed en- tirely through the top of her head and entered the ceiling. Dr. Charles Wat terston was called and stated that death was instantaneous. The mys- terious letter and the place where tho weapon was found are the two points that are puzzling the officers at pres |ent.
 The body of the girl was taken to the Lige Loy morgue. The suicide theory was somewhat refuted by the fact that not a powder mark was found on her head or face. leading to the conclusion that the revolver was some distance from her head when dis charged
 Miss Foster had been employed at T department store and also as teis- phone operator. She had relatives in North Birmingham. Mcfarland has relatives in Ensley.
 Coroner Brasher will hold a further investigation of the killing this morn ing at 9 o'clock, all of the occupants of the boarding house and other wit nesses being summoned to appear.