The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-09
NEGRO SLUGGER PERRY DEAD.
LAD ACCUSED or MURDERS NEAR
BOSTON DIES IN JAIL.

sNerysus Exhaustion" Following Typhoid
Given as the Cause OF Death-Wa,
Probably Afraid OF BEING Put to Deatf
"A. q. Mason Mas Accused NJ the Crime
BosroS, March s.-George Leo Orange
Perry. the negro youth accused OF being
Jack the Slugger,' died at the hospital
connected with the Middlesex county jail
In East Cambridge this morning, while
awaiting trial on indictments which
charged him with the murder OF Miss Agnes
NcPhee at West Somerville on the night OF
Oct. and the murder OF Miss Clara Morton
In the Mclean asylum grounds at Waveriy
on the night OF Nov. /.
The death certificate by the physician
q the jail says that Perry's death was due
10 nervous exhaustion" The prisone
was taken Ill early in January with typhoid
fever, but about three weeks ago his physi-
clan decided that the typhoid had run its
course. Still Perry did not show signs OF
convalescing and wasted away steadily.
There IL a feeling that Perry was fright
ened TO death by the prospect OF going TO
the electric chair. While i'll with typhoid
the charges against him were taken up
by the Grand Jury and the patient was
AlAFme0
About the last Of February, Perry sent ior
Sheriff Fairbairn and said
1--WE got TO die
sNonsense, George replied the Sherin;
syou will be well and strong in short time
But some one wills that 1 must die,
persisted the patient, and Sheriff Fairbalrn
tried TO reassure him, without avail.
It II believed that the death OF Perry
will put an end to any further investiga-
ton Of the .slugger' cases. That was the
intimation made by Middlesex county
officials tonight. They have felt certain
that Perry was guilty OF the murders but
they viii not say he acted alone in some
of the other assaults laid at the door OF
the ssluoger.' Middlesex county was ter
rorized By the almost nightly assaults upon
unprotected women. In only lew cases
were there any attempts at robbery, the
miscreant being apparently content TO
strike his victims down.
On the night Of Oct. Miss McPhee was
on her way home from Cambridge and
when passing through Chester street, Just
over the line in West Semeryilie, she Mas
death followed within few days. Her
watch and chain were taken by the as
eailant Less than a month later Miss
Clara Morton, young woman employed
I'm the Mclean Asylum launuTy, was pdss-
Ing through the grounds about O'Clock
at night on her way to the building. when
ehe was struck over the head with come
heavy weapon and died without recovering
Her watch was also stolen
and the recovery Of the timepiece from
pawnshop on Cambridge street led TO
Perry's arrest Blood stains were found
upon his clothing
Alan q. Mason, member OF well -known
here, was arrested on the charge OF
killing Miss Morton but his case was speedily
dismissed In the police court. Perry made
a confession in which he implicated
Mason, saying that the latter had given
him Miss Mortons watch to sell, but there
was no evidence to this effect submitted at
Before his death Perry sent for Sheriff
Fairbairn and bad a long talk with him.
Just what this conversation was, the Sheriff
declines to say at this time, but he EN-
phatically declares that the negro did not
confess his guilt. The Rev. DR.. Drew, .
colored clergyman says that Perry made
. confession TO him . short time ago In
which he reiterated what he told the police
when frst arrested. DR.. Drew promises to
mako the statement public soon.
During his illness Perry became re-
Iieious and read the Bible constantly.
Hs was 10 years old and leaves q mother.
His father n now In California. having
been divorced by the mother Some time ago.