The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-18
Former Was a Singer with the ssBag-
rage Check. Company and Latter a
Comedian I'm "Back Number"
COLD : BLOoDED SHOOTING
THREE SHOTS FIRED INTO THE
GIRLS BODY WITHOUT WARNING.
Miss Yorke Well known as a Tall
Gossip About the Hayward Trial.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 17.-Madge Yorke
q soprano singer with the Baggage Check
company, was shot and almost instantly
killed tonight at the Zeiss Hotel, this city,
by James p. Gentry, comedian of Golfers
Back Number company. Gentry escaped
and up to a late horr. had not been
captured.
The Baggage Check" company. which
opens at the Empire Theater tomorrow
night arrived here early this morning from
Chester. Pa, and a number of the members,
including Miss Yorke, registered at the
Zeiss Hotel, Miss Yorlxe taking a third
story back room. It is said that Miss Yorke,
whose home is in New York city, took the
$50 a. m train for that city, but she re-
turned to the hotel at about o'clock this
evening and remained there. About
O. clock Gentry walked into the hotel office
and asked to be shown to Miss Yorke's room.
Being unknown to the attaches of the house,
he was told to wait a few moments A mes
senger was then sent to the girls room,
but Gentry did not wait. He walked out
into the hallway and ascended by means of
the stairway. Miss Iorke and Miss Ida
Clarke, the latter also a member of the
company, were in the formers room, prac-
ticing songs, when Gentry opened the door
and walked in unannOunced. Miss Yorke
manifested some surprise at seeing him,
and introduced him to Miss Clarke. After
hastily acknowledging the introduction Miss
Clarke says Gentry turned to Miss Yorke,
and, in an angry tone, demanded:
''Why didn't you meet me to-day?"
Before the girl could answer, he whipped
a revolver from his pocket and fired three
shots at her, each bullet taking effect-one
over the right eye, one in the center of the
&I;x cJ4c ~ Jaft
temple. Gentry Immediately rushed from
the room and nothing more was seen of
him. The supposition is that he ran along
the hallway and descended by means of the
fire escape at the back of the house, making
good ,his escape by one of the numerous
little alleys in the rear. The shots were
heard throughout the building. patrol
wagon was summoned and the girl was
taken to the Pennsylvania Hospital, about
a block distant, where she died Immediately
ON her arrival.
Before entering the hotel Gentry went
to a theatrical boarding house next door,
kept by q Mrs. Uiefricfg.rwhere he was in
formed that Miss Yorke was stopping at
the Zeiss. Charles L. Blayney, author of
the Baggage Check" and manager Cooper
said that it was generally understood that
Gentry and the girl were engaged to be
married and no motive for the deed, other
than a fit of jealousy, can be imagined.
Gentry had always been regarded by his
friends in the profession as "a thoroughly
good fellow while not a word could be
said in detriment to the girl. Gentry, it
is said is originally from Richmond, Va
His friends in this city are of the opinion
that he will commit suicide, certain
marked peculiarities of voice and manner
render his capture in the near future almost
inevitable.
The murdered girl was well known in
the profession. During the season of 1887
1888 she was a member of the New York
Casino Opera Company. OF late years she
has been with Natural Cas-" "Hoss and
Hoss," where she first met Gentry, and a
number of other prominent companies. She
was engaged by the Baggage Check COM
pany last season and had made such hit
that Mr. Blayney had tried to advance her
in position and to this end was writing for
her the part of an up-to-date girl in "The
Chattel Mortgage which is to be produced
in New York next month. She was a re-
markably pretty girl, decidedly brunette
and about twenty-five years of age.
Gentry is described as tall, thin, sallow
faced man of about thirty-five years of age.
and is said to be a clever Character
comedian.
Miss Clarke was Frustrated by the oc-
currence and could not be seen: Detectives
were at once put upon the case.