The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-18
INJEALOUS RACE.
Comedian Gentry Takes the
Life Of Madge yorke.


PHILADELPHIA, Feb is.-Madge yorke,
soprano singer. with the baggage
Check" company, was shot and almost in
stantly killed last night at Zeiss hotel,
this city, by James p. Gentry, comedian
OF Golfers Back Number" company.
Gentry escaped
The Baggage Check" company, which
opens at the Empire theater tonight. ar.
rived here early yesterday morning from
Chester, and number of the members,
including Miss Yorke, registered at leiss'
hotel, Miss Yorke taking third story
back room. II is said that Miss forke,
whose homo is i'm New York city, took the
$3.50 "A. III. train for that city, but she re-
turned to the hotel at o'clock last even
Ing 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 hotel, he was told to wait
few minutes. A message was then sent
to the girls room. but Gentry did not
walt. He walked out into the hallway
and assembled by means of the stairway.
Miss Yorke and Miss Ida Clarke, q
member Of the company, were in tho for
mer's room, practicing songs when Gen.
nounced. Miss Yorke manifested some
surprise at seeing him and introduced him
to Miss Clarke.
Was Quickly Done.
After hastily acknowledging the intro
duction, Miss Clarke says Gentry turned TO
Miss Yorke and In an angry tone asked:
"Why didn't you meet me today2" Be
fore the girl could answer, he whipped
revolver from his pocket and fired three
shots at her, each taking effect--one over
the right eye, one in the center OF the fore
head and the third close to the left temple.
Gentry Immediately rushed from the
room. ~
The supposition is that he ran along the
hallway and descended by means OF the
firc.escape at the back of the house, max
ing good his escape by one of the numcr-
Gus little alleys in the rear. The shots
were heard throughout the building. A
patrol wagon was summoned and the girl
was taken to the Pennsylvania hospital,
about block distant, where she died i'm
mediately upon her arrival
Before entering the hotel Gentry went
to theatrical boarding house next door,
kept by n Mrs. Dietrich, where he was in
formed that Miss Yorke was stopping at
Zeiss'.
CharlesT Blaney, 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 fit of jealousy can be imagined.
Both Were Popular.
'N Gentry had always been regarded by his
friends in tho profession IA "a thoroughly
good fellow" while not a word could be
said in detriment to the girl. Gentry, 1t
is said came originally from Richmond.
His friends in this city ara Of the opinion
that he will commit suicide.
Miss Yorke's proper name was Drysdale,
and her home was at 160 West Seventy.
eighth street. New York city. kilograms
were sent TO her parents at that address.
The murdered girl was we'll known In
the profession. During the season OF 1857.
IS she was n member Of the New York
Casino opera company. or late years she
has been with Natural Gas" ''Hoss and
Hoss," where she first met Gentry, and q
number of other prominent companies.
She was engaged by the "Bagga-o
Check" company last season, and had
made such hit that Mr.. Blaney had de-
cided to advance her in position, and to
this end was writing for her the part of an
up-to-dato girl in 1.-THE Chattel Mort
gage" which Is to be produced In New
York next month. She wasa "a remarkably
pretty girl, decidedly brunette and about
22 years of age.
Gentry Is described as tall thin,
sallow-faced man Of about 35 years, and is
said to bc n clever character" comedian
Miss Clarke was prostrated by the oc-
currence and could not be scen.
Deeply In Love.
Manager w. +. Crossley, proprietor Of
the Baggage Check" company, OF which
Madge Yorke was member, In an inter.
view at New York, said: "Six weeks ago
I engaged Gentry and Madgn Ynrke for
e., Baggage Check company She
d lyed the part OF the Italian maid. Gem
try and Yorke were engaged TO be mar
ricd, but when Gentry left my company a
week after he had joined IL, the two had
bitter quarrel. Gentry left to go with
Willie Collier, to take q part In The Back
Number
IL saw Gentry on Broadway this (Sun-
day) afternoon. Ho was under the ihfiu.
ence of drink and was walking with Joe
Coyne, the comedian of the Rush City
company He spoke to me and he mon
toned Madgc Yorkc. He said: "My God,
how ! ieve that girlv'