Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-20
Murderer Gentry Tells Of His Long
Wandering.
WENT Two DAYS WITHOUT FOOD
SeIf-InfIicted Stab Wounds Not
Deemed Serious.
NO ONE CAN SEE HIM

PHILADELPHIA, February 20.-James
B. Gentry the murderer of Margaret Win
fred Drysdale, or Madge Yorke, as she
was known on the stage, who was picked
up unconscious on a doorstep near the
Columbia avenue entrance to Paramount
Park shortly after midnight by police
man, is in a private room in the receiving
department of the German Hospital.
At the hospital this morning 1t was
stated that the self-inficted stab wounds
found on Gentry are not of serious char
acter. the danger to be apprehended being
from injuries to the skull sustained in leap
ing from the fire escape, or however he
received them.
Magistrate Milligan went to the German
Hospital this morning and took Gentry's
formal statement. Miss Ida Clarke was
the chief witness, and at the conclusion
of the hearing Gentry was held to await
the action of the coroner.
When Gentry left the hotel he says he
went through alley way Duponce ave-
nue) to Locust street, thence to sth street,
ard at this point threw the revolver with
which he committed the murder into
Snow bank. He retraced his steps on Lo-
Gust street as far as 9th street and boarded
a cable car, and finally landed in the park.
This was about midnight Sunday night.
From that time until he was admitted to
the hospital early this morning, not par
ticle of food has passed his lips. He had
wandered about the secluded portions of
the park, and frequently wet his parched
mouth by picking up handful of snow
and eating it, He had $3.50 on his person
when found, but said that he was afraid
to attempt to purchase any food for fear
of being recognized and captured. From
the time Gentry was found by the officer,
sitting on the steps of a saloon at the CO.
lumbia avenue entrance to the park. until
he az nod hn
later, he refused to answer a question or
tell how ne came to be sitting the step.
His only answer to numerous questions
piled by the police officers was, II am suf-
fering greatly" And there is no possible
reason to doubt his word.
The wretched mans sufferings while
skulking around the underbrush of the de-
serted park, where snow is in many places
knee deep, must have been indescribable.
1t Is rare occurrence for pedestrian or
team to enter this portion of the park at
this season of the year, and even the park
guards stationed along the roads are with
drawn to the portions of the pleasure
ground frequented by Sleighing parties. If
his terrible sufferings had not driven him
out of the park he might have wandered
through the woods for days without being
seen.
When taken to the hospital and ne found
that the discovery of his identity was but
question OF few minutes, he became
more talkative. He refused, however, to
He was not surprised when told that
Miss Iorke was dead. although he said
that he had not seen account Of the
tragedy in the newspapers.
After his wounds had been dressed by
the hospital physicians this morning Gen
try was given some liquid nourishment.
When search was made of his clothing
this morning by the police officials, the
first thing they found was the following
note, scrubbed on the hack of an envelope.
My life has been disappointment from
beginning to end. All l have TO say Is
goodbye to earth. (Sig.) j. b. Gentry
In the pockets of his coat were half Il
dozen love letters from Madse Yorke, just
such letters as one receives from Il woman
who loves a man. The last was dated Feb
rUary 10, and from the nature of it. it was
evident that even II she meant to dismiss
him, her love for him was very warm.
The letters found on Gentry are in the
custody of Superintendent Linden of the
police department, who declines to make
public their contents until after the coro-
ner's inquest. 1t is also impossible for any
persons other than the physicians and the
police authorities to see Gentry there be-
ing a strict regulation to this effect in re-
gard to all prisoners under surveillance
for capital crime.