The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-02
SUICIDE o. A CONGRESSMAN.
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one VI ,h~ vav I-forr tho session ycster.
H.. speaker tanron suggested that the
,..#Iro fn over for y dav. but Mr Adams
t.IHol that No 80 rerritted ~ ~ on With
a.Ire ,ha, he had an lmportan, enEaRe.
..r' to-day witch " wa- absolutely recen-
.lr, ft hin to MI That engagement, u
t DEVELOPS. vas 10 end his life
II, Idama walked down from the Capt
, I,st evening with Srrgeant-at-Arm,
C..1n. and -eeined bright and cheerful
Ur r,I dinner NJ q downtown hotel and later
sren, two hours at tho Metropolitan Club.
lcoytne there shortly after midnight That
va tho laat seen ~ him before he fired
tho fatal shot.
although once possessed Of q fortune
cst mated at a quarter ~ a million dollars
Il Is now believed that he died absolutely
f%annilesa. The failure Of two concerns in
uhich no was a heavy investor and recent
circulation in the stock market wiped out
every dollar he poseesssed. Thirty-ive
cents was all the money found to-day among
his effects. II was generally known among
his intimate associates that he played in
ptocks. but few knew that he was financially
en- ta-rassed.
About a week ago, realizing that the end
Of his resources had been reached, Mr..
Adams went to an intimate friend, a fellow
member Of the House and a millionaire.
and asked for a loan Of q, 900 to tide him over
his difficulties. The friend made some
iryestigation, learned the situation regard
ing his finances and refused to make the
loan. 1t IL believed that then Mr.. Adams
determined to end his life before the fact
of his financial ruin should become known E.
In a letter to Speaker Cannon, written last
night and received by the Speaker just as
the writer was dying this morning. Mr.
Adams said that his obligations were more
than his resources. and that fact prompted
him to take the step he was about to take.
II is also said that because Of the political
u~pheaval in Philadelphia Mr.. Adams would
probably have lost his seat In the House.
Although a man Of sterling personal
integrity he was a member of the old politi-
cal organization in Philadelphia, and he
knew that because Of the changed con-
ditions another candidate would In all
probability be named to succeed him.
Many years ago Mr.. Adams suffered
from a cancerous growth In his mouth, for
which ne underwent treatment, which for a
long time he believed to have been cured.
although it had left an ugly scar upon his
upper lip. Recently the old trouble came
back upon him, and the affection extended
to his throat. He began to realize that the
disease was inourable and that it meant a
lingering illness, to end sooner or later in
death. This fact, no doubt, contributed
largely toward causing him to lose hope
and prom pied the decision to end his life.
Mr.. Adams evidently spent a restless
night and arose shortly after 8 O'Clock this
mcrning. 1t was about that time that a
shot was heard by a fellow resident of the
Chambers, but it was not until more than
an hour afterward that he was disco vered
by servant who went to his room, as was
his custom, to take him hot water and get
his breakfast order. He was found lying
on a chair, his body entirely nude, and a
.3S cali re pistol beside him. Blood was
bathroom adiciri ing, indicating that after
he frcd the shot he had gone to the hath.
room, He had evidently endeavored to
stop the flow of blood with a towel, for ore
completely saturated was found rot far
from hin He was unconscious when found
and did not rally when taken to the Emer-
gercy Hospital, where an operation was
performed and the bullet extracted. II
had entered the roof Of his mouth and
lodged in the upper cart Of the skull He
died at II 30 O'CLOCK.
In Mr.. Adams's room at the Chambers
was found an ursizred note IN his hand
: writing addressed to n servant OF the club.
II was written on stationery Of the House
Of Representatives and read:
Notify II. G. Clement. 1928 l. street. tele-
phone Main 1903. and also Francis P. Adams,
1877 Wallace street. Left money for break
fast bill You can divide things in the closet.
Mr.. Clement Ass Mr.. Adams's secretary,
and the Francis P. Adams referred to is a
brother Of the suicide. His home Is in
London, but he wss In Philadelphia at the
time.
News Of the suicide reached the capitol
shortly before the House met at noon. The
chaplain referred to the tragedy in his
prayer and Immediately upon the approval
Of the Journal, Mr.. Adams's death was
formally announced by his colleague, Mr..
Morrell Of Philadelphia. Then occurred a
most unusual proceeding. In a voice
trembling with emotion Speaker Cannon
from The rostrum read the following letter,
written by the deceased and which had been
received only a few minutes before:
DEAR Mr.. SPEAKER: The fact that my
personal obligations exceed my resources is
my only excuse for abandoning the respon-
sible position | occupy In the House. | am
willing to he buried at Its expense, but | ask
that no committee be appointed or memorial
services be held. as | have never been In
sympathy with this latter custom. With
assurances of high regard. sincerely yours.
RoBERT.ADAMs, Jr.
Profound silence prevailed while the
Speaker read the letter and upon the con-
clusion of the reading the House, on motion