The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-08-17
WAS FOUND SHOT AT CAMP MEADE
WAS U. 5. MEDICAL EXAMINER
WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT
COLONEL RECENTLY-BODY TO BE-
BROUGHT HERE FOR BURIAL.

Much sympathy was expressed yes
terday afternoon by our citizens when
the report was sent out that Major
Charles Clarence Billingslea, United
States medical examiner at Camp
Meade, Admiral, was found shot to
death at noon. His service revolver
was found lying near the body in room
three of medical headquarters.
The officials could ascribe no reason
for the death of Major Billingslea, ex-
cept that the automatic revolver had
been discharged by accidental means.
Unofticially, it was said at the camp
last night that the overwhelming
tasks of Major Billingslea and the
trouble he experienced in executing
them mad preyed on his mind.
Major Billingslea had recently been
breveted for the rank of lieutenant
colonel
1t is known that the Major received
a number of letters yesterday morn
ing After having received them he re-
paired to his quarters and was seen
only once or twice outside His self
isolation drew forth some comment
and gave the general impression that
he was indisposed.
Major Billingslea had been at the
( cantonment site since a day or two
after the departure of the Johns Hop
kins Hospital unit for France He
reached the port of departure about
Il hours behind time and was then
dispatched to Camp Meade in the ca
pacity of expert on sanitation and
medical examiner. He had come to be
regarded as one of the most efficient
officers at the cantOnment site
! 1t is stated that a captain found the
body stretched across a cot. The
steel-cOVered projectile from the large
army automatic had drilled a wound
through the temple of the officer. On
the floor at the side of the cot lay the
weapon. There were several letters in
the room, all of them addressed to
Major BillingSlea. These were seized
by the officer who found the body and
later given over to Colonel Klein.
The tragedy caused much excite
ment at the camp, especially because
Of the ranking Importance of the Off
Ger, who was a most distinguished
man, both in appearance and ability.
| His services had SO pleased the gov
ernment that he had been notified of
the plan of his superiors for bringing
about his promotion as lieutenant
colonel In his long military career
the Major had travelled extensively
and added to his military experience
at each of his many posts
Major Billingslea had his wife and
three small children, Mabel, Sarah
and Charles comfortably housed at
! Laurel. His wife was prOStrated
when informed of the officers death.
Major Billingslea was 80 years old.
! His home was in this city, and was
son of DR.. Charles and Clara Smith
/ BililngSlea. Major Billingslea was
graduated in surgery at the Univer-
sity of Maryland, and was later COM
missiOned in the United States Army.
Fifteen years a member of the army,
he had been in the Philippine Islands
on three occasions and had served
at Fort Meyer, Va, and in posts on
| the California coast.
His wife was Miss Mabel Graham.
daughter of the Rev. Walter Graham,
| of Baltimore, Besides his wife and
three children, the Major is survived
| by one brother, Lieutenant Smith Bill
lngSlea, of Company H, First Regi-
ment, stationed at Lake Montebello,
and three sisters, Misses Caroline,
Susan and Elizabeth Billingslea. of
this city
After news of the death of Major
Billingslea, his uncle, Joseph w.
Smith, and sister, Miss Elizabeth,
left by automobile for Camp Meade
"hc'., they joined Mrs, BiIlinssiea
and chi1dran