The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-05-30


lem of the connection between lunacy and
crime. Holzhay's written defense of his
exploits, published few weeks ago, con-
veys the impression that his mind was al
ways tainted with insanity, and recent de-
velopments tend to confirm the suspicion
that Perry was never ''quite right in his
head"
Perry's remarkable exploit in holding up
single handed an express train on the New
York Central railroad created worldwide
sensation at the time, but little has been
heard from him since he entered Auburn
prison in May, 1892. At Auburn Perry's
conduct has been in line with his perform
ances at the Rochester penitentiary, where
he was confined for one year, and at the
Saltwater prison in Minnesota, to which he
was sent for three years for burglary. He
has been a source of constant trouble to the
officials, and the mild punishments which
are usually meted out to unruly prisoners
have had little or no effect on him. Just
before he was sent to prison Perry said to a
friend: II don't care how long they send me
away for. I'll never live out the sentence,
even if it's only five years"
Perry's threat that he would escape from
the prison made the keepers nervous, for
they knew him to he an expert at picking
locks. For long time Perry was kept in
close confinement, and it was only when he
solemnly promised to conduct himself prop
erly that he was allowed to 90 into the
shops and work with the other convicts.
Since then reports of Perry's misconduct
have been published at various times He
attempted to stab keeper and at another
time refused to work after he had entered
the shops. He was taken out and put in
his cell, being TOT that he would be left
there until he was prepared TO be obedicnt.
The next morning Perry was missing
His cell door was locked, but the cell was
empty 1t was discovered that Perry had
dug a hole liz the floor of his cell with a
knife and had escaped into the next cell,
covering his tracks behind him. These
were only II few OF Perry's escapades while
at Auburn. More than half of his time
was spent in the dungeon cells as punish
ment for some offense, but it was not until
a 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. On being
examined by experts he was pronounced
insane and transferred to the asylum for
insane criminals.
Perry is now about 81 years old and is a
little over feet tall He was born in Am.
sterdam, n. Y, and was sent to the reform
atOry when he was II years old for burglary.
His behavior was SO bad there that he was
sent to Rochester for term. There they
said he was the worst man that ever got into
the prison. After his release Perry went to
Minnesota. robbed a store and was sent to
the Saltwater prison for three years. Then
he became cowboy and later went east
again and swindled ministers and church
people by protesting religion. At various
times Perry has been known as Oliver, Cur
It's, Perry, Haswell, Van Allen. Ravens.
Hamlin, Allen. Gavens, James, Oliver
Moore and Cross.
It was on Sept. 80, 1891, that Perry robbed
the American Express train near Utica
This train sometimes carried more than
100000. No one knows where Perry got
on the train, but he effected an entrance
into the baggage car by saving away bit
of the door. He covered Agent Moore with
his gun, and after taking what he wanted
backed out of the car and when on the plat
form cut the rubber coupling, which put on
the airbrakes. This slackened the speed of
the train, and when it had slowed up Perry
JU"peu vi. Aciiy SOU VO,OVO III CdSu du0
some jewelry by the robbery. The crime
was traced to him by detectives, but he
could not be found, and it was not until his
second robbery of the same train between
Syracuse and Lyons that his whereabouts
became known.
This second robbery occurred on Feb. 81,
1892, and was as desperate piece of work
as was ever attempted by one man. After
robbing the car and shooting the messen-
ger Perry escaped, but was recognized in
the crowd at the station at Lyons. He was
sprucely dressed and wore gold trimmed
eyeglasses. He also had a satchel slung
over his shoulder by u strap. When the
trainhands attempted to arrest him, he
pulled out two revolvers, and covering the
men retreated to an engine which stood
coupled to train of cars. He uncoupled
the engine. and throwing open the lever