Arthur Davis Adams

Arthur Davis Adams Mug Shot




I did some research on Mr. Adams and besides his potty mouth, all I found was his birth year 1857 and his alias John Kilson.


One common element in many mug shots, however, is the display of prisoners’ hands. In 1886, the introduction of fingerprinting in New Zealand was still nearly two decades away, so the inclusion of hands in mug shots provided an additional point of identification for police. Missing fingers, scars, and the general shape and condition of the prisoners' hands could all help in the identification of a suspect.