Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-18
PERRY'S ESCAPE.
A Prom rent Man Arrested on the Charge of
 Aiding and Abetting-A Thoroughly Sensat 9naI Story.


 Poughkeepsie. N. Y, Aug. H.-William A. Hopkins, a wel-known resident of Low Point, is locked up in the jail in this city on the charge of aiding and abetting of commission of a felony in bringing about the escape of Train Rob- Der Perry and five other convicts of the Mattewan asylum last April. Hopkins has admitted his guilt and duplicates Mrs. Amelia Haswell, a Troy woman, who poses as a missionary and friend of Perry in the plot to let the men escape. Mrs, HasWell is now at Ocean Grove. She will be arrested. and as Hopkins mas expressed to District Attorney Wood his willingness to turn states evidence the officials expect to convict the woman and land her in prison. Hopkins 'r about 40 years of age and was deputy In Matte wan asylum. When Perry was admitted there the two men got acquainted, but what negotiations passed between them al first is not known. At any rate, on October 2S last, Hopkins received through the Gelenham postoffice package con taining diamonds gold watch and va riouS articles of jeWelry the estimated value of the lot being 5000. The pack age came from Mrs HasWei, the Troy missionary" and as the authorltles have since learned was given to Hopkins in consideration of his agreement to aid Perry to escape.
 Hopkins turned the iewelry into cash, but it is said realized less than $30o Tor the lot. The jewelry was part or that which Perry had gotten from the Ameri- can express robbery at Utica, and which he turned over to his Troy friend Mrs. Haswell before he was arrested. After Perry's transfer to Mattewan Mrs. Has well visited him many times, and no one suspected that she was anything put the missionary that she claimed to oe one brought Perry Bibles and religious pa. pers. and Perry called her Mother, and told those about him how much good she was doing him spiritually.
 Hopkins furnished materials for Perry and the old convict to make into Keys and allowed lis own keys to be used as models. He also unlocked one or lhe two locks on the cell doors on the nlSht of the escape. It seems that py asi&Se- & ment between Perry and Hopkins the latter was to leave a suit of clothes and a pistol near at hand at the Brinekefhoil race track where the train robber could find them after he escaped. hopklns' however, failed to keep this part or the agreement and Perry, after his return to Mattewan was incenSed against the kaener for not doing so, and made re- peated attempts to reach Hopkins, put the latter had in the meantime been re- moved from the asylum TOT ntoNlcd'lo'ni; n Then Pcrry's father and Mrs. HasWeii wrote several letters to Hopkins, throuS II the Low Point postoflice, demanding the return of the valuables. claiming the keepers failure to leave the clothes ana pistol was the cause of Perrys recap tufe. These letters were important clues in fixing Hopkins guilt. Perry was not content to remain at Mattewan, once having tasted the sweets of liberty, and opened negotiations with Keeper James c. Mcdonald to aid him to escape: That nat was where Perry made mistake TOT McDonald reported the matter to the SUI perintendent and detectives were put 0ii the case and the case followed.