Albert J. Adams

Albert J. Adams or The Policy King ran the numbers game in New York City from around 1890 to around 1905. He was named by the Lexow Committee, and was replaced by Peter H. Matthews when he retired. The anonymous testifier at the Lexow Committe said: "Al has the most ... sheets, and he is the biggest man, and has the most money, and has the biggest pile. ... He is called the king of the policy dealers. ... Al Adams has from Fourteenth street up on the west side mostly."

Reference

• Lexow Committee Transcript; 1894
• New York Times; December 18, 1901; Policy Shop Protection; Frank Moss Believes Each Paid $20 a Month to the Police. Evidence Found in Papers Taken in Recent Raid. Believed to be in Albert J. Adams's Handwriting. Twenty dollars per month per policy shop is believed by ex-Police Commissioner Frank Moss to be the price paid the police for protection by the "Policy King," according to a statement made by him yesterday at the headquarters of the Society for the Prevention of Crime.
• New York Times; October 8, 1905; "Al" Adams Has Quit. Says He's Dropped Policy Forever and Would Forget Past Troubles. By Albert J. Adams. My attention has been called to the fact that my name has been extensively coupled with the recent policy raids in Brooklyn. I wish to ask your indulgence in denying the truth of such allegations. Let me say once and for all time, I am absolutely and forever out of politics, gambling policy and all kinds of lotteries.