1862 Albert Coles Coin Silver Child's Cup - Murder Crime Related - Alan Gregory Mason
$200.00
On its face, this 1862 christening cup of Alan Gregory Mason is not particularly unusual. Mid-1800s American coin silver cups are very common, though somewhat less so right in the middle of the Civil War. And this one is absolutely violently beaten to smithereens, but maybe just maybe *that* is the story.
Mason was born into incredible wealth and this millionaires son went on to Harvard University in Boston. At some point during his life there, police reports started coming in about women being severely beaten. The public demanded justice, and "Jack the Slugger" was born, a savage mysterious assailant who perpetrated vicious and salacious crimes. Later, two women were violently murdered-- Agnes McFee and Clara Morton. As the cops hunted for the brute, suddenly the evidence began to mount and a suspect came into view. That man was Alan Gregory Mason, born on September 6th, 1862. Mason was imprisoned to await trial.
However, before he could be convicted, an eyewitness stepped forward pointing the finger at another man, this time a black man. That man was George Lee Perry. Perry was said by the eyewitness to have been in the area at the time of the crime. It was later discovered that he had pawned two watches belonging to the murder victims. Perry was brought to the jail to confront Mason. Perry claimed Mason had given him the watches to pawn but it was one word against another and eventually, Mason was exonerated and Perry was prosecuted in his place. Perry, devastated by the accusations, refused to eat in prison and then died during his hunger strike, while his mother vehemently protested his innocence.
Back to the cup. The cup is engraved with the name 'Alan Gregory Mason and the date 'Sep 7th 1862'. The handle has been collapsed by bite marks and partially torn from the cup leaving a pinhole (not watertight at this time). There are dents all over it, and the bottom too is peppered with tooth marks. The foot covered with dings from being beaten against a chair. Maybe it was a child left alone just a bit too long in restraints by his mother.
Does this cup solve a 19th century murder with the real violent killer? You be the judge. Creepy AF.
Check out some of my other US sterling silver hollowware here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=shop_sugg§ion_id=19121632
Or just browse around the shop!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP
Mason was born into incredible wealth and this millionaires son went on to Harvard University in Boston. At some point during his life there, police reports started coming in about women being severely beaten. The public demanded justice, and "Jack the Slugger" was born, a savage mysterious assailant who perpetrated vicious and salacious crimes. Later, two women were violently murdered-- Agnes McFee and Clara Morton. As the cops hunted for the brute, suddenly the evidence began to mount and a suspect came into view. That man was Alan Gregory Mason, born on September 6th, 1862. Mason was imprisoned to await trial.
However, before he could be convicted, an eyewitness stepped forward pointing the finger at another man, this time a black man. That man was George Lee Perry. Perry was said by the eyewitness to have been in the area at the time of the crime. It was later discovered that he had pawned two watches belonging to the murder victims. Perry was brought to the jail to confront Mason. Perry claimed Mason had given him the watches to pawn but it was one word against another and eventually, Mason was exonerated and Perry was prosecuted in his place. Perry, devastated by the accusations, refused to eat in prison and then died during his hunger strike, while his mother vehemently protested his innocence.
Back to the cup. The cup is engraved with the name 'Alan Gregory Mason and the date 'Sep 7th 1862'. The handle has been collapsed by bite marks and partially torn from the cup leaving a pinhole (not watertight at this time). There are dents all over it, and the bottom too is peppered with tooth marks. The foot covered with dings from being beaten against a chair. Maybe it was a child left alone just a bit too long in restraints by his mother.
Does this cup solve a 19th century murder with the real violent killer? You be the judge. Creepy AF.
Check out some of my other US sterling silver hollowware here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP?ref=shop_sugg§ion_id=19121632
Or just browse around the shop!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DCSILVERSHOP