The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-07
WANTED IN THREE STATES.
PRIMUs ADAMS, ESCAPED CONVICT,
ARRESTED IN YAMACRAW.

Escaped n Life Sentence for Burglary
in South Carolina, n 2O-Year SEN
tence in Florida and 25-Year Sem
tence in Georgia-ReHards offered
by Each state-The Fugitive viii
Lesses at HayIOw.
Primus Adams a negro 40 years old,
and who, for the fourth time, has escap-
ed from the penitentiaries of Georgia,
South Carolina and Florida. was captured
while drunk and asleep last night in
house at Farm and William streets, by
Detectives Barrett. Shea and scully.
Adams is one of the most notorious
"second-story'' burglars that ever oper-
ated in Savannah, and since his escape
from the works at Haylow, March IA, has
given the chiefs of police from Baltimore
TO Jacksonville more or less uneasiness.
Chief McDermott received notice some
days ago that Adams, who was sent UP
from Chatham county in October, 1895, for
term of twenty-five years on conviction
of burglary in two cases, had made his
escape and to keep the police and detec-
tives on the alert. The authorities did not
say anything in their communication as TO
the manner in which Adams escaped.
Chief McDermott was thrown in with the
Haylow guards some time ago, however,
and being aware of the convict's cunning
and unsuspecung way, warned them that
he could not be watched too closely.
While Adams has served only three years
and was being kept under close surveil-
lance, the chief was not greatly surprised
on learning the negro had outwitted his
guards.
The catch is an important one because
of the great number of crimes charged up
TO Adams in the states where he operated.
Notwithstanding he is a Savannah negro,
his first work was In Charleston, where
he ran rampant for several months in
1884, committing on an average of about
two burglaries a night and sometimes
even more. He entered the second sto-
ries of residences by. climbing porches,
gutter pipes and adopting the most unex-
pected methods of entering houses and
getting valuable plumber. The police cap
tured him after a time and he was con-
victed and sentenced to the penitentiary
for life. Using his utmost effort to de-
wise means of escape, he succeeded in get
ting away after having been incarcerated
one year. Where he went from Charles
ton is not known, but there were scores
of burglarbes of the same character COM
mitted about that time in Baltimore, and
1t was later found that Adams was do
ing the work.
Florida seems to have been his next
field for plumber. He made his presence
felt in Jacksonville as much as when in
n a4Nla tor,
bed and complaints were made to the po-
lice but the burglar could not be located
Adams was shrewd enough not to dispose
of his booty in way that would lead to
his capture. AS his deviltry was at night
he was never seen on the streets in day.
light and hence it was the more difficult
Tor detectives to work up the case. Adams
was finally caught, however, while MAX
ing daring effort to get out of a house.
| The occupants were aroused by the noise
he made. He jumped toward the window
| by which he had entered turned a lamp
over and then leaped from the window
to the ground The lamp which fell ex-
| ploded, and it took quick work to prevent
the house from burning. Adams was
nabbed by officers while trying to get
away and was locked up on a string of
charges that filed a considerable portion
| OF the criminal docket He was convict
! ed and sentenced to twenty years. The
| Charleston case was repeated after he
| was confined seven years. He escaped in
pretty much the same way. and after his
escape, no trace could be obtained of him
by the authorities of either state.
RoDberies began to occur in Savannah
shortly after Adams got away from Flor
| ida, and Chief McDermott started on the
cases, believing the same man was doing
them. A house at Montgomery and Presi-
oeht streets was entered and robbed 9th
ers were also robbed. and, after looking
into the cases Chief McDermott got an
intimation that Adams was doing the
work. In October of 1895 he was captured
IN Yamacraw by Detectives Scully and
| WetherhoTn. Adams had a pistol in bis
hand and would have proved dangerous to
| the officers had they not approached and
| oVerpowered him from the rear Hearing
OF Adams capture the chiefs of police Of
| botn Charleston and Jacksonville came
| 70 Savannah, and, after putting the ne
| gro in the oven for some time got infor-
nation which led to the recovery of a good
deal of property he had stolen before COM
! ing to Savannah.
Several indictments were found on the
strength of stolen goods recovered. and for
| the third time Adams became a peniten-
| tiary convict This time he was sent IN
| for twenty-five years, and since his in
| generation had been worked nv rho
lessees at Haylow. But he seemed to be
! invincible and for the third time made
his escape Quite a number of rewards
are out for his capture and knowing rnis.
he did not steer either for Jacksonville or
| Charleston, but must have come direct to
| savannah. He has a sister at the corner
of William and Farm streets. There he re-
| mained under cover going out at night
and sleeping during the day. His presence
| was not suspected until a curious robbery
was reported by member of the Sayln-
nah naval militia, who lives on Montzom-
cry street. A seaman's suit and gold
| watch were taken from an upper room
and the circumstances aroused suspicion.
A watch was kept for the negro. but it
| seemed impossible to locate him. one rea-
son being because he went around at night
and Wore colored glasses in order to con.
ceal himself He entered saloons with the
glasses on and would never take up with
other negroes or allow them to follow him.
About O'Clock last night he was seen
leaving a saloon in Yamacraw, and was
followed to the house where the detectives
caught him. He had been drinking and
the detectives realized that much care
should be used in landing their man. They
| 01liptlV n ba Of