Albert Adams, Sr.
Macon Man Murders Two Daughters, Kills Himself
Albert Adams, Insurance Executive, Murders Two Daughters and Turns Gun on Himself Wednesday
Macon, Ga., Jan 16. Albert Adams, Sr., General agent of the Prudential Life Insurance Company, shot and killed his two school girl daughters, Helen, 8, and Emma 16, this morning and then fatally wounded himself. Adams died in a hospital a few minutes after the tragedy.
Coroner Chester Chapman said Adams left five notes, one addressed to Chapman, the others to close friends.
Chapman said the note to him said Adams "was losing my mind" and was in financial distress. The coroner said the notes told of Adams plan to end his own life and to take the lives of others.
The shooting, according to police reports, occurred on the second floor of the Adams home. Adams had taken up a stand in the bathroom with an automatic shotgun, it was said.
The girls clad in their lounging robes, rolled out of bed and started toward their father. It was nearly time for them to dress for school, the elder girl being in high school.
As they reached the bathroom there were two shots, the first entering the face of the little girl, and she fell instantly dead. The other girl turned apparently to escape, police said, for she fell mortally wounded in the back.
Adams then went to the top of the stairs and called his wife, the former Miss Emma Powers.
"I've shot the children and I'm going to shoot you," he is said to have shouted.
Mrs. Adams fled through a rear door as he leveled the gun.
Adams then shot himself twice, doctors stated, one discharge entering his abdomen and another tearing part of his face away.
Neighbors who rushed in found the lifeless bodies of the two girls on the floor. They also found Adams in a dying condition. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance and died in a few minutes.
Adams was prominent in business and civic affairs. He spent large sums of money at one time on a foreign battery invention that he planned to manufacture here. More recently he was interested in independent power facilities. Was Well Known Here
Butts county citizens were shocked almost beyond belief at the tragedy. Mr. Adams was well known here and through his connection with the insurance company had business dealings with many local citizens. The triple tragedy was one of the most shocking in the annals of middle Georgia.

(Jackson Progress-Argus - 17 Jan 1936)

Submitted by V. S. Harrison