The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-15
COVI,G IONS CATCH.
SENSATIONAL STORY OF A MUIR
DERER'S ARREST.
Arthur Arthbuthust COnfesses to the
Murder OF Ex.MayOr Bowman,
OF East st. Louis.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, September l4.-Ar-
thur Arthbuthust, allies A. l.. Pltmann,
alias Charles Walker, alias Parsons,
recently arrested at Covington, Tenn,
has confessed to the Sheriff OF that
county of having murdered the late
Mayor Bowman, OF East St. Louis, on
the ooh day OF last November. The
Sheriff has sent the confession to the
East ST. Louis authorities. and 1t is in
substance as follows: During the
early part Of November, 1885, l was
visiting in Fest 81. Louis. and while
walking in the outskirts Of the town
about dusk one evening | was ap.
preached by we'll dressed man OF
pleasing manners, who stopped and
conyersed with me. After while he
asked me IL wanted to make some
money. / tod him Yes. was
pretty bard up, SO l was ready to do
most anything. He said there wa, a
man in East st. Louis whom he
wanted to put ont OF the way. / told
him / was his man, and / could make
arrangements 10 kidnap his victim.
He laid be did not want him kid
mapped, but put out OF the way.
said ] would murder the man
for $4,000. II l was going
to be hanged at all / wanted
TO sell myself for decent amount. |
did not intend to commit murder,
however; meant to kidnsp the man
and keep him in an asylum. By this
means l could extoit money from my
captive and my principal at the came
time. We made an appointment to
meet again, ard at this second inter-
view learned ,hst my employer was
A vice president of railroad company
and r. sident OF st. Louis. The final
arrangements were then made, aud l
then sgrsed to do the job for $4,000. l
started Immediately for New York,
and while there made arrangements
with Dandy jim and Striped Charley
Blake t. assist me. On the 10th Of
November l went back to 1t. Louis,
and there completed the details OF the
scheme. bought a bulldog revolver,
a Ave shooter OF Al csliber, and two
long hunting knives. didn't intend,
/ want 1t understood, TO murder Mr..
Bowman, but only bought the weap-
ops TO defend myself II he should re.
sist my attempt to kidnap him. That
evening | met the railroad vice pres
idept by appointment, and while
we were talking together Mr..
Bowman passed by. There Is
the man, said my companion,
that l want you to put out OF the
way He gave me his photograph so
ALhN Il nn,.l1 main mr. fniatokn lin
the next night my plans were com:
plete, except that my accomplices bad
not arrived. / stationed hack near
Mr.. Bowman's house, in which 1t was
my intention to drive him to an
asylum, where had made arrange
ments for bis confinement. | then
concealed myself near lumber pile in
front Of M. Bowmau's house and
waited. soon perceived the gentle
man walking in my direction, and
when he came opposite me / sprang
out In front OF him aud presented my
pistol in front OF bis face and com.
manded him 10 halt. He teIz; d my
hand and | told him to let 90, that l
was not going to kill him nor take his
money. He dropped my hand and
stepped away foot or two and called
'Po icer In order to quiet him
raised my revolver and fred He fell
face downward, and then knew that
had done worse than / had intended.
| did not even then comprehend that
| had killed him. ! only intended
to disable him, place him in
the carriage and take him to
the asylum. ] walked up to his
body and found that he was dead. l
then stated to escape and bad gone
but n short distance when l met my
employer. He then paid me my
money and we went to his house in
st. Louis aud spent the remainder OF
the night. Early in the morning, dia-
guised as woman, took the first
train for Springfield, ILL.,"
The confession then details his tray
els through the South and his final ar
rival at Covington, Tenn, and his sub.
sequent arrest. He states that he
makes the confession voluntarily, sim
ply because of guilty conscience. He
knows his employers name, his place
OF residence, and could easily identity
him II he should ever see him again.
He refuses to declare the vice presi.
dents name, but promises to do 30
when the proper time shall arrive.