Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-26
MYSTERY SHROUDS
MOTIVE CAUSING
DOUBLE TRAGEDY


tive that impelled James L. Wads-
worth, driver of dry cleaners de-
livery wagon, to shoot his wife,
Mrs Sarah Wadsworth, and then
shoot himself, in the presence of
their fourteen-months-old son in
their room in the residence of Mr..
and Mrs. NJ. E. Stevens, at 407
CORTLAND street, at 6:45 o'clock
Monday afternoon.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. w. Wadsworth, of
Huntsville, S. c., the parents of the
dead man, and Mr.. and Mrs. j. D.
King. of Molena, Ga, the parents of
the dead woman, are expected to at
tend the inquest. They were noti-
fled Monday night by Donehoo &
Bazemore, undertakers who took
charge of the bodies, and stated
that they woIld leave at once for
Atlanta.
John William Wadsworth, aged
fourteen months, beautiful blond
child, whose infant eyes witnessed
the double tr ~edy, was meanwhile
In the care of Mr.. and Mrs. Stevens,
who intended to keep it until its
grandparents arrived and made some
decision as to it's future. Their opin-
Ion was that the child would be
taken by its fathers parents, who
are unders' to be very well-to-do
A note left by Wadsworth con-
tianed no motive, and no hint of a
motive, as to why he had decided
to kill his wife and then himself.
The note was written on a piece of
wrapping paper and was concealed
inside of his sock, where the under
takers found it. The note read:
'To whom it may concern:
Notify and send my body to
mother and father, Mr.. and Mrs.
j. W. Wadsworth, Huntsville,
S. C. They will pay my expenses
with a broken heart. Notify
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. D. King, Mo1ena,
Ga, as to their daughter. AS for
the poor, innocent baby, I am
sure God will take care of him.
Murder and suicide. (Sigped
Monday night. James L. Wads-
worth. (Over).
On the reverse side of the piece
of writing paper was the following:
And debts which I owe in
Atlanta my fatherwill sadly but
gladly pay for me. J. L. Wads-
worth. 5-23-21."
Mystery shrouds Motive
Mystery shrouds the motive be-
hind the double tragedy Insofar
s could be learned Tuesday by the
detectives investigating it, Wads-
worth left no clue of any kind, either
in writing or in conversation, with
any friend. Suddenly and without
warning, he dropped the black cur
tain of death upon his wife and upon
himself, leaving in front of it the
orphan child.
Wadsworth came to Atlanta three
or four years ago from some place
in South Carolina. He went to work
company in the delivery department.
He rented rooms at the residence of
Mr.. and Mrs. Stevens. He and his
wife seemed to live happily together,
cial straits. The birth of the boy
fourteen months ago seemed to fill
their lives with sunshine and happi-
ness. He was "a years of age, and
his wife was go. They were married
when he was sixteen and his wife
fourteen. Mr.. and Mrs. Stevens un-
derstood from little hints they had
dropped out in conversation that
WadSWOrths parents, and perhaps
the Wife'S parents, were opposed to
such IN early marriage, and that was
why WadsWorth left home.
On Monday afternoon Mr.. and Mrs.
Stevens took Mrs. Wadsworth and
the baby for an automobile ride Re-
turning little after 6 o'clock, they
found Wadsworth seated on the
front porch reading a newspaper,
apparently in good health and fine
spirits. He greeted the wife and
baby in an affectionate manner. Mr..
Stevens asked him how he felt, and
he replied: Fine, for an old man"
Then he and his wife went to their
room, and presently WadsWorth went
out to the back of the house to tell
for the baby's bottle. With that, he
returned to his room.
WadsWorth was seated in a rocking
char a few feet distant, two bullet
holes in his temple, his right hand
still clutching the small automatic
wife and killed himself His hand
clutched one time as the pistol was
removed from his fingers. then he
quivered and died.
Detectives Hornsby and Ford were
sent to the place to investigate.
There was nothing to be found to
indicate a clue. The investigation
was being continued Tuesday, while
the bodies lay at the undertaker's S,
awaiting the inquest.
At the Joseph May Dry Cleaning
company it was stated Tuesday that
they knew no reason for the tragedy.
Wadsworth was in no financial en-
and appeared to be in good spirits
when he left his work Monday after