Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-04
Where Is Henry J. Adams
Of Winthrop Village?
Disappeared Week Ago and
Opinions Vary as 10 His Fate.
Some Say Suicide and Some Say
He Has Disappeared Before.

Winthrop, Me-, Dec. 3.-(Special)-
A week has passed and the people Of
this village are still asking each other
the question, Where is Henry ].
Adams?"
A week ago last night Mr. Adams
disappeared as if the earth had opened
and swallowed him. The last person
to see him, as far as known, was
Timothy Stone, who occupies one side
of the building rented by Mr.. Adams
las a jewelry store. Mr.. Stone says he
left him in the store at o'clock Fri
day night. Later developments go to
show that Mr.. Adams was in the store
between 10 and IL o'clock that night,
as the occupants of a tenement over
the store heard the door which separ-
ates the store proper from the room
occupied by Mr.. Adams, open and
close about that time.
Adams took AS calibre revolver
and left a note and the keys Of the
store for his son. In the note were
some directions as to the disposal of
a violin, which he desired be given to
son, a boy about ~ years Of age, to
dispose of the rest of his. property as
the boy saw fit
Mr.. Adams took nothing, as far as
known, except the revolver. with a
7h-inch barrel He left all his tools,
his best clothes-in fact, everything
as if he intended to return at once.
The only thing that will convince Mr..
Stone that it is not a case of suicide
is the presence of the man himself.
The Kennebec Journal is able this
morning to give some facts which
may have bearing one way or anoth-
er on the case. 1t is also able to con-
tradict some stories which have
gained considerable publicity, but
which, when traced out, were found to
be without foundation. The first man
to talk to the Journal was Timothy
Stone, who is supposed to be the last
man to see Mr.. Adams, and who, per-
haps, was more intimate with him
than any one else in the town. Mr.
Stone said:
L believe the man has committed
suicide. l have my reasons for think
ing so, and l do not care to state them
until have to at the proper time"
Was there a woman in the AFFAIR.""
was asked.
No." said Mr.. Stone, emphatically
there was no woman, as far as
know that caused his disappearance
1t was something else
Family troubles?'. come from the
Journal man.
Mr. Stone either did not hear the
question or he desired to ignore it.
He made no reply but went on:
"Mr. Adams and l went to Fayette
Thanksgiving and did not get back
until o'clock Friday morning. Mr..
Adams was in what l called despond-
cnt state of mind all the rest of the
day Friday. l did not think that he
would take the step he did, and if I
had even thought of such a thing 1
would have remained with him Fri
day night. There was no reason why
he should want to go away. No one
was pressing him for bills; his bust
ness was increasing and up to Friday
he appeared to be jolly, full of fun
and enjoying life. The affair has COM
pletely upset me and can't make
out why he has left this mystery Of
his disappearance
There are various reports that have
been circulated, connecting me with
the affair. that are not true. I was
not surprised, as some papers say
was, when l came to the store Satur-
day morning to find Mr.. Adams out.
He frequently took his revolver and
went TO the lake shore in quest of
game in the early morning and
thought that was where he had gone
on this particular morning. I was
around the store getting ready for the
days work when I looked across the
counter to his side and discovered
what looked to be letter on his
bench. I went over and saw it was
q letter to his son and under it were
his keys. i took the letter Immediate
ly to his brother on Green street. and
then learned for the first time of his
intended disappearance.
1.-THE bed looked as if he had laid
down on it but had not remained all
night The family up stairs say they
heard the door open and shut between
1G and II o'clock Friday night.
Whether that was when he left the
store or not 1 don't know"
There is one thing which may have
worked on his mind to such an ex-
tent, it is said, that might have
caused him to want to go away. His
toy went to one of the selectmen last
week and wanted the town to buy him
(the boy) pair of shoes. The select
me went to see the boys father about
it, and Mr. Adams said he would at
tend to the matter tomorrow" but
when the morrow came he was miss
ing. The town has furnished the
shoes The father claimed that the
boy had been put up to do the act by
, someone and that there were parties
who were trying to cry him down.
Several of the village people were
: interviewed relative to the case and
: while some had at first thought it q
case of suicide, they now had the idea
: that it was a simple case Of sudden
disappearance. The woman in the case
has been eliminated.
It was said that the boy got let
ter from his father the first of the
week, but that was denied by parties
who were in way tn know