The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-17

Sssss.>s>Ss
dalous story That . Young Wsman
Went Away with Hini-Appeab FER An
to Get Home-He ID tho Episcopal
Clergyman Who Turned Catholic and
on Whom. II IL Said. Mrs. william Ar.
mold Settled an Annuity-Ho De.
ciares That the II orrible Darkness
Has been Dispelled From His Mind.
The Rev. Henry Austin Adams clergyman
OF the Protestant Episcopal Church and
convert to Roman Catholicism who disap-
peared on Aug. IA last, since when neither
his family nor his friends have been able to
trace him, has been found in Auckland,
New Zealand. Mr. Adams's disappearance
interrupted a course of lectures he had been
engaged to deliver and for which he was to
receive $1,000.
Letters have been received by members
OF the hierarchy, several Bishops, priests.
a wealthy society woman, formerly OF his
congregation, and his wife. appealing for
financial aid and telling his strange story.
The following letter, received by an Arch
bishop, gives the most complete account Of
his experiences and defence of his long
silence:
THE REV. MR.. ADAMS 3 REMARKABLE LETTER.
Al have Just got the staggering news
that it is commonly believed that left
home last summer under the most scandal
GUS circumstances. am stunned. Father
- now has me and my case in hand,
and shall not rest until the horrible dark
ness has been dspelled.
II do not believe that need tell you that
Itam not guilty. OF the unhappy child who
is supposed to have fed with me l know
nothing. She no doubt succumbed to the
horror resulting from having her immacu-
late love for me, (based on the inspiration
l was to herr distorted in the minds Of
others into sinful passion.
"She was wonderful soul-a German
mystic, musician, a Catholic saint. And
can we'll imagine her fine spirit breaking
suddenly under the weight Of so horrible
suspicion. I was in an extremely dam
gerous mental state for over year-the
result of overwork and an unspeakAble
condition at home (my precious little wife
having for many years been insanely Jeal-
ous) so when l reached home and found
that a lawyer had told Mrs Adams that
was not out West lecturing. but in Balti-
more, visiting this child, my heart broke
II demanded dates and details. and on
each date he gave proved by newspaper
reports of my lectures in the far Northwest.
The whole thing was a damnable attempt
to egg on my wreched little wife to sue
me for divorce. ! cleared myself-and
then lost my mind.
II wandered about God knows where.
And not until Christmas did ! again regain
| consciousness of my personality--and found
! myself wreck. mentally and physically,
| in New Zealand. I family remember q
| long voyage "a common seaman-and
| then nothing. l have just recovered from
| brain fever
writing home at once, I heard from a
dear relative the awful story of my supposed
| dishonor. ] now turn to you dear. for
! think you know my nervous, imaginative
| and mystical nature better than any other,
| TO battle for my name and memory-for
/ am dying.
Help Father -. In helping me you
will he serving the Church for whom I
was giving my very life. and which my
apparent disgrace has so scandalzed. For
| Gods sake help mo to get home. Send
| what you can to Bishop -, who will send
| it to me. l want to die at home, facing my
| enemies
Communicate at once with Father-and
set the press going in spreading the abeo-
| lutte upnlal DS me OF all NEoHEIb''2'
God some trace of the pure noble girl
whom my fate has overwhelmed will come
day be had, clearing her stainless name
! from the damnable cloud which misguided
and evl-minded 'friends' nav" forced
| her to pass unCer,
-The day before collapsed got letter
! from her sister, assuring ne hat she inew
! that my influence over the child had been
! the most spiritually el"yating Of he' life.
and thanking me for all ! had done for
/ hor While claiming be- q tIaIah0d,
| I am not a Launcelot- so help me isnce
| there is no Glinavere) to al leas' die the
/ death of Sir Launcelot'
I As every moment counts, wont you
send me what you can direct You could
! remit through q New York bank directing
! them to cable credit for the amount TO
, their Sydney correspondents: Have. the
credit made to the order of Wilfrid West,
) to write for bread, When you rnmt cable
/ me, stating the name of The Sydney hank
| to which your bank is cabling, Cable
/ address 'Bywood. Sydney
| il l live. you know will repay. If ever
| man loved the Church and the Beautiful
| and the True and tn" High, am that man.
, My life of drudgery and strain was to me
and an outcast. Surely you will 90 all
that you can to help me clear myself? Write
| to the Catholic press of the whole country
! stating that you know where I am, that
- dld not accompany me, ana that you
propose to assis, me to return to eXonerate
me.
"A word of hope and trust and braved D.
termination to set me in. the right light
will have an immense effect among the
| Catholics of America. For the cause you
and l holu deaTer than life do this.
yours with a gratitude no words can
measure, HENRY AUSTIN ADAMS
HIS SUDDEN DIsAPPEARANoE.
The .scandGlous circumstances to which
| Mr.. Adams refers included the sin,ulta-
neous disappearance of young girl whom
| ne refers to as -the child
| Mr. Adams disappeared from his home
| in Brooklyn last August. He left letter
for his brother, Charles Frederick Adams
| n lawyer with Coudert Bros. saying that
he was going to Germany and explaining
| his reasons therefor. II was some time
| after that when the stories appeared tell
| ing OF his departure and limiting at un-
| pleasant family relations.
Mr.. Adams went to the office Of the
| Hamburg American line on Aug. IA last,
and asked for steerage passage. Be-
! ing recognized by one of the clerks from
| whom he had several times procured pas
lov n nj, iva bnf ha