FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * HOOPER LAWRENCE L JR   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ADAMS EXPRESS CO [ADX] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) VP, Gen'l Counsel & Sec'y (Last) (First) (Middle) 7 ST PAUL STREET, STE 1140 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 01/12/2006 (Street) BALTIMORE, MD 21202 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 01/12/2006   A   3,094 A $ 0 (1) 4,359 (2) D   Common Stock 01/12/2006   J V 1,429 A $ 0 12,648 I Issuer's Thrift Plan Trust (3)

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
HOOPER LAWRENCE L JR 7 ST PAUL STREET STE 1140 BALTIMORE, MD 21202			VP, Gen'l Counsel & Sec'y

Signatures

Lawrence L. Hooper, Jr.		01/17/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	N/A. Restricted Stock Grant. Shares will vest in 2009.
(2)	Of these shares, 5 were acquired during 2005 in exempt acquisitions as a result of dividend reinvestment. Of these shares, 59 shares are held in two custodial accounts with the undersigned's children.
(3)	The number of shares reported as held by the Issuer's Thrift Plan Trust represents the undersigned's proportionate beneficial interest in such stock held in the Trust. Such number is based on information as of 1/12/2006, the most recent date as of which such information is available. This number reflects periodic contributions made during 2005, shares acquired by the Trust through dividend reinvestment, and changes in the number of shares previously reported due to fluctuations in the market price and interests in the Trust. Shares were acquired by the Trustee at various times during 2005. The Issuer's stock traded in a range of $12.50-$13.35 during 2005.

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