Omaha daily bee., 1913-11-17
REVOLVER ON FLOOR NEAR HIM
Door of His Office Unlocked When
Found by Relative.
MISSED BY FAMILY AT HOME
Search Made by Brother-in-Law,
Myron l.. Learned.
NO POWDER MARKS ON HEAD
Had Become Interested In Firearms
Recently on Trip TO Colorado,
but IL Was Not Known He
Hud Weapon,

VILLAIN ;. Popplcton's cold and ntelesS
body was found in his chair in his office
on the third floor of the First National
bank building at 7:30 O'Clock Saturday
by Myron L. Learned. his brother-in-law.
He had been shot through the head. On
the floor was .S2-caliber revolver.
That the revolver was discharged ac-
cdentally while Mr.. Poppleton was eX-
amining II is the belief OF persons who
were first on the scene and was the
opinion Of Coroner Crosby The body
bent over, presented the semblance OF
Mr.. Poppleton as he might appear IL lean
ing his head on his desk. 1t was turned
TO the right and both arms hung down.
ward. Fingers of his left hand were
blackened by powder. but no other mark
OF the kind was visible.
A week ago he was a pallbearer at the
funeral of the late Charles Turner
Omaha pioneer, who had heavy real
estate interests in this city, and Mr..
Poppleton, one of the trustees of the
great estate of his father. the late A. j.
Poppleton. controlled enormous property
holdings here. lie was Al years old and
was born in Omaha.
Accident Occurred Late.
The fatal bullet according to Coroner
Crosby entered Mr.. Poppleton's fore
head late yesterday afternoon. When he
failed to arrive at his home, 2Ol South
Thirty-seventh street. at the usual din
ner hour, Mrs. Poppleton became uneasy
and telephoned to the home of Mr.
Learned
Mr.. Learned found the door Of Mr..
Poppleton's office suite unlocked The
first two rooms were empty, but In the
third. the private retreat OF Mr.. Popple-
ton, he found tile body. All the rooms
were dark. SO far as is known the shot
was not heard outside the office, the
buffding being practically vacated on
saturday afternoon. No one is known to
have visited the office in the afternoon
and the hour when the revolver was dis
charged probably will never be learned.
Victor n. Caldwell. vice president of
the United States National bank, hfe-
long friend OF the dead man, was imme-
diately summoned by Mr.. Learned.
Coroner Crosby was notified and took
charge OF the body. He announced that
he would hold an inquest Monday.
Trip 10 Colorado.
According to Mr.. Learned and Mr..
Caldwell during a trip to Colorado a
number OF weeks ago in company with
his wife and S-year- old son Mr. Popple-
ton became interested in firearms and
practiced Workmanship with a rifle with
the lad. On his return. they said, he
gave IL as his opinion that every man
should own a gun and know how to use
it and announced his intention OF ac-
auiring one. That he had done so was
not known TO them and they agreed
that he knew nothing Of how to use a
revolver.
The weapon was lying on the floor
pointing to the east. while the body faced
the west and slightly to the north. Mr.,
Poppleton's coat and hat were in their
accustomed place in the office. The en-.
trance OF the bullet was in the forehead
above the bridge OF the nose and the
hall described an upward course.
son of Pioneer.
The Poppleton family has been lien
titled with omaha's growth and prog
ress since pioneer days, fully fifty years
The dead mans father. A. J. Poppleton
who died in 1895. became one of the
wealthiest men in the city. most of his
holdings consisting of Omaha property
The estate has never been divided and
W. 8. Poppleton devoted a large part ol
his time TO the management of this. His
mother, Mrs Elizabeth Poppleton, il
noted for her interest I'm church work
and philanthropio activities.
Others who survive Mr.. Poppleton, II
addition 10 his wife and S-year-old son
his namesake, are his sisters, Mrs. vii
liam c. Shannon and Mrs. Myron l.
Learned He was twice married. his frs
wife being formerly Miss Charlotte Ken,
nedy. daughter OF b. z. b. Kennedy. and
niece of the late Charles Turner Hi.
CONTINUED on Page Two)