Edward James "Eddie" Adams was born on April 23, 1887, in Hutchinson, Kansas. His birth name was William Joseph Wallace. He grew up on a farm, but his early life was marked by tragedy. His father died when he was very young. After his father's death, his mother remarried, but this marriage was not happy for him. He had a strong dislike for his stepfather.

As a young man, Adams did not enjoy physical labor. Instead, he decided to learn the barber trade. In the early 20th century, he moved to Wichita, Kansas. There, he met a man named John Callahan. This meeting led him to a life of crime. Adams became involved with bootlegging, petty robberies, and car theft.

Adams was known for his good looks and charm. He easily attracted women and gained a following. However, his wife eventually left him. She grew tired of his illegal activities and infidelities. Despite these personal issues, Adams continued to form a gang. He and his gang began robbing banks and trains in Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa. By the early days of Prohibition, he had earned a reputation as a well-known bandit in the Midwest.

In 1920, Edward J. Adams teamed up with the Majors brothers for a robbery in Kansas City. During the attempt at a gambling den, there was a shootout. A gambler named Frank Gardner died in this exchange, leading to the arrest of Adams and his gang. In February 1921, he was sentenced to life in prison for murder.

While being transferred to prison, Adams escaped. He committed another robbery with an accomplice in February 1921 and was soon recaptured. He faced another sentence of 10 to 30 years for this crime. On August 13, he escaped again after sabotaging the power plant at the prison and climbing over the walls. Along with other inmates, they formed a new gang.

By September 1921, the gang embarked on a crime spree. They stole about $10,000 from banks in Rose Hill and Haysville, Kansas. During one robbery, Adams attacked 82-year-old James Krievell, who later died from his injuries.

On October 8, police tried to trap Adams' gang. A gunfight erupted, injuring Deputy Benjamin Fisher. Soon after, they were seen stealing silver in Iowa, leading to more confrontations with law enforcement. Tragically, local farmer Charles William Jones was killed during one such standoff.

As they moved toward Wichita, the gang continued their robberies, taking 11 stores and setting police motorcycles on fire. On November 5, 1921, Adams killed Patrolman A.L. Young. This act escalated their notoriety in the region. They later robbed a train for $35,000.

On November 20, police stopped the vehicle carrying Adams. A gunshot was fired, killing Patrolman Robert Fitzpatrick. Later that night, Adams shot and killed farmer George Oldham when he resisted Adams’ attempt to steal his vehicle.

The next day, when Adams returned to McFarland's house, he encountered police officers. He shot and wounded one officer, but managed to escape. He hid until November 22, 1921. On that day, he planned to leave town during Officer Fitzpatrick's funeral. However, a garage owner recognized him and called the police.

When police arrived, Adams opened fire, injuring Detective Charles Hoffman and another officer. D.C. Stuckey, a hidden officer, shot Adams three times, killing him. Adams' body was later displayed in a funeral home, where many came to view it. Eighteen people associated with him were arrested following his death. Four of them received long sentences in prison.