Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-12
DEAD MADGE YORKE
James Gentry, Her Slayer, Held for
the Grand Jury.
RESULT OF TEE CORONER'S INQUEST
Story Of the Philadelphia Tragedy
is Told.
SCENE AT THE HEARING

PHILADELPHIA. Pa. April 12.-Deputy
Coroner Dugan today began inquiry into
the death Of Margaret w. Drysdaie (Madge
Yorke), the actress, who was killed by
Actor James E. Gentry February II. The
delay was caused by Gentry's illness.
Gcntry's Appearance.
1t was II o'clock when Gentry was
| brought in by Detective Crawford, accom-
panied by the prisoners counsel. George F.
Munce of this city, and Daniel O'Reilly of
| New York.
He was given seat at the side of the
rccm, opposite the jury. The handouts on
| chair by means of small paddock.
He was dressed in black coat and vest
ard plaid trousers. and dark overcoat
His sallow face was pale and haggard, and
| his deep black hair fell in a disheveled
| mass over his straight. low brow.
| During the hearing of the minor cases he
glanced curiousiy about the room, or stared
| at the ceiling, with an expression Of idle
| Interest, while his long. thin fingers played
| a restless tattoo on the crown of his hat.
There was wait of an hour before the
deputy coroner reached the case, and it was
| without f1utter of the eyelids that Gentry
heard the formal announcement: "Marga-
| ret W. Drysdale, aged twenty-four years.
West 18th street, New York. died in the
! Pennsylvania Hospital, February 18th, from
gunshot wounds received in Zeiss' Hotel.
| No. $40 Walnut street. at the hands OF
James B. Gentry"
| Only once did he betray the slightest
evidence of feeling, and that was when a
young man came in and nodded to the
prisoner. with half-whispered, "Hullo.
Jim." They were the first words spoken
| to him since his arrival although there
were many Of his former friends there.
| Gentry looked up and smiled family for
moment and, with a stifled little gasp, he
| passed his hands rapidly over his eyes. A
| moment afterward he had resumed his inn
| passive bearing.
The Testimony.
The first witness was Frank BENJAMIN.
| manager of the Irving House, 917 Walnut
| street. He testified that shortly after sup
| per time on February II Gentry came in.
looked at the register and asked If Mark
Sullivan was in. When told that he had
| gone out a few moments before Gentry
said he would find him on the street and
| left.
| Mrs. Jennie Dietrich then told Of Gen.
| try's visit to her boarding house next doef
| to Zeiss's on the night of the murder. She
had known him for several seasons and
readily answered his questions.
She did not know Madge York, but a Miss
Buckley of the Baggage Check" Company
stairs to see Miss Buckley, and a moment
later rushed down and out in an excited
condition.
Frederick Zeiss. manager of the hotel
Yorke and Miss Clarke came to his hotel
on Saturday, the 10th. and engaged rooms.
at about 11:30 o'clock. Five or ten min
utes later Edward Magee and his wife ar
rived and were assigned a room.
The Tragedy.
Immediately after breakfast on Sunday
morning Madge asked the witness to cali
a cab. as she wanted to catch the 9:H
train for New York She went alone t
the station. Witness Was at the door wheu
about pm. she returned and remarked I'd
him, We'll, 1t was no use." He did NOT
ask her what she meant About o'clock
that night Gentry came in and asked wit.
ness il Madge Yorke vas there. He called
a bell boy to send up to her room, but Id
the meantime-Gentryd disappeared.
Suddenly there was a noise upstairs and
a woman's shrek. Witness rushed up to
the room and saw the girl lying on tha
floor, with a bullet wound in her head.
Miss Clarke rushed up to the witness and
said: "My God, Zeisse, Gentry has shot
Madge."
The witness was then closely question:
ed about the location of the fire escape
from which Gentry .leaped in his flight.
Sarah Summers, colored. who lives In
DupoEceau street, in the rear of the hotel.
swore that Gentry came out of an alley
mother for drink of water. Then he went
toward Locust street.
Discovery of Gentry.
Winfield Scott. a young man. testified
that he and two companions named Sheddy
and Morrison discovered Gentry on a step
at SD and Columbia avenue late on the
night of February TO- They first thought
he was drunk, and questioned him. He told
them he had been lodging the police and
complained of pain in the side Later on
he told them his name and said his resi-
dence was West 25th street, New York.
adding Richmond, Va, a moment later.
They asked him nothing about the case.
Detective Crawford. when called, said he
had everything connected with the case
with him, but preferred to save them for
the district attorney. He however, stated
that the pistol belonged to a man named
Heckert.a member of the "Hoss and Hoss"
Company.
Ida CIarke's deposition was then read.
1t has already been fully published.
The deposition of Charles Edward Ma
gee was then read. He said he was twen-
ty-eight years old: had known Gentry ten
years; but met Miss Drysdale for the first
time last January. He was introduced to
her by Gentry as his betrothed
They never had any words about her. 1t
was Magee's opinion that Gentry had been
"guyed" about Madge by his alleged
friends" until he had become frenzied.
Under the advice of his counsel Gentry
did not testify, and after the hearing of a
number of other witnesses, whose testis
mony was unimportant, the jury rendered
this verdict: 'The jury find that Margaret
w. Drysdale came to her death by gunshot
wounds received at the hands Of James
b. Gentry"
Gentry Remaudcd.
Gentry was remanded TO prison to await
the action of the grand jury.
Called Back.
Lieut. Fred. Singer, recently detached
fro,, duty in charge of the Office of naval