Melvin O. Adams
Encyclopedia
Melvin Ohio Adams was an American attorney and railroad executive who was part of Lizzie Borden's legal defense team, the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts from 1905 to 1906, and the President of the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad
.
in New Ipswich, New Hampshire
. In 1871 he graduated from Dartmouth College
. After graduation worked as a teacher in Fitchburg, Massachusetts
and studied law in the office of Amasa Norcross
. On January 20, 1874 he married Mary Colony of Fitchburg. From 1874 to 1876 he served as Ashburnham's Town Moderator.
. He was admitted to the bar that year and was soon thereafter became an Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County, Massachusetts
. In 1886, Adams resigned his position to go into private practice with Augustus Russ. Adams and Russ remained partners until Russ' death in the summer of 1892.
In 1892, Adams was retained by Andrew V. Jennings to serve as the associate defense counsel for
Lizzie Borden, a Fall River, Massachusetts
woman accused of killing her father and stepmother with a hatchet. After a much-publicized trial, Borden was acquitted on June 20, 1893.
An active member of the Massachusetts Republican Party
, Adams served on the staff of Governor John Q. A. Brackett
.
In 1905, Adams was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt
to serve as the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. He remained a U.S. Attorney until his resignation on December 5, 1906.
Adams was also the vice-president of the Liberty Trust Company.
and the Perkins School for the Blind
. He was instrumental in securing the funds necessary to rebuild of Dartmouth Hall.
Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad
The Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad is a historic railroad that operated in Massachusetts.It was constructed as an 8.8-mile gauge narrow gauge passenger-carrying railroad to serve the Boston area....
.
Early life
Adams was born on November 7, 1847 to Joseph Adams and Dolly Winship (Whitney) Adams. He attended school in his native Ashburnham, Massachusetts as well as the Appleton AcademyNew Ipswich Academy
New Ipswich Academy was a historic private academy in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, which operated from 1789 to 1968.-History:...
in New Ipswich, New Hampshire
New Ipswich, New Hampshire
New Ipswich is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,099 at the 2010 census. New Ipswich, situated on the Massachusetts border, includes the villages of Bank, Davis, Gibson Four Corners, Highbridge, New Ipswich Center, Smithville, and Wilder, though these...
. In 1871 he graduated from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
. After graduation worked as a teacher in Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :...
and studied law in the office of Amasa Norcross
Amasa Norcross
Amasa Norcross was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.Born in Rindge, New Hampshire, Norcross attended the common schools and Appleton Academy, New Ipswich, New Hampshire. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1847 and commenced practice in Worcester, Massachusetts...
. On January 20, 1874 he married Mary Colony of Fitchburg. From 1874 to 1876 he served as Ashburnham's Town Moderator.
Legal career
In 1875 Adams graduated from the Boston University School of LawBoston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
. He was admitted to the bar that year and was soon thereafter became an Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Suffolk County has no land border with Plymouth County to its southeast, but the two counties share a water boundary in the middle of Massachusetts Bay.-National protected areas:*Boston African American National Historic Site...
. In 1886, Adams resigned his position to go into private practice with Augustus Russ. Adams and Russ remained partners until Russ' death in the summer of 1892.
In 1892, Adams was retained by Andrew V. Jennings to serve as the associate defense counsel for
Lizzie Borden, a Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
woman accused of killing her father and stepmother with a hatchet. After a much-publicized trial, Borden was acquitted on June 20, 1893.
An active member of the Massachusetts Republican Party
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Massachusetts Republican Party is the Massachusetts branch of the United States Republican Party. Governance of the party takes the form of a State Committee which, in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 52, consists of one man and one woman from each of the 40 Senate Districts...
, Adams served on the staff of Governor John Q. A. Brackett
John Q. A. Brackett
- Biography :He was born in Bradford, New Hampshire to Ambrose S. Brackett and Nancy Brackett. He was a 1865 graduate of Harvard College and an 1868 graduate of Harvard Law School and a lawyer by profession, holding the post of Judge Advocate of the Massachusetts Militia's First Brigade at one...
.
In 1905, Adams was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
to serve as the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. He remained a U.S. Attorney until his resignation on December 5, 1906.
Business career
In 1890 Adams joined the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad as a director and general counsel. From 1891 until his death in 1920 he was the railroad's President.Adams was also the vice-president of the Liberty Trust Company.
Trustee
Adams served on the Board of Trustees of Dartmouth CollegeBoard of Trustees of Dartmouth College
The Board of Trustees of Dartmouth College is the governing body of Dartmouth College, an Ivy League university located in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. , the Board includes twenty-three people...
and the Perkins School for the Blind
Perkins School for the Blind
Perkins School for the Blind, located in Watertown, Massachusetts, is the oldest schools for the blind in the United States. It has also been known as the Perkins Institution for the Blind.-History:...
. He was instrumental in securing the funds necessary to rebuild of Dartmouth Hall.