The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-03-01
Gentry, the Jealous Murderer Talks of
his Crime.

Gentry, the Jealous Murderer Talks of
his Crime,
On cot in the German Hospital,
his emanciated form swathed in band
ages, his face pallid and showing signs
of intense suffering, James B. Gentry,
the murderer Of Madge Yorke, was
found battling with death, while on
either side of his bed sat policeman
keeping him under surveillance. A
faint spark of life glimmered within
the body of the murderer, which the
physicians in the hospital endeavored
by every means known to science to
keep burning but late in the evening
they announced that his chances be
tween life and death were even, with
the indications pointing toward the
latter.
GENTRY TALKS OF HIS MOVEMENTS.
He told a policeman that from the
time he escaped from the hotel until
taken to the hospital not mouthful
of food had passed his lips, and he
was compelled to quench his thirst by
eating snow. AS far as could be as
certained from what he said, Gentry,
after leaping from the fire escape, ran
down Duponceau street to locust
After wandering about for awhile, he
went to Ninth and Market streets,
where he boarded a Columbia avenue
cable car and rode out to the Colum-
bia avenue entrance of the Park.
Entering at this point, be wandered
around the Park for nearly three days,
fearing to come forth and ask for food,
lest he be recognized and arrested,
Finally his sufferings both from hun
ger and his injuries became so ex-
cruciatlng that he decided to commit
suicide. With this end in view he
stabbed himself with his penknife and,
under cover of darkness, crawled to
the steps of Reservoir Mansion, where
he was found by Policeman Mason.
CONFRONTED WITH Ida CLARKE.
Miss Clarke detailed the story of
the murder. Gentry, who lay on the
bed with his eyes partly opened, listen.
ed, but made no remarks as she gave
her statement, and when she conclud-
ed the magistrate asked him if he de-
sired to say anything in his own behalf
For moment there came no an
swer, then the murderer opened his
eyes wide and in low tone said:
HE PLEADS INSANE JEALOUSY.
81 wish to say few words about
it. l simply want to tell the truth. /
was insanely jealous. 1 had known
Madse Drysdale since August, 1903.
We became friendly and were engag-
ed to be married, and she wore my
ring on her finger. She also bought
me a ring which she paid over $Ioo
for, i was to have met her in New
York on Sunday. Her letters had
turned cold, and 1 had wired her
number of times 10 let me know the
cause of the sudden change, which
was natural, my thinking as much of
her as / did. Her telegram read
1903. l leave here at 10. l had
journeyed all night from Boston, and
was very sleepy when l got to New
York, and did not get there until
I2:4s. arrived there and did not
see anything Of her in the I2:43 boat.
/ couldn't do anything, for l was
complete wreck, and went to her
fathers house and asked if he had
heard anything of her coming to him.
He said no; | had better 90 down
again there were some more trains
and l might meet her. / went down
again, and not seeing her, bought
round trip ticket and took train for
Philadelphia. In the meantime had
been drinking on being disappointed.
On arriving at Philadelphia l went to
the Irving House and then to Miss
Dietrich's and heard she was next
door. l went into Zeisse's, met Mr..
Zeisse and asked where was Miss
Yorke's room. / had a pistol in my
pocket which / had borrowed from
man named Hacket in our company.
| said in my mind i may have to
shoot some Romeo in the foot. /
fully expected to find man in her
room, a little blonde fellow. / went
np stairs and walked into the room,
and when saw her was very much
delighted. l said: 'Well, darling, l
have come. , l had lived on beef and
clam broth for week previous.
was completely upset. l said: Are
you glad to see me She seemed to
be awful'y disappointed at my appear