| Chronicle-Teague, Texas, Dec 14,1934 Woman Takes Own Life Mrs. John L. Adams, 50, committed suicide by shooting herself through the head at the home of her deceased husband's aunt, Mrs. J. B. Washburn in Teague, at 5 o'clock last Thursday morning. She had been questioned the day before by special officers, said to have been employed by relatives of her deceased husband, whose body was found floating in a tank near Thornton last May 25, after he had been missing since May 21. She is alleged to have made a partial confession that she and Dwain, age 26, had murdered her husband because of financial affairs of the family. Under grilling she became exhausted and promised officers that she would tell all when they returned on Friday. From gathered fragments of evidence it seems Mrs. Adams went to Mrs. Washburn's room early Thursday morning after a restless night procured the latter's pistol and returned to her room. There she sat in the dark presumably and scribbled on tablet paper several notes, all of which were illegible with the exception of a few words; then got into bed, covered up and shot herself through the head, the bullet coming out and dropping on the floor. Justice of Peace, J. E. Lindsey rendered a verdict of suicide. The body was prepared by Ham Bros. and taken to Groesbeck where interment was made Friday. Dwain Adams was arrested in front of the Washburn home when he arrived Thursday morning and taken to Fairfield, then to Corsicana, and then to Groesbeck where an examing trail was held in Judge H. F. Kirby's 77th District Court and Adams was placed under a $2,500 bond to await action of the grand jury. He refused to make any statement. He is a dairyman, as was his father. John Adams. a dairyman, was shot in the head. Around his neck was a tightly drawn belt and stuffed in his mouth was a handkerchief, which the two special officers said proved to be the clue which led to the unraveling of the mystery. The handkerchief is said to have borne the laundry mark of Dwain Adams. Adams disappeared on the night of May 21. His son received a letter the next day saying "We've got the wrong man, Excuse us. Your old man is in a house in Groesbeck and he will return in a few days." This provided the kidnapping angle of the disappearance. Taylor and Welch began work on the case five weeks ago. Taylor said Mrs.Adams did not give details of the slaying in the talk with her. After long questioning she broke down and said she would tell us the entire story. Then she told us that she was so upset she would tell us more about the case when she had time to compose herself. The main trouble seemed to have been that, Dwain Adams wanted to have his father finance him in a business in Corpus Christi. The father desied to use the money in the purchase of a farm near Thornton . He bought the farm. After he had been slained $3,000 insurance was paid to the widow. About a month ago, Mrs. Adams came to Teague to make her home with Mrs. Washburn. The notes scribbled by Mrs. Adams were very difficult to decipher and were of little use as evidence. Mrs. Adams is survived by one other child besides Dwain, Mrs. Cora Bell O'Neal of Houston. |