Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-02
ENDS LIFE WITH
PISTOL BULLET
REPR RESENTATIVE ADAMS DIES
AT HOSPITAL
Pennsylvania Congressman Tires Of
Unequal Struggle, Places Weapon
to His Head and
Fires
BY Associated Press.

|
ative Robert Adams of the Second con-
| gressional district of Pennsylvania
| died at the emergency hospital in this
city today as the result of q 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 sew
eral years, some time between and
o'clock this morning.
1t was not until 8 O'Clock, however,
that he was found by Horace Clark,
one OF the negro bell men, whose habit
1t was each morning at that hour to
carry hot water to the ROOM Upon
opening the door Clark found Mr.. Ad-
ans, entirely nude, sitting upright in
an arm chair.
Mr. Adams was then unconscious and
the physician who was summoned pro-
nounced the wound fatal. The dying
man was soon afterward removed to the
hospital in a patrol wagon where the
bullet and some fragments of the bone
were removed from his brain.
GhastIy Feature of Suicide
A ghastly feature of his attack was
the fact that after shooting himself
Mr.. Adams proceeded out into the hall
and to the bathroom, where he washed
himself 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 bell man, reading as fol-
lows:
Notify II. G. Clement, 1920 L street.
Telephone Main 1863 and also Francis
7. Adams 1917 Wallace street. Left
money for breakfast bill. You can 1i-
vide the things in the closet"
At the Metropolitan club chambers it
was recalled today that yesterday
morning Mr. Adams did not act nat
urally and appeared to be under some
mental strain. Before leaving for the
capitol he demanded his board bill,
which he paid, remarlking at the same
time that the bell men could divide up
the change among themselves. He
seemed himself again last night and
there was nothing in his actions which
indicated that he contemplated taking
his life.
Was a Popular Representative
Robert Adams was one of the most
popular representatives i'll congress
and he was identified with many
matters of worldwide importance.
His position as ranking member of
the majority after the chairman of the
house committee on foreign affairs has,
owing to the i'll health of Mr.. Hit,
direct the business of that important
committee, and he was thus brought
into close contact with President
Roosevelt and Secretaries Hay, Root
and Taft.
Mr.. Adams was a society and club
man and attended all social functions
in this city. 1t was only yesterday
that he, acting chairman of the house
committee on foreign affairs, managed
6inlOna nd nnr-ia
ton bill to its final passage in the
house.
AS this bill has been before the house
for the past week Mr.. Adams has been
the principal figure in the house. There
was nothing in his department during
the consideration of the measure to
indicate an unusual condition of his
mind.
Championed Whipping Post Bill
Mr.. Adams became prominent at the
beginning of the session of congress
by introducing and championing the
whipping post BILL" which had been
recommended by the president. Mr..
Adams had to stand a good natured
chatting during the debate ON the bill.
The fact that he was a bachelor and
was trying to secure the passage of
bill to punish wife beating by whipping
the man found guilty gave opportunity
for poking fun at the Pennsylvania
member.
Mr.. Adams, like most members of
congress from Philadelphia, seemed to
have a life lease on his seat in con-
greSS, although 1t was rumored a few
years ago that he had been threatened
with opposition. At that time there
was a suggestion that he had lost a
large portion of his fortune through
20, ,f- fI.se 4es
one of the possible causes Of the act of
self destruction.
Mr.. Adams has always been con-
sistent Republican of the stalwart type.
He was born in Philadelphia February
26, 1S49, and graduated at the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania twenty years
later.
Practlced Law Five Years
He practiced law for five years and
spent some time in scientific expIora-
tions as a member of the United States
geological survey. In 1883 he began his
political career as n member of the
state senate of Pennsylvania, where he
served four years, and in 1889 entered
the diplomatic service as American
minister to Brazil. He filled this posi-
ton for little over year and then
came back to this country to re-enter
fifty-third congress, Of which body he
has served continuously ever since.
Mr.. Adams last night wrote the fol-
lowing letter to Speaker Cannon. 1t
was received at the capitol just before
the hour of converting the house today:
washington. May 81, 1906.
"Hon. ]. G. Cannon:
my Dear Mr. Speaker-The fact that
my personal obligations exceed my re-
sources is my only excuse for abandon
ing the responsible position / occupy in
the house. / am willing to be buried at
it's expense, but ask that no committee
be appointed or memorial services held,
as have never been in sympathy with
the latter custom.
''With assurances of my high regard,
sincerely yours,
"ROBERT ADAMS"
Carries Pistol Two Weeks
Mr.. Adams purchased the pistol with
which he shot himself In a Pennsyl-
Vania avenue store two weeks ago. He
was seen by an acquaintance making