New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-05
ALTBI IN MURDER ARREST
ALAN G. MASON, BOSTON CLUBMAN, TO
PROVE HIS INNOCENCE
HAD BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION
WITH FIFTEEN ASSAULTS IN sUBUR-
BAN DIsTRICTs-WAs CONFINED FOR
SOME TINE IN AN ASYLUM

Boston Nov An connection with the fifteen
murderous assault cases which have occurred in
Cambridge. Brookline and Somervile within the
last few months. two Of which have resulted
fatally, the State police to-day arrested Alan u
Mason, of Boston. well known and wealthy
business man, member of the piano manufacturing
firm of Mason & Hamlin, prominent club mem
Ter. and a Harvard graduate
Mason was taken into custody at his mother s
home. in Newbury-st He made no objection but
accompanied the officers to headquarters at the
State House.
At the State Police Office Mason was subjected to
At the State Police Office Mason was subjected TO
a searching examination The prisoner was de-
tanned at the station house until nearly o'clock.
when he was taken TO Cambridge Here he will re-
main under surveillance by insanity experts for a
time.
Throughout the examination Mason absolutely de-
MED that he knew anything about the assault cases.
He will undoubtedly he discharged tomorrow when
his case comes up in the Cambridge court. It is
understood that Mason has entirely cleared himself
by proving alibi, and that the police admit
there is no evidence on which he can be held
The peculiar assault cases which have terrorlzed
Cambridge as well as other suburban sections OF
Boston began last June. During the summer there
were half dozen victims OF an unknown assail-
ant, each of whom struck down and beaten
with a blunt instrument Early in OCTOBER Miss
Agnes McPhee was assaulted in Somerville. She
died from her injuries. Later an iron furnace
wrench was found and fixed upon as the weapon
used. During the month eight other cases fol-
lowed the last of which occurred last Saturday
night when Clara a Morton. a iaundress at the
Mclean Asylum. was accosted on the grounds of
that institution and beaten with a blunt instru-
ment Miss Morton died Sunday night.
The prisoner is about thirty-nine years OF age.
He is the son of the founder Of the hrm OF Mason
Hamlin organ and plano manufacturers. He was
graduated at Harvard in 1856 and entered the firm
OF which his father was the head. Mental troubles
developed within few years Of his graduation and
he went 10 che Mclean Asylum for treatment AZ
ter time he showed Improvement and left the in
stitutIon. second time It became necessary for
him TO return. but he soon got better.
Symptoms more serious than any previous ones,
however developed last year. and his mother and
brother found il unsafe TO be with MN az thelrr
both and petition was filed in the Probate Court
before Judge McKim to have him sent away on me
Dr., Dewey, put the man under observation. and
upon their testimony he was sent to WaVerIy Tor
Mason protested against this. as an Injustice,
and said that he NV was PSTif tb last time and
since then he has had complete freedom -,-,
Palmer Mason Henry Lowell Mason and Daniel
Gregory Mason; He is cousin OF Joh9 Mason
nounced musical taste and president OF the
Giee Club He also an athlete of some note
Providence r. l. Nov Alan G. Mason
spent nearly two years here at the Butler Hos
pital for the Insane. He came here in 1889
when he was twenty-seven years Old from a
Massachusetts institution. His case was re-
garded as chronic. but his Improvement In self
restraint had been marked while here that
on the request OF his family. DIR. Bloomer. head
Of the hospital consented 10 allow the patent
20 return to Boston in May. 1890 DR. Bl9omer
visited the patient several times after his de-
nart,rA from the Butler Hospital. and on one
re these occasions strongly advised his recon-
mitment to some institution.