The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-31
EOBBER PERRY CRAZY
-plysrFRRED FROM hUBURN TO
TUE NAITKAWIN 1STLUM.

oliver curtis Perry. rs daring a criminal as
,bi. country ever produced. has been pro-
nounced insane. on May 10. 1892. Perry was
sentenced TO iorty-nine years and three
months i'm prison ment at Auburn for his rob-
bery OF the American Express Company's
sp.cIal tra In between Syracuse and Lyons on
the New York Central Railroad When Perry
was tried he pleaded guilty and acknowledged
that he robbed the same car on Sept. 80. 1891,
near Utica.
Although fort week or ten days after this
young mans daring feat his name was on
sycrybody's tongue. but little has been heard
n him since he was sent to serve. what was to
aim In view OF his feeble health, a life sentence
al Auburn. At this prison Perry's conduct has
been in line with his performances at tho
pocbestor penitcntiary. where he was confined
,or one year, and at tho saltwater prison in
Minnesota. to which he was sent for three
years for burglary. lie has been a source Of
constant trouble to the officials, and the mild
purIshments which are usually melted out to
unruly prisoners have had little or no effect on
him. Just before he was sent to Jail Perry said
10 friend: :" don't care how long they send
me away for I'll never live out the sentence
even il it's only i've years"
rerry's threat that he would escape from
the prison made the keepers nervous for they
knew him to be an EXPERT at picking locks.
Tor long time Perry was kept in close coniine-
ment and IL was only when he solemnly prom
feed to conduct himself properly that no was
allowed to GO into the shops and work with the
other convlcts. Since then reports OF Perry's
misconduct have been published ut various
times. lie attem pied to stab keeper and at
another timo refused to work after he had en-
tered the chops He was taken out and put in
lis cell. being told that he would be left there
, ..It 90. knA ln
The next morning Perry was missing. His
cell door was locked. but the cell was empty.
1t was discovered that Perry had dug q hole in
the floor OF his cell with knife. and had es-
capped into the next cell covering his tracks
behind him. These we're only a few OF Perry's
escapades while ut Auburn. More than half OF
his time was spent in the dungeon cells as
punishment for some offence but 1t was not
until few weeks ago. when Perry began to
make the most remarkable complaints against
his keepers. that It was suspected that his
mind was giving away.
Perry complained OF poison in his food and
refused to eat what was brought him. When
the prison officials refused to have a special
bill OF fare made out for him every day he COM
planned that they were trying to starve him.
and one day ho threatened to kill Deputy
Shaw. knowing rerry's reputation and re-
memberng his oft repeated threat that he
long. the officials were inclined to believe that
he was shammins., He continued In his queer
UP his mind that Perry was crazy and ordered
an examination
Perry, and pronounced him insane To make
sure. DR.. Frederick Seton, n specialist In brain
WAS called IN he HgEesd 1hSs IssE
an unsound mind. and recommended his I'M
mediate Fs%S2vSi to an asylum; :, acssSSGdsnsly
Asylum for Insane Criminals at Matteawan.
end on Thursday morning he was Transferred;
and sSsefied. and a dsbuty sat on either side
OF him with pistol handy. All the people on
Perry Per yam and there WASN'T more than standing
very little. but he seemed to enjoy the sensa-
At the Fi:Stiil station there was a big crowd:
They crowded ground the car and Perry and
waiting. The deputies hurried him Into the
the superihtendent Of the State asylum at
10 extended his hand and said:
You are man and q gentleman. can tell
Il you are IN charge. for know You 70 viii treat
ne we'll You have kindly face; you have no
doa s% asSs
there agSs!n- to DO beaten and starved and
= UP to this time Perry had been perfectly ra.
launched into TRADE against the officials OF
eoar, and Dr.. AlisoS Was pTetty we'll salts.
ned that he was mentally unbalanced; The
disposition. however. and It was resolved TO
Eatch him; AZ the asylum they have two
b 1idisg BY long SarGoW Ssiis Each q these
houses contains accomm odations for sixteen
inmates, and they are known as isolation
watched. There is an ingenious system Of
sliding doors over each ro9m, ana through this
day and night without his knowledge Perry
was, put In one Of these rooms and an at
ing since. According to the attendant Perry
has acted while alone In the same manner as
A sun Reporter who saw Perry short after
his capture az Rochester called at the asylum
fS s and he'd SS ss with h
Fsir9 Ia. arc s g"sl R's eSesfs
His broad. muscular shoulders he retains.
but his hands. always as delicate as wom-
long and skinny. He has shock OF hair oyer
bis forehead, but at the back OF his head his
wassaggestsd that Perry had many friends
outside OF the prison walls who might be glad
e hear from him: This struck him as good
les, / have many. friends outside. and ! |
want them 70 hear that I'm all right. Tell
think Tor a @OasHt that dont Know wksfs
mat cur ns q P pr an IA han % %
asylum. Perry In Q mAdhouse, IL makes me
laugh to think oft; And mr. laugh is a treat
70 me- ! thought should never laugh again
after had been at Auburn for q time. But
here am sale. They tried to poison methsrs.
Then wear no stripes hear. Good God.
bow hated those stripes Every night when
went to bed threw them far under my cot SO
that ! eOpldn't see them. and then in the
made me siek. don't care to live any longer.
What have to live foT7 Fifty years 10 here or |
PACK In Auburn and then miserable old age.
NO. Yili never live 20 get out, but by God.
You may wonder why ! didn't eat that pois- |
oned food az Auburn: 1t was because didn't |
propose 20 die locked up in a cell
nut the poisoning was only one OF q series i
OF prosecutions to which / WAS SubIeetel
When first went to the prison they Kept me |
locked up tor an interminAbl time in a dark |
cell for no reason At all. IL was nothing but |
Ing from night. There was nothing 10 do Tor |
days. | begged for work. They laughed at |
me. Deputy shaw. that villain Knocked me.
got on my knees. and begged and imPlOrsd
SuffeTsdl i thought shouldtgo crazy and |