Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-11
The Morton Mason-Perry Case
Causes Much Bother.
The Negro will Probably Be Held on
a Serious Charge.
Officers Hard at Work on Evidence
in the Case.


young negro. who pawned the watches
taken from the murdered women, Clara
n. Morton and Agnes McPhee. The
state police set about the task deter
mining what truth there is in the boys
statement that he was given the
watches by Alan Mason. the Boston
man. who is charged with numbering
Miss Morton.
AT 10 o'clock Monday forenoon, Perry
was taken from police Headquarters
here, to the third district court in Har-
ward square for araignment, it having
became evident soon after the lad was
taken into custody. late Saturday, that
1t was most desirable to hold him until
the unexplained features of the case
had been more fully investigated.
At conference between the state
officers and Judge Chas. Almy it was
decided that it would not be necessary
to arraiSn Perry on a charge of being
an accessory of Mason after the fact.
The conference was lengthy one, the
principals to it discussing carefully
the most feasible way of holding the
boy. 1t was decided that he should be
held as witness, such action being
VAS accordingly held in $1,000 as a wit
ness to appear in court Tuesday and at
such other times as the court may di-
rect. In the event of Perry being I'M
able to furnish bail he was to be COM
mitted. The police did not anticipate
that the sum would be raised. During
the proceedings in court the room was
filed with spectators.
The lining up of prisoners at the East
Cambridge Jail which is of frequent
occurrence, was gone through with this
forenoon in order that Carrie A. Max
well, who was assaulted on Columbus
avenue. Boston, in April Is. SO, by the
negro Perry might try to pick out the
man who attacked her. She readily
identified Mason, saying she recognized
him from the pictures which had APP
peared in the papers, but declared that
he was not her assailant.
Just after this episode had closed,
Perry arrived in a carriage from the
court house. He was placed in a cell
to await further proceedings. The rea-
son why he was held as witness in
stead Of being charged with being ac-
cessOry after the fact to the Morton
have him in a position to give testi-
mony in the case at any time, whereas,
as a defendant, they could not compel
him to give evidence if perchance, It
should incriminate himself.
Another consideration when entered
into the best method by which Perry
could he held was that of the necessity
of proving that the negro really OBJ
tanned the Morton and McPhee watches
from Mason in order to establish the
crime of accessory after the fact. The
police realize that there is a possibility
that Mason's innocence may be proved.
In this event the charge of accessory
after the fact in connection with Ma
son had better not be made.
That Perry may himself be charged
with q serious crime is regarded as not
improbable and in this case the police
decided that 1t would be advisable at
this time to commit themselves to no
definite allegation. BY holding Perry
as a witness they cannot only have his
testimony against Mason. but force
him to tell OF his own movements, ana
every relation he has had with others
during the time the assaults have been
committed. in Cambridge, Somerville
and other suburbs.
In registering at the Jail before being
put in cell Perry said that he was 10
years old that he was born In BOSTON,
and given a common school education.
He measured feet. 3ss inches In
height. and weighed 1876 pounds. Al
though the young man says that he is
IS years old, his general appearance
would indicate that he is % or 20.
Under the arrangement made by
Judge Atty and the police. both Ma
son and Perry will appear in court, to-
morrow. District Attorney Sanderson
of Middlesex county. will be present IN
the position of prosecuting OFFICER OF
| the district.
It is entirely likely. so complicated
has the case become. from every point
Of view that both the commonwealth
and the defence will ask for another
continuance. The request will be made
Of tho court because both sides wish
more time to secure evidence. the gov
eminent for a general investigation of
the case and to search for additional
| discriminating circumstances asains'
| Mason, IL such exist and the deIence 70
| find more witnesses VINO can
an alibi for Mason.
District Attorney Sanderson mas oe-
| voted much of his attention TO the Ma
son case He has been IN cohieie"e.
| with all the important Witnesses anu
| has been putting in shape the coiiiiiio'
/ wealth's case under which II Is expect
cd that Mason may be held tor the
| grand jury. ,.;,
| At noon today. he had an interview
with Chief If Police Ryan of Belmont
in whose jurisdiction Miss Morton was
| murdered. and with another man wnvse
home is in waverley. The name OF .ne
second man was not revealed put !. !.
known that he told Mr.. Sanderson ina.
he saw a suspicious looking person near
the Mclean asylum on the night OF wv, ',
Morton tragedy. Much depends -"
II <r,or43ruod on page 3D.