Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-16
JACK THE sLASHER.
WelI-knOwn Character is Now in In
sane Asylum.

George Taylor, alias Jones, alias Jack
the Slasher, whose bold depredations in
private houses in Washington six years
ago alarmed residents of the District and
who baffied the skill of the police authori-
ties for nearly half a year, has gone hope
lessly insane and has been removed to the
Government Hospital for the Insane from
the Albany penitentiary. Taylor occupies
quarters at the institution in the building
known as Howard Hall, where the insane
criminal class is accommodated. There Is
nothing about Taylor now that would lead
any one TO believe that he IS the man VINO
committed the scores of offenses charged to
him and who SO effectualy puzzled the po-
lice in their efforts to appprehend him He
ls not violent patient, but, on the con-
trary, his insanity seems to be Of the KIND
mat would almost place him in tine IDIOT
class In his present state 1t Is useless to
ply Taylor with questions, as not the SEM
blance Of an intelligent answer does he re-
turn On the record of the asylum he is
of course, he is not considered dangerous
man, and is allowed to take exercise in
the tnclosed court yard. He seems to have
become a great deal broken since going to
Albany. The series of depredations In res
licences In the District which has al
ways been associated with the name
of Jack the Slasher is still we'll re-
membered by residents and doubt
that recently his actions have been called
to memory by the work of an offender who
has been termed Jack the Cutter. The first
offense attributed to Jack the Slasher was
committed IN Mount Pleasant at the home
OF President Young of the National Base
BaA League early in October, 1893. The
br1c-a-brac in Mr. Young's house was al
most all destroyed, the furniture damaged,
walls and pictures spattered with mud and
chairs and carpets cut as if with a keen
KNIFE. Among the few articles of value
taken was silver watch. While specula-
ton over the matter was being INDUCED
IN by the pubic and the police a visit was
made by the siasher to the home of Judge
Miller, late of the Police Court at Takoma.
This was followed from time to time by re
ports from various quarters of the city of
houses belng entered and clothing. carpets,
pictures and furniture ruined. 1t will be
recalled mat the SlaSher even entered a
pol1ceman's house and cut up the officers
garments while the tired guardian of the
city lay asleep.
Police Officers Easley and Law Of the
Georgetown precinct succeeded in arrest
ing the slasher one morning about day
light as he was endeayoring to gain an
entrance to the Hunt residence in Tenley-
town. Thlrtythree cases of housebreaking
were traced to him by the police and much
stolen property which he had carried from
GIHerent houses was recovered. Some of
me goods ne mad taken to Virginia, while
olher articles he had concealed about the
clty: When Taylor was taken to court for
trial the point was made by his coun-
SCI mat he was mentally irrespon-
s1ole Tor his actions. There was expert
tesumony given on both sides, and one of
me physicians then on the staff of the
government hospital gave an opinion that
laylor was not responsible mentally for
what he had done Taylor was, how
ever convicted in five cases and SEN
fenced in three, the aggregate number
OF years given him In the Albany penften-
tlary being thirty He has served a little
over five years of the time