New-York tribune., 1919-07-15
Brothers Refuse to Believe
Apoplexy K ill e d Man
Engaged in Government
Investigation i'll Seattle
Say He Was Threatened
Fear of Exposure on Part
of Big Shippers Given
as One Theory in Case

GREAT NECK, L. l., July 14.-Fred
A. Dowsey, secret agent OF the Ship
ping Board, who died suddenly while
conducting an investigation in Seattle,
did not succumb to apoplcxy, according
to James Dowsey, his brother
Mr.. Dowsey said tonight that the re-
suit of the autopsy performed after the
body Of the dead man had been brought
East showed this conclusively. There
were none of the symptoms Of apoplexy
found, he said. Government agents, it
is known, are conducting a rigid in
vestigation into the case.
81 always believed that my brother
was killed. said Mr.. Dowsey tonight
at his home in Manhasset. "a could not
believe that he dropped dead. He and
| had been very close during our lives
and were almost constantly in each
others company. When he married he
came out here and bought house next
door to mine and had chance to see
him often. SO far as l could observe
there was nothing organically wrong
with my brother.
Received Threats
"I know very little of the nature Of
the work he was performing for the
government, but I do know. that it was
dangerous work and that he had been
threatened. He told me that he had
received threats.
when | learned of his death, i'm
medately telegraphed to the Chief of
Police Of Seattle, informing him that
threats against my brothers life had
been made, and asked him to make an
investigation of the circumstances of
the death. He wired back that the in
quest conducted by the Coroner had
shown apoplexy caused death.
81 knew this could not be, and | con-
suited many persons who were ia
miiar with the symptoms of apoplexy,
and when l learned that man does
not drop dead from it, that he usually
becomes partly paralyzed and lives
for few hours, decided to cable my
brother, Dr.. George II. Dowsey, who
was then In service and on his way
home. When he arrived we discussed
Fred's death. ] had the autopsy per-
formed very soon after the body ar
rived here for burial. We are all con
vinced that apoplcxy did not kill him.
What the government agents have
learned during their investigation |
am unable to say, as | have received
no official report from them"
Points Out Motive
Mr.. Dowsey said he felt that the per-
sons who had threatened his brother
might have known of the confidential
nature of the work he was doing in
Seattle and planned his death, possibly
to save themselves from exposure
Mr.. Dowsey admitted that he had
little information upon which to base
this conclusion, but, in view Of the
threats made against his brother he
believed that his brother may have
been drawing close to the end of his
investigation and was, perhaps, ready
to make disclosures which might in
volvc influential shipping men
Another broth thcr, DR.. George II. Dow
sey, of this place, said to-nlgnt that
the investigation was in the hands Of
government agents and that he did not
care to say aanything about his own
suspicious at the present time.
at is my professional opinion that my
brother did not die from apoplexy. He
was not apoplectic. He was in excellent
health; that is all | care to say at this
tme,' said Dr.. Dowsey