William Nelson Adams

William Nelson Adams was a 17-year-old juvenile in 1919. He was befriended on a Thameside bench by 60-year-old George Jones, who took him in and bought him meals and drinks. On the evening of 10th June 1919, Adams, Jones, and a third man, Charlie Smith, were drinking together in a pub in Tooting. The three left the pub together and were walking home when Adams stabbed Jones with a shoemaker's awl, three times in the chest and three times in the throat. Jones was found wandering around covered in blood and was taken to hospital. Before he died three days later, Jones told police that he had no idea why Adams had attacked him. Adams was arrested. Adams claimed that Jones had told him he was worried about a large tax bill and could not pay it, and that Jones had asked Adams to kill him. Adams said he thought about the request for a week and then agreed. He stated that as they passed through Sutton park, Jones removed his hat and coat, laid down, and gave Adams the awl, telling him to stab him in the left side of the neck. Adams said he stabbed Jones several times, then wrapped Jones's shirt around the wounds to try to stop the bleeding. He then took Jones's money and left with Smith, who had said and done nothing during the incident. Police could find no trace of Charlie Smith to corroborate Adams's story. Adams was charged with murder. His trial took place at Guildford Assizes in July 1919. The jury disbelieved his story, found him guilty, and he was sentenced to death. The sentence was later commuted by Home Secretary Edward Shortt to life imprisonment.