Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-21
MURDERER OF MADGE YORKE.
Gentry Now Resting Easily at the German
Elospitai-The Story of His Movements
After the Murdsr--Believod to be FsIgu-
fn,


Elospital-The Story of His Movements
After the Murdsr--Believod to be FaIgu-
Ing Insanity.
Associated Press 3tSnsenh nv snstial wires
PHILADELPHIA. Pa, Feb. o0--.Iames B.
Gentry, the murderer of Margaret Wini-
fred Drysdale. or Madge Yorke, as she was
known on the stage, who was picked up
unconscious on doorstep near the
Columbia avenue entrance to Paramount
Park, shortly after midnight this morning,
by policeman, is resting easily in a
private room in the receiving department
Of the German Hospital. The physician in
charge says that Gentry isin no immediate
danger of dying, and the chances are that
he will recover. His exhausted condition
when found last night, the physicians say
was caused by the lack of food and not by
his self-intlicted wounds.
When Gentry was admitted to the hos.
pital, at 12.15 last night, he was in an ap-
parently critical condition, but after the
physicians had made thorough examine
ton it was found that the three wounds
which he stated had been made by his
pen-knife in an attempt to commit suicide
were but superficial, and instead of having
three ribs fractured, as at first stated but
one is broken. The fracture of the skull
is also comparatively slight.
MAKES DIFFERENT STATEMENTS.
utIitIy gives uluClbub fCIbloH1 Vi bLlC
manner of which he received the fracture
of the skull and broken lib. He first stated
the injuries had been received when he
jumped from the fire escape in the rear of
Zesse's Hotel. Immediately after the MUIR
der. Later he said he had fractured his
skull by falling on a jar. But just where
the jar was he fails to state. The last story
he told was that he had fallen over preci-
pice while wandering Through Paramount
Park. Thus theory would seem to be borne
out By the finding of several minor bruises
on his body and scratches. as though from
bushes, about his face and hands.
TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
It is believed by sonae of the police Off
eials that Gentry attempted to commit
suicide by jumping from one Of the many
bluffs that line the park drives, and fail
ing in this sought his penknife as the last
resort, 1t is scarcely possible that Gentry
could have fractured his rib and skull in
jumping from the fire escape at the hotel,
as the height from the ground is but II
feet. When Gentry LETT the hotel he says
he went thre1sh an alleyway, BaponOeau
street, to Locust street, thence to Eighth
street and at this point threw the revolver
with which he committed the murder int
snow bank. He retraced his steps on
Locust street as far as Ninth, bearded a
cable car and finally landed in the park.
REFUSED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
From the time Gentry was found by the
officer, sitting oil the steps of saloon at
the Columbia avenue entrance to the park,
until he reached the German Hospital, an
heur later, he refused to answer ques-
ten, or tell how he came to be sitting on
the step. HIS only answer to numerous
| questions piled by the police officers was,
Il am suffering greatly"
LETTERS AND TELEGRAMs.
Gentry rambies incoherently and acts
| more like lunatic than sane man. 1t
| appears to be the general impression OF
| the hospital physicians, however, that
he is feigning insanity.
| When a search was made of his cloth
| ing, this morning by the police officials,
| the first thing they found was the follow
ing note, scrubbed on the back of an en-
velope:
My life has been disappointment from be-
ginning to end. All have to say is Goodbye
| TO earth. J. b. GENTRY.
In the pockets of his coat were half a
dozen love letters from Madge Yorke. Just
| such letters as one receives from a woman
| who loves a man. The last was GATED
February 10th, and from the nature of it.,
| it was evident that even ii she meant to
| dismiss him, her love for him was very
warm. There were also two kilograms
beth signed Madge. One of them read:
VIII meet you in New York; unable to como
| to-day on account OF rehearsal.
The other told him that she would be in
Chester, Pa, on the 14th instant, and in
| Philadelphia on the 10th. Both were
signed with love. Madge."
| HELD AFTER A HEARING.
Magistrate Milligan went to the German
Hospital this morning and took Gentry's
formal statement. Miss Ida Clarke was
the chief witness, and at the conclusion of
the hearing, Gentry was held to await the
action of the coroner.