Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1900-1903, 1902-11-04
BUSINESS MAN ARRESTED
Said To Be Connected With Seventeen
Murderous Assault Cases.

! MurderouS Assault Cases.
Boston, Nov Ain connection with
the 15 murderous assault cases which
have occurred in Cambridge, Brook
line and Somerville within the past
few months, two of which have result
ed fatally, the state police to-day ar
rested Allan G.. Mason Of Boston, a
well known and wealthy business
| man, member OF the piano manufac-
turing firm OF Mason 6 Hamlin, a
prominent club member and Har-
ward graduate. The police suspect,
from evidence in their hands, that MI
Mason has been involved in nearly all
the cases referred to as the cilcum-
stances Of each have been very SINH
lar and the weapon in each SO pecuiiar
as to have a notable feature. Mr. Ma
son is middle-aged man, but he has
been victim of mental trouble for
which he was treated at the Mclean
asylum at Wayerley. About a wear
ago ne was permitted to leave the in
stltution as he wished to do So and
ms family did not oppose the step.
since that time, it is said, he has been
permitted to go and come at will and
the Tact that he had. been frenuantlv
seen about the localities in which fhe
assaults occurred led to suspicion
against him. -1oAA
Inc peculiar assault cssas Which
nave terrorized Cambridge and vicin-
lty as We'll as other suburban sections
began last June. During tba SIM
mer there We're half a dozen victims or
an unknown assaiIant, each Of whom
was struck down and beaten viii >
olanC instrument. Early in Octoha,.
MISS Agnes McPhee was assalllfad =,
somerVllle and she died from her IL
Jurles. Later, an iron fI1rnoaa
wrench was found and fixed rno,, -,
the weapon used. During the month
eight other cases followed tba last -
winch occurred last Safurdav 1,i,.1, !
when Clara "A. Morton. ] laundroea. p - !, !
che Mclean asylum. was accostad -, :.
the grounds Of that institution ana
beaten with blunt instrument 7Iiss lsis
Morton died Sunday night. 80
Mf Mason was taken into cl7s+ndv a+
MS mothers home on Newbf1rp St,.oa+ -
he made no objection. but accomna, a. 4.
led the officers to headnl1a,t ~ ~
state house. On the way Il il saia
fhat Mr. Mason admitted F. +ho of45aa,. : i.
that he was In SomeryiIle on tbe 7Sss',+
On which Miss McPhee was fata1Ir n
jured. vas iaeaiiy IL
Af the state house Mr. Mason wos
suoJected 81 to a searching examina+ion
IL Ine prisoner is about 80 wears Of 900
ie IS the son of the founder IF IN
~ Urn IA OF Mason & Hamlin. organ and
pltno manufacturers. He was gradr-
atea from Harvard in 1886 ana on
lefed the frm of which his farther vas
ne ne, mead. Mental troubles deyeIoned
WI, NiLllh q lew years Of his graduation
anu 81 ne went to the Mclean asvl11m
.of treatment. After time he showed
! and left the institution
!. 8 second time it became necessary fo,.
=. Ili1 70 return, but he soon cot better.
~ Is91. however, symptoms more seri-
gIs thah any previous onas
aeVeloped and his mother and
brother found it lnsafa ~
pe with him at their NeWhTrv stroaf
nome. He had threatened botb bis
a.oIhef and brother and a petition was
lIIe0 IN the probate court before Judge
nichl1n to have him sent away on fhe
ground OF insanity. DR. Jelly and his
associate, DIR Dewey, put the man
uilaef observation and upon their tes-
I1nony Mason was sent to Wayerlv
Tor the third time. The man himself
protested against the injustice andJ
said that he was what he called per-
tectly sane and would conduct him
self as well as possible while he was
there He stayed six months.
Since then he had been free and
has been a stock taker at the Mason |
= Hamlin organ factory at Cambridge.
Mason has mother and three broth
afs, Edward Palmer Mason Henry |
Lowell Mason and Daniel Gregory
Mason, He is cousin of John Ma
son, the well known actor.
While in college Mason displayed a
pronounced musical taste and was
president Of the glee club. He was
also an athlete of some note.