Actors needed for Perry Trial

The boldest exploit in Western New York criminal history was the capture of 27-year-old, born-to-be-bad, train robber Oliver Curtis Perry. Now, 112 years later, more than 50 actors are needed to fill the parts that are needed to tell the story of this man's capture and trial in the upcoming Wayne County Historical Society production of 'The Trial of Oliver Curtis Perry.

On February 22, 1892, after botching a train robbery in Syracuse, Oliver Curtis Perry hijacked the train, took the controls, and headed west. When he arrived in Lyons, the robber jumped from the train, eluded the authorities and hopped aboard a steam engine that was headed west. After exchanging bullets with the crew of an express locomotive that pursued him on a parallel track, Perry abandoned his steam locomotive and took off on foot. He stole and then abandoned two horses and finally hid behind a stone wall in a cedar swamp outside of Newark. Finally, late the following day, members of the Wayne County sheriff's department found and arrested Perry and tossed him in the Wayne County Jail, now the home of the Wayne County Old Jail Museum. Perry pled guilty in the packed Wayne County Courthouse and was sentenced to 49 years and three months for his attempted train robbery. After serving three years in Auburn, Perry was declared insane and transferred to Mattewan. He escaped, was recaptured, and spent the rest of his life in Dannemora Prison - the last 25 years in total darkness due to the fact that he blinded himself in hopes that his disability would be a cause for early release.

This production provides broad citizen participation for those who might not normally be engaged in a dramatic experience. Non-speaking roles will be available for men who fill the jury box and for the costumed extras will fill the first row of the courtroom. Several bit parts will be available to first-time actors who might feel intimidated and there will be longer roles for the more confident actors.

Practices will begin in September and performances of the trial will be held at the Wayne County Courthouse, the site of the original trial, on October 16 and 17. For more information or to volunteer to help with this project in any way, call the Society office at 946.4943, Monday-Friday, 10-4.

This production and a video filming of the event are being funded, in part, through a grant from Finger Lakes Arts Grants & Services, Inc., under the guidance of New York State Council on the Arts.

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