The herald., 1895-02-18
Cruel Murder of a Woman in
Philadelphia
COMEDIAN WITH A PISTOL
In Fit of Jealous Rage Jim Gentry Kills
Miss YOrke
Outside Of Jealousy No Cause is Given
for the Crime

Philadelphia, Feb. 17.-Madge 1orke,
soprano singer with the Baggage Check
Company, was shot and almost instantly
killed tonight at Zeiss hotel, this city, by
James P. Gentry, a comedian of Golfers
Back Number Company. Gentry escaped
and ND to a late hour had not been cap
tured.
The Baggage Check Company, who open
tomorrow night, arrived here early this
morning from Chester, Pa, and num-
ber of the members, including Miss Yorke,
registered at the Zeiss hotel, Miss Yorke
taking a third story back room. 1t was
said that Miss Yorke, whose home is in
New York City, took $3.50 train for that
city, but she returned to the hotel about
6o'clock this evening and remained there.
About 9 O'Clock Gentry walked into the
hotel office and asked to be shown to Miss
Yorkes room. Being unknown to the
hotel attaches, he was told to wait few
minutes. A message was then sent to the
cirl's room, but Gentry did not wait. He
walked into the hallway and assembled by
means of the stairway.
Miss Yorke and Miss Ida Clarke
member of the company, were in the for
mers room practicing songs when Gentry
opened the door and walked in unan-
nounced Miss Yorke manifested some
surprise at seeing him and introduced
him to Miss Clarke. After hastily ac-
knowledging the introduction, Miss Clarke
saws Gentry turned to Miss Yorke and in
angry tones demanded "Why did you not
meet me today?"
Before the girl could answer, he whip
ped out 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 forehead and the third close
to the left 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 cook his escape by
one of the numerous alleys in the rear.
The shots were heard throughout the
building. A patrol wagon was summoned
and the girl was taken to the Pennsylva
mia Hospital, about block away, where
she died Immediately upon her arrival.
Charles I. Blayney, author of The Bag
gage 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
has always been regarded by his friends
in the profession as thoroughly good
fellow, while not a word could be said
against 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.
The murdered girl was well known in
the profession. During the season of
1SS7-S8 she was a member of the New
York Casino Opera Company. OF late
wears she has been with Natural Gas,
Horse and Horse, where she first met
Gentry, and a number Of other promi-
nent companies She was engaged by the
Baggage Check Company last season. and
has made such a hit that Mr.. Blayney
had tried to advance her position, and
for this end was writing for her the part
OF an up to-date girl in The Chattel Mort
gage, which is to be produced in New
York next month. She was a remarkably
pretty girl decidedly brunette and about
% years of age.
Gentry is described as a tall thin,
sallOW- faCeu man OF ABOUT 90 years OF age,
and is said to be clever character
comedian. Miss Clarke was prostrated by
the occurrance and could not be seen.
Manager W. f. Crossley. proprietor of
the Baggage Check Company, of which
Madge Yorke, the dead woman, was a
member, said tonight:
"Sx weeks ago | engaged Gentry and
Madge Yorke for the Baggage Check Com
pany. She played the part of the Italian
maid. Gentry and Miss Yorke were en-
gagged to be married, but when Gentry
left my company after he had joined it
the two had a bitter quarrel Gentry left
with Willie Collier to take part in A
Back Number
81 saw Gentry on Broadway at o'clock
this afternoon. He was under the inliu-
ence of liquor, and was walking with Joe
Coyne, the comedian of The Rush CITY.
He spoke to me and mentioned Madge
Yorke. He said, My God how l love
that girll'"