The record-union., 1895-02-18
TRAGEDY AT PHILADELPHIA,
OPERA SINGER SHOT AND ALMOST
INSTANTLY KILLED.
The Murderer, a Mem heI~ Of Another
Theatrical Company, Still
at Large.
Special to the REcoRD-USTox.


PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 17.-Madge York,
a soprano singer with 1.-The Baggage
Check" Company, was shot tonight and
almost instantly killed at the Seiss Hotel
by James Gentry, comedian of Golfers
Back Number" Company. Gentry es-
capped, and up to late hour had not been
captured.
The baggage Check" Company ar
rived early tonight from Chester, Pa,
and number Of the members, including
Miss \ orz, registered at the Seiss Hotel.
Miss York taking third-story back
room.
twas said that Miss York, whose home
is Ill New York City, took $50 train for
that city, but she returned to the hotel
about o'clock this evening, and re-
malned there.
About O'Clock Gentry walked into the
hotel otIlce and asked to be shown to Miss
Iork's room. Being unknown to the
hotel attaches, he was told to wait few
minutes. A message was then sent to the
girPs room. but Gentry did not wait. He
walked into the hallway and asCendei by
means Of the stairway.
Miss IOrh and Miss Ida Clark, a
member OF the company, were in the
!orner's room, practicing songs, when
Gentry opened the door and walked III
unannOuncsd. Miss York manifested
some surprise at seeing him. and intro
duced him to Miss Clark. After hastily
acknowledging the introduction, Miss
Clark says Gentry turned TO Miss York,
and, in angry tones, demanded: "Why
did you not meet me to-day? 2" Before
the girl could answer he whipped out
revolver and fired three shots at her.
Each took effect, one over The right eye,
another in the center OF the forehead and
one over the lett temple.
Gentry rushed from the room, and
nothing more was seen of him. The
suppositiou is that he ran along the hall
way and descended by means of the fire
escape at the back Of the house, making
good his escape by one of the numerous
alleys.
\ patrol wagon was summoned and
the girl was taken to the Pennsylvania
Hospital, where she died Immediately
upon her arrival.
Charles L. Blaney, author of ",Hhe
Baggage Check" and Manager Cooper
SAID 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. Gentry has always been re-
garded by his friends in the profession as
a thoroughly good fellow. while not a
word could be said against the girl
Gentry, 1t 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 we'll known in
the profession. During the season of 1885
SO she was a member of the New York
Casino Opera Company. OF late years
she has been with Natural Gas'' and
Horse and Horse" where she first met
Gentry. She was engaged by the bag
gage Check'' company last season. anG
has made such a hit that Mr.. Blaney had
tried to advance her position, and to 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 remark
ably pretty girl, decidedly brunette and
about p years of age.
Gentry is described as tall, thin, SAL
| lowedtaced man of about 50 years OF age
and is said to be clever s'character''
comedian.
Miss Clark was prostrated by the occur
renee, and could not be seen. Detectives
were at once put upon the case.