The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13
Samuel Porter Putnam and
Miss May L. Collins
Found Dead.
Some Do Net Believe Their
Deaths Was Due to an
Accident.
Mr. Putnam Was President of the
American Secular Union and 0ace
Pub ished Journal Here.

BOSTON, MASS, Dec. 12.-Samuel P.
Putnam and Miss May L. Collins were
found dead this morning in fat which
had been occupied for week past by Miss
Collins. The deaths were que to asphyx-
iation and the police think were caused
by accident. Both were found lying on
the floor of the room and were fully
dressed. From one of the gas burners the
gas was escaping in full force. Mr.. Put
nam, who was So years of age, and Miss
Collins, 20 years old, were free-thinkers
and had been travelling together on lec-
turing tour.
Mr.. Putnam spoke in Paine Hall last
Sunday night. 1t was the intention of the
two to leave to-day for New York, where
a banquet is to be rendered to prominent
free-thinkers tomorrow evening. Mr..
Putnam came from Chichester. n. H, and
Miss Collins from Midway, KY, where her
parents reside.
1t appears that about s O'Clock last night
Mr.. Putnam and Miss Collins entered the
latter's room, pre- paratory to starting for
Stone ham. Shortly afterward the escap-
ing gas was detected by the ianitor, but
he could not find any leak. This morning
the smell of gas was much stronger and
was finally traced to Miss Collins room.
The door was locked, but was opened
after the key had been pushed out and
another inserted in its place. Both per-
was bottle of whisky partly filed. Mr..
Putnam had only appeared at the house,
it is said, as Miss Collins visitor.
It is probable that Miss Collins body
will be cared for by local freetninkers.
Mr.. Putnam had travelled extensively
throughout the country and had quite
recently lectured in Chicago and that vi
cinity. He had written number of books
on free thought
In the room adjoining that in which the
bodies were found was the book entitled,
-Four Hundred Years of Free Thought"
written by Mr.. Putnam, and contalnin g
his autobiography. According to this he
entered Dartmouth College in 1858. Three
years later he went to the war as private,
was promoted to captain in 1858 and
served in the Department Of the Gulf un-
til the end of the war.
He was graduated from tie Theological
Seminary in Chicago in 1868, and preached
in orthodox puipits. In 1871 he joined
the Unitarian denomination, and subse-
quently became free-thinker. He was
elected secretary of the American Secular
Union in 1887 and three years later was
elected president of the union, and at that
time established in San Francisco jour-
nal entitled "Free Thought" He was
afterwa1d chosen president of the Califor-
MIA State Liberal Union. This publication
suspended in 1891, and the next year he
was elected president of the Free-thought
Federation of America, and held that posi-
ton at the time of his death.
There is more than one my sterious point
that will have to be cleared up before it
can be definitely known whether the
deaths were accidental or not. 1t was
stated to-day that Miss Collins and Mr..
Putnam were preparing to go South last
night, but this has been found to be incor-
rect. Miss Collins was in Stoneham,
where she took dinner.
Returning to Boston in the afternoon it
is supposed that she took supper with Mr..
Putnam, and the two came TO Miss Col
Inns room together about o'clock in the
evening. The door was locked and the
gas was lighted and was seen to be burn
ing as late as midnight. The bottle of
whisky found on a table in the room had
been seen there previously, and was not
disturbed by them last mig {.
There was found, however, bottle of
benedictine in which about pint of
liquor was missing. There was a slight
wound on the woman's head, which may
have been caused by fall. The fact that
the gascock turned hard and the escaping
gas made a Kissing sound that could be
distinctly heard ten feet away, while the
room was not seven feet wide, would tend
to explode the theory that the gas had
been turned and left to escape.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, Dec. 12.-Samuel Por-
ter Putnam made his home in this city,
but spent most Of his time as lecturer in
all parts of the United States, vigorously
advocating the views of the free-thinkers.
Mr.. Putnam had quarters at the Office of
the American Secular Union, 141 South
Water street, and during the last year had
lived on the West Side when not on lec-
ture tour. He was not m arried. and leaves
no close relatives.
There was great surprise and sor-
row at the. Office of the American
Secular Union when the news was re.
ceived. In a letter received from the
leader yesterday by Secretary e. C. Reich
wald Mr.. Putnam wrote that he was feel
ing well and speaking to large audiences.
He added that he would return to Chicago
in March with Miss Collins, who was then
to go home 10 Kentucky. He sent his
best wishes to friends in this city.
Mr.. Reichwald said: "For eighteen
years Mr.. Putnam was a freethin ker and
lecturer. He was also talented writer
and above all good man. His death 10 q
great blow to our cause"
Last month Mr.. Putnam and Miss Col
Inns were in Chicago, both taking an
active part in the convention OF the Amer
lean Secular Union and Freethought
Federation of America. Miss Collins left
her Kentucky home to come here for that
purpose meeting Mr.. Putnam for the first
time then. 1t was here they decided to
cooperate on a lecture tour. Mr.. Putnam
was the foremost figure at the convention
here and was unanimously reelected
president of the National organization.
which he was first chosen to lead in 1892.
His efQuuant pddrasaas attaarinO and do-