Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-28
AMAZING OF ROBBERS;
AREAL JEKYLL AND HYDE

1uIiy carried on.
No attempt would be made to rob the
but vigilance would not be relaxed three
days before another, burglary would be
committed. setc ii, ,.f
This vexed the constable and the mill
owner. and the scheme of the spring
gun was suggested. - =
Some say the gun was loaded lightly,
others that the charge was three drains
OF black powder and an ounce and an
eighth OF woodcock shot. The, range be-
ing close, the shot had no chance to
spread to a wider circle than the top Of
a coffee pot.
HE Amazing seif-controI.
So severe was the wound that Adams
had to lie down in the grass by the road
side to recover from a semi-swoon.
Physicians marvel at the nerve of the
man in being able to get to his horse, drive
home and put up the animal. Some think
he had a companion, but this Adams
stoutly denies.
He told the physician first called in that
he had been held up by fhighwaymen, but
when the spring gun affair was noised
about the town the authorities put two
and two together, searched the Adams
farm buildings and placed the owner I'M
der arrest.
Thus far Adams has confessed to moth
against him.
In two big burglaries which have taken
place here within Is years, four men are
known to have taken part. In each in
stance one Of the men was described as
tall and rather slender.
When the George c Allen house was en-
tered and $500 in gold coin taken two
men covered Mr.. and Mrs. Allen with their
pistols while the other two searched the
house. One of the two with the pistols was
tall, like Adams, and that the robbers
knew something about their victims seems
evident, as Mrs. Allen was asked where
her gold watch and long chain were hid
den. They were under the pillow. but she
saved them by stoutly asserting that they
were at the jewelers..
Another time when a safe was blown
open four men were seen coming from
the building and one had figure like
Adams.
Did Not Consider Friendship.
Friendship acted as TO bearer to the OPP
erations of this skilled burglar. Quite the
contrary seems to be the truth for he has
robbed so many times one who was his
closest friend that the friend had kind
Of mysterious fondness for his unknown
visitor.
When back in the early COS Adams con-
celved a fancy for politics it was this
friend, J. E. Pollard, who smoothed the
way for him. He was made selectman, and
while in office he robbed Pollard's clothing
store.
Robberies were frequent about that
time, occurring sometimes as often as
once a week. There was so much dread
in town that the selectmen were called
upon to act, and Adams. as chairman of
the board. suggested offering a reward.
Some few hundred dollars was offered to
any person who would give information
that would lead to the detection of Ches-
ters arch bandits.
Adams saw the offer of reward posted
on wayside. boulders and tackled to trees,
and while the ink was yet fresh he enter
ed the home of his friend Pollard, went
into the bedroom where Mr. and Mrs. Pol
lard were asleep. stole Mrs. Pollard's
watch and pocketbook, took the store keys
from Mr. Pollard's trousers and rounded
out the evening by getting away with
several hundred dollars worth of cloth
ing and dry goods.
He Was a Great Reader.
Adams was an omniverous reader. He
has a fine library, and his housekeeper,
a motherly woman says reading has ruin
ed him.
do you know" she said, che used to
sit up all hours reading and 1 often wond-
cred it didn't drive him crazy sooner than
1t did. Reading is the cause of it ell. it
has turned the poor mans head
History and adventure figure largely in
this strange burglars collection. He has
the entire works of Poe, Sir Walter Scott,
Dumas history of celebrated crimes,
Shakespeare. Kipling, several volumes of
Napoleon, Dickens and Thackerays-all
the standard authors and poets-shelves
and boxes and bureau drawers packed
full of books.
When asked what Influenced him to the
life OF burglar he eyed the reporter for
moment without making reply then
with half smile he spoke
Have you ever read DR.. Jekyll and