The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-12-03
A CAREER OF CRIME.
The PeEpetrRfOr OF Fourteen Murders
Killed sy Spanish Gambler.
New York w0rldis niszatlan tAiexicol letter

New York Worlds MsZatlan (Afexicol letter.
An EngIishman named Tom Adams.
who for the past eighs or ten years has
owned low tavern and dance house In
this place, and gained general notoristy
as a desperate character, died on the
18th instant from the effects Of q pistol
shot received in a fight several months
ago. Just before his death, when as
sured that his doom was inevitable. he
sent for Capt. Verplank, the American
commercial agent at this port, and inti-
mated that he had some important dis
closures to make, which he desired
should be given publicity IN the east
ern states. Capt. Verplank, having con-
sented to comply with his wishes and
take down whatever statements he had
to make in writing, the dying man un-
burdened his conscience by confessiu0
himself guilty of fourteen murders, ali
but one Of which had been committed
IN the United States and Canada.
Adams commenced his narrative by stat
ing that his proper name was George
Worley, and that he was q native of
Manchester, England. He commenced
his career of crime by numbering the
second mate of the American ship Gull
tivatOr, in the Liverpool docks, about
the year 1854. After this deed he went
to Canada, and rcved about through
those provinces for two years in pursuit
of robbery. In the year 1855, at which
time he was known by the name of Or
ton, he was engaged as a sailor on the
lakes. While lying in the American
port of Oswego he murdered a man,
whom he understood TO be painter,
by throwing him over a bridge. He
met his victim in a drinking 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 men,
toned.
After this Adams returned to Canada,
and assumed the name of Townsend.
With two accomplioes he commenced a
campaign of robbery, and perpetrated
four murders in the country west OF
Toronto, ending with the killing of
sheriff O few miles west of Niagara
river. That country then became too
warm for him, in consequence of the
offerings 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 committed
three murders in that place during the
same summer. One of his victims was
q captain of a 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 |
railroad depot, and the third was some |
man unknown to him, whom he MUIR |
dered after leaving a br9thel. After |
these crimes he was arrested in Chicago, !
tried and convicted of a burglary, and |
served term of three years in the Illi- |
nois state prison. On obtaining his re-
lease Adams went to New York, where |
he remained about one year, during |
which time he committed two murders, |
both of his victims In that city being |
men unknown to him. One was a conn |
tryman whom he enticed to the out |
skirts of the city and obtained about |
two thousand dollars on his body. After |
leaving New York he was engaged in /
series of robberies through the southern !
states. He returned to Baltimore and |
murdered prostitute IN that city. Sub |
sequently he committed a murder in |
Louisville and one in Memphis, but OF /
the names of his victims he had no /
knowledge.
Adams left New Orleans about the |
time of the war and went to Vera Cruz. |
From thence he went to the city of |
Mexico, and came to Mazatlan about |
ten years ago. Since his sojourn here |
he was widely known and generally /
his place being one of the most /
notorious rendezvous of desperate char
acters on the coast. He finally met his /
fate at the hands of Spanish gambler, |
named Gonzales, in a drunken quarrel /
over throw of dice. He leaves between
fifteen and eighteen thousand dollars, in |
cash or its equivalent, as the result of
his career of atrocious crime, which he /
has willed to a sister, supposed to be /
his only living relative, who resides at |
England. The legatee needs |
to be devoid of sny superstitious scru-
Piles to receive and enjoy such blood
clotted legacy.