Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-06-02
COnFEssEs FAULTS TO CANNON
Speaker Reads the Letter to the
House Which Immediately lnstructs
Sergeant at Arms to Prepare for
the Burial of the Dead Member
Representative an AbIs Man.
ny Associated Press J

representative ROncfI ADAMS. OF
Philadelphia died at the emergency
hospital today, from the effects of q
self-inflicicd bullet wound.
Mr., Adams was discovered in a dy.
ing condition in his apartments at the
Metropolitan club chambers shortly
after o'clock this morning. He was
sitting in chair. a bullet wound in
his mouth and pistol lying near him
made it clear that he had attempted
to kill himself
y letter received by Speaker Can.
noon from Mr.. Adams this morning ex.
planned the cause of the suicide.
Lived Beyond Means.
Mr.. Adams said in the letter that
his debts exceeded his resources and
forced him TO abandon his official 20.
sition While he did not Indicate an
intention 10 take his life. ne sponc of
the form OF his burial, indicating that
he had then made up his mind to com.
nit the rash act
Not in years has there come to the
membership Of the lower house of
congress such sudden gloom ms came
with the going out of Mr.. Adams.
When the house convened there
was an especially large membership.
when the chaplain referred to the
death of the late congressman, mem
bers were visibly affected.
Cannon Reads the Letter.
pn
had lis parallel in the historic cham.
Der of the law-body. The speaker rose
and asked that the house indulge hin,
while he road letter from the dead
letter received wnilc the life of Rob
ert Adams was passing away. A 81
lence fell on the house that but yes
terday was surcllarged with ANNA
tioh. The letter WAS us follows:
Washington, May 81. 1906
Honorable j. G.. Cannon.
My dear Mr. Speaker:
The fact that my personal obliga
tions exceed my resources is my onl,
excuse for abandoning the responsible
position, occupy in the house an
willing to be buried at it's expense
but ask that no committee be ap
pointed or memorial services held, ms
i have never been in sympathy with
the latter custom.
with assurances of my high re-
gard
Sincerely yours. Robert Adams
House Adjourns.
Following the reading of the iette
Mr.. Morrell, presented resolution di
recting the scrgeant-at-arms TO make
the necessary arrangements for tine
funeral and exposure to he paid out
OF the contingent fund of the house
and then rs further mark of respect
the house adjourn,
Representatives Adams was one OF
the most popular representative IL
congress and he has been identified
with any matters of world wide i'm
portance. Mr. Adams was society
and club man and was at all promi
nent social functions in this city.
He Had Charge of Diplomatic Bill.
1t was only yesterday that he. ms
acting chairman of the house commit
tee on foreign affairs. managed the
diplomatic and consular appropra
ton bill in its final passage in the
house. AS this bill has been befor,
the house for the past week. Mr.
Adams has been the principal figure
in the house. There was nothingg ir
his department during the considera
ton OF the matter to indicate an unls
ual condition of his mind.
Traded In Stocks,
1t is general known among Mr.
Adams associates in tho house tina
he was dealer on the stock marke
and had been for many years He hat
however met reverses in this connec
ton i'll the past and had at times alst
been very successful operator.
Mr.. Adams has always been con
sistent Republican. He was born ii
February &c. 1S49 and graduated from
the University of Pennsylvania. II
1883 he began his political career n
, member of the state senate of Penn
sylvania and in 1889 entered the diplo
matte service as American minister t,
Brazil.
He filled this post for a little ovel
: year and then came back to re-entel
politics, being elected a member O