Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-06-08
CONGRESSMAN TAKES LIFE
ROBERT ADAMS OF PENNSYLVANIA
SHOOTS HIMSELF IN CLUB
HOUSE AT WASHINGTON.
FIRES BULLETINTO MOUTH
Man Who Championed Whipping Post Is
Found in Chastity Condition
by Bell Boy.

WASHINGTON, d. c., June Rep
resentative Robert Adams of the Second
congressional district of Pennsylvania is
dead at Emergency hospital in this city
as the result of a pistol shot fired
through his mouth into his head with
suicidal intent. The act was committed
at the club chambers of the Metropolitan
club, where Mr.. Adams had resided for
several years, some time between q and
Z O'Clock this morning. He died at II 80
O'Clock. 1t was not until o'clock, how
ever. that lie was found by Horace
Clark, one of the negro bellmen, whose
habit it was, each morning at that hour
to carry hot water to the room. Upon
opening the door, Clark found Mr..
Adams, entirely nude, sitting upright in
an arm chair.
Rushed to Hospital.
lie Immediately summoned the at
tacheS of the house and q doctor at once
was sent for. Mr.. Adams then was IN
conscious and the physician who was
summoned pronounced the wound fatal.
Mr.. Adams was soon afterward removed
to the hospital IN patrol wagon, where
the bullet and some fragments of the
bone were removed from his brain.
\ CHASTITY feature of his attack was
the fact that after shooting himself,
Mr.. Adams proceeded out into the hall
and TO the bathroom and then returned
to his room. The walls and bathroom
were spattered with blood. In his room
an unsigned note was found addressed
to James Clark, another bellman, read
ing as follows:
Notify II. q. Clement, 1896 street
Telephone Main 1863, and also Francis j..
Adams, 1917 Wallace street. Left money
for breakfast bill. You can divide the
things in the closet.
Found in Dying Condition.
Mr.. Adams was discovered in a dying
condition i'll his apartments. He was
sitting i'll a chair. 4 bullet wound in
his mouth and 4 pistol lying near made
it clear that he had attempted to kill
himself. He was removed at once to
Emergency hospital, where an operation
was performed but which afforded no
relief.
\ letter received by Speaker Cannon
from Mr.. Adams this morning explained
the cause Of the suicide. The letter said
his debts exceeded his resources and
forced him to abandon his official posi-
ton. The letter indicated that he had
made up his mind to commit the rash
act. The letter is as follows:
My Dear Mir. Speaker: The fact that my
personal obligations exceed my resources
is my only excuse Tor abandoning the re
spomsible position | occupy in the House. /
am willing TO be buried at its expense, but
l ask that no committee be appointed or
memorial services held, as ! have never
been i'll sympathy with the latter custom.
With assurances of my high regard. SIN
cerely yours, ROBERT ADAMS.
Acted Queerly Yesterday.
At the Metropolitan club chambers it
was recalled today that yesterday morn
ing Mr.. Adams did not act naturally,
and appeared to be under some mental
strain. BEFORE leaving for the capitol
he demanded his board bill, which he
paid, remarking at the same time that
the bellmen could divide up the change
among themselves He seemed himself
again last night and there was nothing
in his action which indicated that he
contemplated taking his life.
Dealt in Stock Market.
Mr.. Adams purchased the pistol with
which he shot himself i'll Pennsylva-
MIA avenue store two weeks ago. He
was seen by an acquaintance making the
purchase.
1t is general knowledge among Mr..
Adams associates i'll the House that he
was 4 dealer ON the stock market and
had been for many years. He had, how
ever. met reverses in this connection in
the past and had at times also been q
6ucCeSSlul operator dklIS lIlO dc
count his sensitive makeup, his col
leagues explain that if he was heavily
involved in debt he would consider the
taking of his life the most preferable
means. Several times during the con-
sideration of the diplomatic and consul
lar appropriation bill in the House, Mr..
Adams had expressed great anxiety to
get the bill through that he might at
tend to personal business which he said
in philn6alnlIo
Lower Hou Adjourns.
Only yesterday, when Speaker Cannon
contemplated temporarily sidetracking
the measure to make way for the post
office bill conference report, Mr.. Adams
made an appeal to first allow the pass
age of the bill in his charge. He told
the speaker he had a most urgent rea
son.
Upon the announcement of the death
of Adams the House adjourned.
Was Popular Congressman.
Robert Adams was one of the most
popular representatives in Congress and
he has been identified with many matters
of worldwide Importance.
His position, ranking member of the
majority after the chairman of the
House committee on foreign affairs, had.
owing to the i'll health of Mr.. Hit. made
if necessary for him to largely direct the
business of that important committee,
and he was thus brought into close CON
tact with President Roosevelt and See
retaries Hay, Root and Taft.
Mr.. Adams was a society and club
man and was at all prominent social
functions in this city 1t was only yes
terday that he was acting chairman of
the House committee on foreign affairs,
managing the diplomatic and consular
appropriation DILL to its final passage in
the House AS this bill has been before the
House for the past week. Mr.. Adams had
been the principal figure in the House.
There vas nothing in his department
during the consideration of the measure
10 indicate an unusual condition of his
mind