Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-07
MASON OUT OF 1T.
Miss Morton's Watch Was
Pawned by a Negro.
Found in Boston Pawnshop--0mcers
Have Description Of Man.
They "Hope" to Catch Him Within
Next 43 Hours.

Boston, Nov. s-The gold watch of
Clara Morton. the Mclean hospital
laundress who was killed. Saturday
evening, and whose murder, A. u. Ma
son of Boston, is charged, has been
found in a Boston pawn shop and the
Boston police are searching for negro
who is said to have sold the article The
man wanted is described as a negro.
about 81 years old and Chief Watts OF
Boston does not conceal his belief tnat
he murdered Miss Morton and that Ma
son who is now held in Middlesex
county Jail without bail, is innocent
The discovery of the murdered Wo-
mans watch and the evidence tnat IL
was pawned by a negro adds ne"
mystery to the case which has already
presented unusual features. Two Gays
ago the state police arrested A IT, Ma
son. the business man and CLUB menoer
Of Boston. on suspicion of having KILL
ed Miss Morton. After days inFesu-
CATION the authorities were convinced
that Mason could establish an abb and
they announced that he would be re
leased but during the succeeding night
witnesses were found who positively
identified Mason as one who they had
seen in Waverley, where the murder
was committed Saturday night.
On the strength of this evidence. yes
terday. a warrant charging Mason with
murder was issued and he was held
without bail until next Tuesday All
day. Yesterday, the state officers were
busy accommodating evidence and il was
understood that 1t looked dark for the
accused man
Meanwhile the Boston police had
found trace of Miss Morton's watch.
and late yesterday, the article was
found in a pawn shop in this city.
on learning that negro had pawned
the watch and getting a description OF
him. Chief Watts at once started out
a crowd of inspectors and special ON
GERS who were on the hunt all night
without finding the man,
As there have been a number of as
sault cases in this city. in which the
person has been described as a negro
Chief Watts considered this new phase
of the Wayerley affair as very impor-
tant. He said, today: This let's Ma
son out of il altogether. The chiel
said that he was using every resource
of the police department to locate tht
negro and expressed confidence that
he would he caught within A. hours
Captain Dugan of the Bureau o.
Criminal Investigation. stated. today
that the watch stolen from Miss Nor
ton was found in a West End pawn
shop and that the dealer advanced
on it. The broker never saw the neGr'
before and has not seen him since III
name and address which the negr'
gave are fictitious.
The watch was located by a list o
articles pawned which is sent to pc
lice headquarters daily. by pawn
brokers in the city. under the require
ments of their licenses. This list give
the number OF the watch. Prompted
nv their success in the Morton case tn
notice now are trying to find the watci
stolen from Agnes McPhee. who wa
fatally assaulted in Somerville. oct. :
The number Of the watch Is not known
but the police have an accurate des
cription. If il is found and IL Is learn
ed that a negro pawned IT the Bostol
officers will consider that all doubt a
to whether Mason is Jack the Slug
ger" will he dispelled.
Supt. Pierce sent out general alarm
early today. to all OF the stations. in
structing patrolmen TO report any IN
formation which they might collect an
to have every colored criminal the.
knew inquired about.
While Chief Watts had expressed as
surance early in the day that the FAC
that the watch was pawned b. a negr
''let out altogether the Mason. charg
ed with the murder Of Miss Morton
later in talking with reporter n
said: There is no reason why Maso
could not have given the watch to
negro.