Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-25
SHROUDED IN MYSTERY
UNEXPLAINED ABSENCE OF
THOMAS E. ADAMS.
Believed to Have Left Clothing in
Boat to Disguise Departure
From City.

age. who resided with his mother and
brother at 246 Delaware avenue northeast.
Is missing from home under peculiar cir
cumstances and his absence Is shrouded
in mystery. In the meantime Commodore
Sutton and the crew OF the police boat
Vigilant are dragging the waters Of the
Potomac in the tidal basin just west of
the Long bridge, at point near shore, 1t
being possible that his body Is in the
water.
The matter first came to the attention of
the police about 4 o'clock yesterday after
noon when Policeman Strange, who is sta
toned on the Long bridge. observed small
boat anchored in the tidal basin short
distance from the shore. He noticed that
the boat had been there for an unusual
length of time and later in the evening he
| secured row boat and went to that point,
where he found complete outfit OF mans
apparel. except shoes. in the bottom of
the boat.
At first the officer thought the clothing
belonged to some bather, who was in the
water not far away, but he made a search.
railing to ind any one, and came to the
conclusion that the owner OF the clothes
had gone into the water by himself was
seized with cramps and was drowned. He
TOOK possession OF the clothing and carried
to the fourth precinct police station where
the pockets Of the coat were searched,
nnd1ng letter and a postal card. the
former being addressed to Adams by a
by Adams to another friend but he had
neglected to mail it.
The Writing Identified.
The officer visited Adams home, the ad-
dress being on the letter. where his brother
identified the writing on the postal card as
having been written by Thomas The young
mans absence had not created alarm, al
though his mother was somewhat uneasy
because of 1t then being some time past the
hour at which he usually returned home
from work. The brother accompanied
Policeman Strange to the station house and
identified the clothing as having belonged
to Thomas. Commodore Sutton. the har-
Dor master. was notified and the police boat
was ordered out, the crew dragging for the
body IN the tidal basin until long after
dark. when they had to give up their
search. which they resumed at an early
hour this morning.
Up to noon today 1t was thought that
young Adams had been drowned while In
bathing but later developments indicate
that he has left home. His shoes were not
found IN the boat with the rest of his
clothing and the police at that time Thought
that ne had worn them into the water as
a good many bathers do at that point in
order to protect their feet from the rock
and stones on the bottom.
His Clothing Missing.
Shortly after noon today Captain Board
man was informed that Adams good cloth
Ing was also missing from home, which
leads the police to believe that he prob
ably changed his clothes on shore or even
in the boat where he left his working gar
ments and that he wore the shoes. The
boat was anchored SO close to shore that
IL would have been possible for him to
have gone out in the boat changed his
clothes and then stepped ashore and gone
off with the intention OF leaving the i'm
preston that he had committed suicide
He had been employed by Hutchinson &
mccarthy at so 10th street northwest
ana left his place Of employment yesterday
afternoon drawing all of the money due
him. He did not indicate to his employ
ers or any Of his fellow workmen that
he would not be at work this morning or
that he was going to end his life or even
leave the city and his disappearance can
not he accounted for. The last seen of
him was at go o'clock when he hired
boat from the boathOuse in the vicinity
OF the bathing beach. but his actions did
not excite the suspicious of anyone around
the boathouse.
Will Continue the Search.
The crew of the police boat will con-
tinue their search. however. until they are
certain that the body Is not in the basin
Young Adams only recently lost his
father by death, and he was very much at
50 the police were told today, left home on
former occasions without acquainting his
friends of his destination, but his absence
this time has greatly affected his mother
lie Is described as being five feet eleven
inches tall, light complexion, with light
brown curly hair, and has a scar over the
right eye.