Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-04-26
PERRY, MASTER CRIMINAL
Put Out His Own Eyes In Hope Of
Obtaininu Pardon.

SDldiIliI1S 7 diuoh
Has Oliver Perry, called New York's
master criminal, a chance of being
free? He says he has and is making
secret plans.
His jailor says, NO" and they have
placed him in steel cage, boxed in
like an animal, and have sent him to
the Dannemora State Hospital for In
sane Felons.
"He is too vicious for Auburn Pri-
son, where he was originally sent, and
he is too desperate to remain longer
in Matteawan Asylum" says DR.. John
Kieb, superintendent Of Matteawan
State Hospital.
I'll get out of that cage" was the
parting challenge Of Perry.
Twenty nine years ago Perry was
captured after nationwide search
and sentenced to 40 years and six
months in Auburn. He was called the
clcverest criminal Of his age.
Lust to Kill.
Today specialists say he is an in
durable paranoic. who seeks to kill on
the slightest provocation. Answering
them Perry replies calmly: II am not
insane. do not want to kill. I am
harmless and want to get free"
But turn your back second" the
doctors add, land Perry will kill you
with his bare hands. He weighs zoo
pounds and is powerful enough to
tear you limb from limb. He tried it
several times on guards.
Instinct alone tells him. they add.
when you are watching him, or when
you have turned your back, for he is
stone blind from ground glass he rub
bed into his own eyes"
His Futile Plot.
II am fighting, ato.. be pardoned by
Governor Miller" says Perry. Il put
my eyes out because I thought then
Night be pardoned.
II had another object. I thought my
sister might come to sec me. But she
never cid. and so am blind without
accomplishing anything"
Perry was born. at Amsterdam, y.
Y, in 1868. At ~ he was pickpocket.
at a. he was a gunman and burglar.
At is a price Of $4,000 was placed on
his head.
When 10 he was caught accidentally
and sentenced TO Saltwater Prison,
Minnesota. for 20 years. He escaped
after digging tunnel from his cell to
4 sewer.
Express Robbery.
Three years later in 1891, single
handed. he committed an express rob-
berry on the New York Central rail-
road. near Syracuse. After tagging
the train. disconnecting the locomotive,
and lining the passengers up against
water tank. he sawed a panel from
the mail car door and picked the lock,
and then stole $4,000.
A year later, Perry entered an eX-
press train at Syracuse as Pullman
passenger. He confided to fellow
passenger that he was Il bank presi-
dent. The companion also confided
that he was an official OF the Sub
Treasury and added that the train
they were on was carrying $4,000, 900
in gold.
Later that afternoon Perry walked
TO the observation platform on the
rear car. He removed his cutaway coat,
gloves and silk hat and climbed dcftly
to the car roof The train was then
making 60 miles an hour.
Swiftly he crawled along the train
top until he reached the mail car. le
slung rope over the roof, fastening
it TO the cave on one side, and let him.
self down on the other. He smashed
through the glass in the door. and
covered both mail clerks with his gun.
They threw up their hands. One un-
locked the door.
AS Perry swung into the car one OF
the messengers lowered his hands.
Perry fired four shots into him.
Then he looted the safe, detached
the mail car, and jumped from it.
a pursuit followed. The engineer
and fireman climbed to the ground tn
help capture Perry. He ran to the
engine, jumped aboard and started
ahead at full speed. FIe was pursued
for 10 miles by trailmen in second
locomotive but was not captured.
' Battle in Swamp.
He took refuge in a swamp but was
captured after exhausting all of his
ammunition. For his crimes he was
sentenced to IL half century in prison.
He has not eaten for six years. He
explained to Matteawan doctors that
food was unfit for human consump-
ton. Yet he has permitted them to
feed him through q tube and has
thrivcd.
Four years ago he discarded clu-
thcs. saying the asylum tailor could
not tit him. Since then he has sat
doggedly in his cell. protected {, ON the
air only by underwear and an In
dian blanket.