Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-02-15
GLOON FOLLOWS TRAGIC DEATH
DROWNING OF CHARLES F. HEADLEY
SHOCKS ENTIRE COUNTY
FUNERAL SUNDAY

SHOCKS ENTIRE COUNTY
FUNERAL SUNDAY
In the axe of the shock which cam
to the people of Shenandoah Count.
because of the tragic death of Charles
F. Headley on Friday afternoen there
| followed pail of sadness which en-
veloped the entire County. Fe y coult
realize that one who but few minutes
before had conversed with friends or
the streets Of Woodstock had met hi:
Maker face to face. He was stricken
in the very flower of his manhood and
no one seemed more remote from the
shadow of death.
Possessing, as he did, personality
made attractive by inherent good will
towards his fellows, holding for those
whose views were not in accord with
his due respect for their opinions and
free from the rancor which so frequently
saturates those who become active in
politics, Charles F. Headley made
| friends with all whom it was his fortune
to be thrown
For eight years he served as Treasurer
of Shenandoah County and his intimate
contact with thousands of tax payers
made him known to practically every
man in the County. In his public
service he was not tainted with
partisanship and he gave to every man
the same courteous consideration. His
official life was unselfish in its de-
votion to the public interests and he
left office followed by the good will
and best wishes of his fellow citizens.
DROWNED IN MILL RACE
The details of his death are meager.
and to an extent conjectural for only 6
year old boy saw the fatal plunge of
the automobile. The coupe was driven
by Mr. Headley to the brink of the
race at Stonewall mill and, upon his re-
turn from an inspection of a fish ladder
in the dam across the Shenandoah
river at that point, he evidently crank
ed the car The machine moved for
ward and the indications are that he
attempted to stop the automobile by
throwing his weight against the radiator.
The Sad sequel shows that his efforts
were unavailing and he was pushed
over the embankment into nine feet
of water, followed by the coupe which
pinioned him beneath the surface. His
body was found in an almost upright
position, leaning over the radiator.
The car was in high gear and the
brakes released.
just what time elapsed from the
witnessing of the accident by the Gill
child until rescuers reached the fatal
spot is predetermined, for the boy ran
to the house about one hundred feet
and told his mother, Mrs. Carl Gill, of
the accident. The latter came to the
front of the house, saw the almost
submerged car, called to Hubert Artz,
a short distance away and he, with
Canter Sine, procured a boat and
brought the body to the surface. Att
least fifteen minutes must have elapsed
from the time of the fatal plunge until
efforts to remove the body took place. |
Pending the arrival of physicians, the |
limp form was placed over barrel and
an attempt was made to expel the water
from the lungs, Doctors j. H. Smoot, |
w. c. Ford and F. Wilson Gearing did
all that medical skill could suggest,
but it was too late to rekindle the
spark of life.
The body was taken to the under
taking establishment of Frank M.
Fravel, and prepared for burial, after
which it was removed to his home in
Edinburg.
FUNERAL SUNDAY
From all sections of the Valley friends
and associates of the dead man came
to the funeral Sunday afternoon to pay
that homage which is inspired by|
affection and prompted by sympathy
which was nurtured in years of inti.
macy.
Services were conducted in the
Edinburg Christian Church by Rev. D.
H. Rhodes, who had officiated at MIR.
Headley's wedding to Miss Mary Windle
and who>had baptized him when he
became member of the church. Other
ministers present were Rev. j D
Hamaker of Strasburg, Rev. NJ. D
Gilmore. Rev. D. G. Brimlow and Rev.
c. M. Arey. The pail bears were
Mayor H. H. Newman of Edinburg,
T. w. Allen, ]. C. Hutchinson, R C.
Wightman, F. C. Dinges and w. C.
Painter. Interment was in Massanutten
Cemetery Woodstock.
Charles F. Headley was the son of
Mr.. and Mrs. William Headley and was
born near Maurertown fifty years ago,
on April 2. For number of years he
was associated with Triplett and Irwin
in the wholesale tobacco business in
no SudH lIdI VI lnC DCAtO-
cratic County Committee he became
the logical candidate for County
Treasurer in 1911, when he was elected.
His rejection followed four years later.
After serving his terms as an official
he became identified with Swift and
Co. When E. Lee Trinkle assumed
office as Governor, Mr.. Headley wa:
made Supervisor of Game Wardens il
the Seventh Congressional district ant
he filled this position at the time of hi
death. He was a member of the
United Commercial Travellers, and .
director in the Shenandoah Life In
surance Company in Roanoke.
| He is survived by his widow and tw'
sons William, Is, and Richard, II, on
brother, Edward Headley of Maurer
town, and one sister Mrs. Frank Hook
man, of near Toms Brook.