The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-06-08

Washington, D. c., (SpeciaD .-Rept
resentative "Bertie" Adams, of Phila4
delphia, clubman, one time minister I'd
Brazil, chairman of the Committee or
Foreign Affairs and one of the leading
society men of Washington, committed
suicide by shooting himself in his chant
bers at the Metropolitan Club. That thf
act was carefully premeditated became
evident when as soon as Mr.. Adams
death was announced in the House
Speaker Cannon read pathetic note
written by Mr.. Adams, in which hd
frankly confessed that he was about ia
kill himself because of his financial ruin
and asking that none of the formalltle3
usually shown deceased members OF
the House be observed in his case.
He died at the Emergency Hospital al
1870 O'Clock. Mr.. Adams was dis
covered in dying condition in hlS
apartments at the Metropolitan Club
chambers shortly after 8 o'clock. Hd
was sitting in a chair, bullet wound
in his mouth and pistol lying near HIM
made it clear that he had attempted ia
kill himself.
He was found by Horace Clark, one
of the negro bell men, whose habit y
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.
He Immediately summoned the att
tacfes of the house and doctor at oncs
was sent for. Mr.. Adams then was UNI
conscious, and the physician who was
.......,a..d ~~o,,o,~cad tLa wound neceSI
sarily fatal. Mr.. Adams was soon afterl
ward removed to the hospital in patrol
wagon, where the bullet and some frag-
ments of bone were removed from his
brain.
DR.. White operated to remove bullet
that had penetrated the roof OF Mr.. Ad7
ans mouth and crushed the top of the
skull in such manner that the lead
could be felt through the scalp. The
operation afforded no relief. i
Representative Sulzer, of New York.
who has taken an active part on the floor
OF the House during the deliberations on
the Diplomatic and Consular Appropria-
ton Bill, said that Representative Adams
came to him and asked that no hin
drance be placed in the way of getting
the bill through on that day. Il have
something very important to do re-
marked Mr.. Adams, and want to get
this bill through and get away"
"All I want is enough time to make a
short speech on the General Slocum dis
aster," replied Mr.. Sulzer.
WELL" responded Mr.. Adams, my
matter is more important than the Gem
eral Slocum disaster"
Perhaps So" replied Mr.. Sulzer, "as
those people are now all dead"
"Well," concluded Mr.. Adams, "there
may be more of us dead before tomorI
row morning"
A ghastly feature of his act was the
fact that after shooting himself Mr.
Adams proceeded out into the hall and
to the bathroom, where he washed him
self 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, reading as follows:
Notify H. G. Clement, 1926 l. Street.
Telephone Main 1868 and also Francis
P. Adams, 1877 Wallace SHeet. Left
money for breakfast bill. You can divide
the things in the closet"
Mr.. Adams purchased the pistol with
which he shot himself in Pennsylvania
Avenue store two weeks ago. He was
seen by an acquaintance making the
purchase.