Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-06
M|LL|ONA|RE|S
HELD F Or
ASSAULT
ALAN G. MASON, OF BOSTON, IN
SANE, BUT WEALTHY, CHARG'
ED WITH FlEND'S W0RK-AS-
SAULTED MANY WOMEN.

BOSTON. NOV. 4.-ln cOHHeCNlOn Win
the fifteen murderous assault cases which
have occurred in Cambridge, Brookline
and Somerville in the last few months
two of which resulted fatally, the state
police today arrested Alan @. Mason, OF
Boston. a we'll known and wealthy busi-
ness man. a member of the plano manu-
featuring firm of Mason & Hamlin. q
prominent club member and Harvard
graduate.
The police suspect, from evidence in
their hands that Mr.. Mason has been In
volved in nearly all the assaults referred
to as the circumstances have been very
similar.
Mr.. Mason Is a middle aged man, but he
has been victim Of mental trouble Tor
which he was treated at the Mclean
asylum at Waverly. About year ago
he was. permitted to leave the institution.
Since that time, II is said, he has been
permitted to go and come at will and
the fact that he has been frequently seen
about the localities in which the assaults
occurred led to suspicion against him.
A Reign of Terror.
Many peculiar assault cases have ter
rorized Cambridge, and Cambridge as
other places. During the summer there
have been a dozen victims Of an unknown
assailant, each of which was struck down
and beaten with blunt instrument.
Early in October Miss Agnes McPher-
son was assaulted I'm Somerville and died
soon afterward. A wrench was the
weapon used.
During the same month eight other as
saults were committed, two Of which oc-
Cured last Saturday, one on Miss Clara
Morton. a laundress at Mclean asylum,
who was accosted on the grounds Of that
institution and beaten with a blunt inEtru-
ment. Miss Morton died Sunday.
Mr.. Mason was taken into custody at
his mothers home on Newberry street.
He made no objection and on the way TO
the police headquarters II is said Mason
admitted to the officers that he was in
Somerville on the night on which Miss
Mcpherson was fatally injured.
Soon Became Insane.
The prisoner is about 80 years of age
anu is the son OF the founder of the firm
Of Mason & Hamlin. organ and Piano
manufacturers. He was graduated from
Harvard In 1856 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 Nc
Lean asylum for treatment. After time
he shoWeu improvement and left the in
stitution. A second time it became nee
essary for him to return. but he soon i'm
proved and he was refused third time.
In 1901. however. symptoms more serious
than any previous ones developed and his
mother and brother found II unsafe to be
with him at their Newberry street home.
He had threatened both and a petition was
filed to have him sent away on the ground
of insanity ana Mason was sent to Wa
verify for the third time. The man him
self protested against what he termed an
injustice and said that he was perfectly
sane and would conduct himself as we'll as
possible while he was there. He remained
SIX months.
Since then he has been free and has
been a stock taker at the Mason & Ham
lin organ factory at Cambridge.
Mason has a mother and three broth
ers. Edward Palmer Mason, Henry Low
ell Mason and Daniel Gregory Mason. He
is a cousin of John Mason, the well known
actor.
While in college Mason displayed a pro-
nounced musical taste and was president
of the Glee club. He was also an athlete
OF some note.
Mason was detained at the station house
until o'clock, when he was taken to
Cambridge. where he will remain under
surveillance by insanity experts for a time.
In the examination he absolutely denied
that he knew anything about the assault
cases. The police assert that they saw
Mason in Waverly Saturday night.
Masons brother says that Allan is in
better condition than he was a month
ago, but he realizes that Allan is an in
sane man. One fact considered signifi-
cant by the police is the admission that
II has been the habit Of Allan Mason to
take a car ride almost every evening be-
fore going to bed. The ride was taken
as usual Saturday evening, bur Mason
declares he did not go in the direction
NJ yVaverlv