Adams was born in Hull, Québec and earned his Engineering degree from McGill University in 1929 and later earned a Master of Business Administration from Harvard in 1931.  When he was apprehended by the RCMP in February 1946, Adams worked at the Bank of Canada in Ottawa. The commission concluded that Adams had led a 'study group' in which he encouraged members to share confidential information that they had acquired from work.  Most of the commission's evidence was based on testimony provided by one of Adam's alleged informant, Kathleen Willisher. When he was confronted with documents from the Soviet embassy and Willisher's testimony, Adams claimed that he could not recall the events of which the commission referred to.  Despite having been acquitted at trial, the commission's final report credits Adams as playing a central role in the Soviet's espionage activities in Canada.  He was soon dismissed from the Bank of Canada.