The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-11-06
PROMINENT AND WEALTHY BOS.
ToNIAN ACCUSED OF MANY
BRUTAL CRIMES.
TWO ALLEGED VICTIMS DEAD
Suspect Is Alan G. Mason, Graduate Of
Harvard, Well Known Ciubman and
Member of the Piano Manufacturing
Firm of Mason e. Hamlin-Dozen OF
More Recent Murderous Assaults
Laid at His Door.

Laid at His Door.
Boston, Nov. SIN connection with
the fifteen murderous assault cases
which have occurred in Cambridge,
Brookline and Somerville in the last
few months, two of which resulted IA
tally, the state police have arrested
Alan G.. Mason of Boston, well known
and wealthy business man, member
of the piano manufacturing firm of
Mason e Hamlin, prominent club
member and a Harvard graduate. The
police suspect, from evidence in their
hands, that Mr.. Mason has been in
volved in nearly all the cases referred
to, as the circumstances have been
very similar. Mr. Mason is a middle
aged man, but he had been victim of
mental trouble for which he was treat
ed at the Mclean asylum at Waverly.
About year ago he was permitted to
leave the institution. Since that time
it is said he has been permitted to go
had been frequently seen about the
localities in which the assaults oc-
CURED led to suspicion against him.
The peculiar assault cases which have
terrorized Cambridge and vicinity, as
well as other suburban sections, began
last June. During the summer there
were half dozen victims of an I'M
known assailant, each of which was
struck down and beaten with a blunt
instrument. Early in October Miss
Agnes McPhee was assaulted in Som.
erville and died from her injuries. An
iron wrench was found and fixed upon
as the weapon used. During the same
month eight other cases followed, the
last of which occurred last Saturday
night, when Clara A. Morton, a
laundress at the Mclean asylum, was
accosted on the grounds of that insti-
tuition and beaten with a blunt in
strument. Miss Morton died Sunday.
Makes No Objection to Arrest.
Mr.. Mason was taken into custody at
his mothers home in Newbury street.
He made no objection and on the way
to police headquarters, it is said, Mr..
Mason admitted to the officers that he
was in Somerville on the night on
which Miss McPhee was fatally in
iured. The prisoner is about thirty
nine years of age and is the son of the
founder of the firm of Mason & Ham
lin, organ and piano manufacturers.
He was graduated from Harvard in
1886 and entered the firm of which his
father was the head. Mental troubles
developed within a few years of his
graduation and he went to the Mclean
asylum for treatment. After a time
he showed improvement and left the
institution. A second time it became
necessary for him to return but he
soon improved. and he was released
second time. In 1901, however, symp-
toms more serious than any previous
ones developed and his mother and
brother found it unsafe to be with him
at their Newbury street home. He had
threatened both and petition was
filed to have him sent away on the
ground of insanity and Mason was sent
to Waverly for the third time. The
man himself protested against what
he termed an injustice and said that
he was perfectly sane and would con-
duct himself as well as possible while
he was there. He remained six
months. Since then he has been free
and has been q stock taker at the
Mason & Hamlin organ factory at
Cambridge. ..-....
Mason has a mother and three broth.
ers, Edward Palmer Mason, Henry
Lowell Mason and Daniel Gregory Ma
son. He is cousin of John Mason,
the well known actor. ........s ..... ..
While in college Mason displayed
pronounced musical taste and was
president of the Glee club. He was
also an athlete of some note
SECURED 5000 IN GOLD.