The Macon Telegraph
Bibb County, Georgia
8 July 1887

MR. ALLEN'S FUNERAL

Did He or did He Not Commit Suicide, the Question

The funeral of Mr. Frank G. Allen occurred yesterday afternoon. The
remains was taken from the Daisy House and carried to Rose Hill Cemetery,
where the beautiful service of the Episcopal Church was read by Rev.
Dudley Powers, rector of St. Paul's Church.

The following were the pall bearers: Messrs. R. S. Collins, J. N. Neel,
Lee Worsham, A. H. Small, E. B. Grace and S. J. Holland.

Mr. Gadsden Allen, brother of the deceased, arrived in Macon yesterday
from his home in Bartow, and was the only relative who could reach here to
attend the funeral.

The death was the subject of conversation all over the city. The
circumstances attending it and the doubt that isentertained by many as to
its cause probably made it so. There are many who do not believe that
suicide was committed. There was no letter to indicate in the slightest
that such was Mr. Allen's intention or desire; there was no bottle or
other evidence of poison either, though his effects, his room, and even
the yard which his windows overlooked were thoroughly searched. There
were no marks of injury on his person, and the only circumstance favoring
the self-destruction theory was the remark made to Mr. Sparks on the
morning before. It is the opinion of those who hold to the idea that he
died a natural death. They theorize that he had been drinking heavily for
three or four days; that the day was warm and that he left the hot sun of
the street and taking off his clothes while his body was heated, not only
by the hot sun but by an enormous quantity of alcohol, the sudden cooling
off resulted in congestion, which brought on death.

The coroner's jury had no evidence before them other than the statement
that he would commit suicide, and this is why a verdict that he came to
his death from unknown causes was rendered. Since the inquest nothing has
developed that could warrant changing the verdict.

The case is regarded as a peculiarly sad one in many respects. A letter
received yesterday from a sister, telling him that she expected him and
his bride to be with her a day or so, was read by those whose duty it was
to open and read it, with tears.

It will probably never be known whether the unfortunate man died by his own hand.

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Rose Hill Cemetery

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