Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-11-05
WEALTHY BOSTONIANIl
UNDER CRAVE CHARGE
Prominent Club Member and
Harvard Graduate.
MANY MYSTERIOUS ASSAULTS
Alan Mason, of the Well Known Firm
of Mason and HamIin, Piano and Or.
gan Makers, Arrested by Police.
Mental Alteration the Cause.

gan Makers, Arrested by Police.
Mental Alteration the Cause.
Boston, Nov. AIN connection with
the 10 murderous assault cases which
have occurred in Cambridge, Brook
lyn and Somerville in the last few
months, two of which resulted fatally,
the state police today arrested Alan
g. Mason, of Boston, we'll known and
wealthy business man, a member of
the piano manufacturing firm Of Mason
u Hamlin, prominent club member
and a Harvard graduate.
The police suspect, from evidence
in their hands, that Mr.. Mason has
been involved in nearly all the assaults
referred to, as the circumstances have
been similar. Mr.. Mason is a middle
aged man, but he has been a victim Of
mental trouble for which he was treat
ed at the Mclean asylum at Waver.
ly. About year ago he was permit
ted to leave the institution. Since that
time, 1t is said, he has been permit
ted to go and come at will, and the
fact that he has been frequently seen
about the localities in which the as.
saults occurred, led to suspicion
against him.
Many Mysterious Assaults.
The peculiar assault cases have ter.
rorized Cambridge and other places.
During the summer there have been
dozen victims of an unknown assa.l-
ant, each of which was struck down
and beaten with a blunt instrument.
Rarly in October Miss Agnes McPher.
son was assaulted in Somerville and
died soon afterward. wrench was
the weapon used. During the same
month eight other assaults were com.
mitted, two Of which occurred last Sat.
urday, one ON Miss Clara Morton. a
laundress in the Mclean asylum, who
was accosted on the grounds of that
institution and beaten with blunt IN.
strument 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 it is said
Mason admitted to the officers that he
was in Somerville on the night on
which Miss Mcpherson was fatally
injured
Graduate of Harvard.
The prisoner is about 80 years of
age, and is the son of the founder Of
the firm of Mason e Hamlin, organ
and piano manufacturers. He was
graduated from Harvard in 1886, and
entered the firm of which his father
was the head. Mental troubles de.
veloped within few years of his grad.
uation, and he went to the Mclean
asylum for treatment After a tina
he showed Improvement, and left the
institution. A second time it became
necessary for him to return, but he
soon improved and he was refused
third 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 NeWberry street home He
had threatened both, and a petition
was filed TO nave 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
conduct himself as well as possible
while he was there. He remained six
months. Since then he has been free
and has been a stock taker at the Ma
son & Hamlin organ factory at Cam
bridge.
Mason has mother and thnee broth.
ers, Edward Palmer Mason, Henry
Lowell Mason and Daniel Gregory Ma
son. He is a cousin Of John Mason,
the well-known actor
While in college Mason displayed
pronounced musical taste and was
president of the Glee club. He was
oil o4b1aFo IF soma