Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-13
.SURRENDERS HIMSELF
Henry M. Allen in Custody
in Philadelphia.
MAKES A STATEMENT
SWALLOWED LAUDANUM WITH
SUICIDAL INTENT.
Dose Not Sufficient to Cause Death
Wants to Make Good Amount
of His Shortage.

make reparation for the alleged wrong he
mad done his friends, Henry NJ. Allen, the
missing compositor, who went to Abingdon,
"a, the place of his childhood days, and
wrote letters saying his dead body would
be found in the grove there, turned up in
Philadelphia yesterday morning.
came here to give myself up" he said,
when he entered the office at the central
police station
Allen said he had seen by the papers that
ne was wanted In this city by the police be-
cause he was short in his accounts as
treasurer of the Printers Beneficial Asso-
clatlon. Allen placed the amount at about
WOO while only $1,000 is the sum stated
IN the warrant. The compositor was given
quarters in the police station and was fur
nlshed food. something he had not had for
some time. he stated. To the Philadelphia
police he said he was willing and anxious
to return to this city and face the charges
He said he wanted to make good as much
of the shortage as he could and realized
that his actions had brought disgrace upon
him.
Knowing his accounts were short and
fearing detection, he said, he concluded he
would leave this city and find place
among the hills of Abingdon where he could
find rest in death. He reached the hills in
Willow Grove Park and took a dose of
laudanum, all he could purchase with his
cash on hand, and then stretched himself
upon the ground overlooking the lake The
man who had suffered mental and physical
torture then obtained temporary relief for
the first time since he boarded an outgoing
train in this city last Wednesday morning
The Dose insufficient.
AS the drug was taking effect he could
feel himself losing consciousness, and all
remembrance of his alleged misconduct and
consequent torture faded away. Finally
he fell asleep, he supposed. never to
axr- DO I,,t ~
work. He was still inclined to take his
life when he awoke, and would proba bly,
have done so before leaving the vicinity of
Willow Grove had he possessed money
enough to make another purchase He
did not have the money, however and he
returned to Philadelphia Strolling about
the streets, without food the money
with which to make a purchase and not
finding any of his friends, he was the vic
tim of an uncomfortable combination.
When Allen left this city he had good
clothes and presented an appearance that
would have admitted him to places where
he might have found employment and
friends. but riding on a freight train and
hanging about the woods had wrought a
complete change in his appearance. He
was therefore unable to help himself in any
way, and several times he looked into the
cold water of the Delaware and thought
he would end his life there, but he lacked
the courage. There came desire to see
his wife and children and to put himself
in position where he could again care
take the first step in the direction of right
ing the wrong he had done.
Resolves to Surrender.
This first step was the surrender of him
self to the police in order that he might
be returned here. He was anxious to re-
turn immedia tely, but under the laws of
Pennsylvania preliminary hearing could
not be avoided, and arrangements were
made for the hearing to take place this
afternoon at o'clock. Detective Parham
went to Philadelphia yesterday and saw
the prisoner He found Allen had com
pletey collapsed, and his condition was
such that he could not enter into much of
discussion of the case.
When Allen entered the police station In
Philadelphia yesterday morning he pre-
sented pitiful sight and won the sym
pathy of the police He was only rev
friends in early life, and had he called
upon some of them he could have gotten
what assistance was necessary TO sustain
him for the time being and perhaps put
him upon his feet again. He did not have
the heart to approach them, however, and
so he had to endure the mental and physl-
cal sufferings until the police fed him and
relieved the physical part of his sufferlngs
Statement to Reporter.
TO representative of a Philadelphia pa
per the prisoner said
my sufferings during the journey from
Washington, ne Salu ytSteludy, DIS ne fot
in a cell at the central police station, were
such as l could not convey with mere
words. / was haunted all the time by a
fear that | was being pursued looked as
kance at every man / encountered and l
sought out unfrequented roads that L might
escape observation. Several times L boarded
freight trains and hid beneath coal. had
nothing to eat and the mental torture l
was undergoing would not allow me to
sleep.
when I reached Montgomery county L
sought out hill overlooking the SURROUND
ing country The thought of the disgrace
that threatened me from Washington goad
ed me to desperation, and l wrote that let
ter my wife received upon rough boulder
at the foot of the hill. then walked to The
post office at Willow Grove and mailed the
letter. Returning to the hill l took fare
well look at the scenes OF my boynood ana
swallowed the laudanum L had previously
bought at Abingdon. l remember losirg
consciousness.
when l recovered i was lying WHERE
had drunk the poison. / had no money TO
buy more laudanum and l started for the
lake at Willow Grove. On the Drink
paused and looked upon the moonllt water
l though of my recovery and IN IT seemed
to see the hand of Providence guiding NE
to return and face my wife and frienis
turned away, weak and i'll, and W2lked
down the Old York road, which, as n roy,
I had known so well, until / entered Ph-la-
delphia That was Friday morning. Since
then / have wandered the streets hungry
and shelterless, without friends and in con-
slant terror Several times l have gone TO
the Delaware river to end 1t all.
This morning ! spent several hours on It's
bank fighting for courage to return ara
face the disgrace that awaits me at WASH
ington / came here and gave myself up 70
the police / am willing now to go back 10
Washington and face my wife and friends.
Effort to Arrange Finances.
Friends of the prisoner and members OF
his family were Informed of his surrender
by the police. His wife and parents were
gratified to know he had not destroyed MS
life. They had never believed him dead,
but the news of his being in custody re-
heved them of the suspense under which
they had been since the receipt CT the let
ter telling where his dead body would be
found. Efforts are being made by lrteads
to arrange the financial matters of the
prisoner so that nobody will lose any mon
ey through his dealings. Counsel has been
secured to represent him upon his return
here It is thought he will reach Wash
ington tomorrow or Wednesday.
The prisoner told Detective Parham yes
terday that after his recovery from The
Illness caused by the laudanuin he wrote
q letter to friend of his family here tell
ing her that he had recovered and that his
x,,,I1 49, 40 Fr.,y L.. InrEr