Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-05
Alan g. Mason, Wealthy Club
man and Manufacturer
Charged with Murder
MANY MYSTERIOUS ASSAULTS
Arrest Of Wealthy Bostonian Who Il
Suspected of Two Murders and Many
Assaults on Defenceless Women DUR
ing Last Few Months-ReIieved to
Be Mentally Unbalanced.

Boston. Nov. An connection with
the fifteen murderous and assault cases
which have occurred in Cambridge,
Brookline and Somerville the last few
months, two of which have resulted IA
tally, the police today arrested Alan G.
Mason, of Boston, well-known and
wealthy business man, member of the
piano manufacturing firm of Mason &
Hanlin, prominent club member and
from the evidence in their hands, that
Mason has been involved in nearly all
the cases referred to. as the circum-
stances have been very similar. Mason
is rniddle-aged man, but he has been
the victim of mental trouble, for which
he was treated at an asylum at WAY
orly. About year ago he was per-
mitted to leave the Institution.
Since that time. it is said. he has been
permitted to 60 and come at will and
the fact that he has been frequently
seen about the localities in which the
assaults occurred led to the suspicion
against him. The peculiar assault cases,
which have terrorized Cambridge and
vicinity, as well as other suburban sew
tions, began last June. During the
summer there were half dozen vic
TINS of an unknown assafiant, each OF
which was struck down and beaten with
blunt instrument. Early in October
Miss Agnes McPhee was assaulted in
Somerville and died from her Injuries.
An iron wrench was found and fixed
upon as the weapon used. During the
same months eight other cases followed,
the last of which occurred last Saturday
night, when Clara A. Morton, laundress
at the insane asylum, was accosted on
the grounds and beaten with blunt In
strunaent. Miss Morton died on Sunday.
Mason was taken into custody at his
mothers home. He made no obJec-
lions and on the wav to police head
quarters. it is said, Mason admitted to
the officers that he was in Somerviile
OH the night on which Miss McPhee was
fatally injured.
F,.str, Tire FIRST Ii has been apparent
that these deeds were tile work of no
ordinary criminal and the police are
satisfied that they have within reach
the guilty party-a man who has every
thing to live for, but seemed to ma
higher pleasure in murderous attacks
en- unprotected women.
When told by reporter OF the prob
ability of his arrest, the suspected
man said:
1T is about time the community 4
stopped meddling with my affairs. II IS
true I have been out in Waveriy.
know friends out there and go to
see them, but have not been there Tor
a week.
81 ride bicycle and do take frequent
trips thru Somerville. There Is no
man more interested in this series Of
assaults than I, and I have thought
often that the police ought to use their
brains. if they have any, in finding tn
culprit
Il can account for my movements
every hour and every day for the last
few weeks I know l have been sent
away, but it was simply for melan-
cholia II my description resembles
that of the man they want-well. that
Is good What will they do next? "
Following is list of assaults com
mitted hereabouts. many if not all Of
which the police charge against the
Aug. 3, Jeanette Marshall was as
saulted on Center street Brookline,
md her skull fractured.
July 81. Ella Murphy was attacked on
graigie street, Cambridge. and sustain
ed severe scalp wounds.
July q, at Chestnut avenue and
Magazine street, Cambridge. Siegviedo
Iustavson escaped from an assailant,
put sustained scalp wounds.
June II, Kate O'Connell. at Walker
md Cambridge Streets Cam bridge; she
got away with badly cut scalp.
Oct 10, Susan O'Neil was knocked
Town on Washington street, Somerville.
,ut her cries brought help and the as
'ailant fled.
Oct 10, in Coolidge avenue, Water
own. Jane Ladell was knocked down
" a man, who was frightened away.
Oct. o. Bertha r. Smith, telegraph
operator. was assaulted in st. Botolph
street, Boston, at 1870 a. M, while re-
urning from work, but her screams
frightened the man who attacked her.
Oct. "a a man .hugged'' Miss Lulu
lixer on the steps of her home in Cam
fridge but ran whensshe screamed
Oct. 2S, Mrs. Walter III. Whitney was
assaulted in Sycamore street, Sonler
lille by an unknown man, who fled
When help came.
Mason has a mother and three
rothers and is a cousin of John Mason
he we'll known actor. While in college
Jason displayed a pronounced musi-
al taste and was president of the
lice Club. He was also an athlete OF
ONE note.
Murdered by Robbers.