The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-12-25
Fourteen Times a Murderer.

An Englishman, named Tom Adams,
who for the last eight or ten years has
| owned a low tavern and dance house in
Mazatlan. Mexico, and gained general
notoriety as desperate character, died
on the 18th instant from the effects of
pistol-shot wound received in fight
several months ago. Just previous to
his death, when assured that his doom
was inevitable, he sent for Capt. Ver-
plank, the American commercial agent
at this port, and intimated that he had
some important disclosures to make,
which he desired should be given pub
licity in the Eastern States. Capt.
Verplank having consented to comply
with his wishes and take down what
ever statements he had to make in writ
ing, the dying man unburdened his
conscience by confessing himself guilty
OF fourteen murders, all but one OF
which were committed in the United
States and Canada. Adams commenced
his narrative by stating that his proper
name was George Worley, and that he
was a native of Manchester, England
He commenced his career of crime by
numbering the second mate of the
American ship Cultivator, in the Liver
pool docks, about the year 1854. After
this deed he went to Canada, and roved
about through those provinces for two
years in pursuit of robbery. In the
year 1866, at which time he was known
by the name of Orton, he was engaged
as sailor on the lakes. While lying
IN the American port of Oswego he
murdered man, whom he understood
to be painter, by throwing him over
bridge. He met his victim in drink
ing saloon, where he went to collect
bill of the proprietor, and followed him
until the opportunity was favorable,
when he struck him down with slung-
shot, and disposed of the body in the
way mentioned.
After this Adams went to Canada,
and assumed the name of Townsend.
With two accomplices he commenced
campaign of robbery, and perpetrated
four murders in the country west of
Toronto. ending with the killing of
sheriff a few miles west of Niagara
river. That country then became too
warm for him, in consequence of the
offering of large rewards for his arrest,
and he escaped on board a schooner
passing through the Canadian canal to
the American port of Toledo. From
this port he went to Chicago, and COM
mitted three murders in that place dur
ing the same summer. One of his
victims was the captain of vessel,
whom he followed from the st. Charles
saloon another was a German saloon
keeper, whom he killed in his bed at
night, in his place of business, which
was situated near a railroad depot, and
the third was some man unknowA to
him, whom he murdered after leaFing
brothel. After these crimes hewas
arrested in Chicago, tried and convicted
of a burglary, and served a term of
three years in the Illinois State Prison.
On obtaining his release Adams went
to New York, where he remained about
one year, during which time he commit
ted two murders, both of his victims in
that city being men unknown to him.
One was a countryman whom he eItlced
to the outskirts of the city and obtained
50, 900 on his body. After leaving New
York he was engaged in series of rob-
berries through the Southern States
He returned TO Baltimore and murdered
a prostitute in that city. Subsequently
he committed murder in Louisville,
and one in Memphis, but of the names
of his victims he had no knowledge.
Adams left New Orleans at the break
ing out of the war and went to Vera
Cruz From thence he went to the city
of Mexico, and came 10 Mazatlan about
ten years ago. Since his soiourn here
he was widely known and generally
! feared, his place being the most noto-
| rious rendezvous of desperate charac-
ters on the coast. He finally met his
fate st the hands of Spanish gambler,
NAMED Gonzales, over a throw of dice.
He leaves between SIS, 900 and $1S, 900.
in cash or its equivalent, as the result
of hiscareer of atrocious crime, which
he has willed to a sister, supposed to be
his ony living relative. who resides at
Sheffield, England. The legatee needs
to be devoid of any superstItious scru-
pies to receive and enjoy such blood
ciottea legacy y.-1Io@1ttan - 11 (Mexico)