, 1886-09-15
A COOL CONFESSION.
Arbuthnot Confesses to the
Murder of Bowman.
He Agrees to Commit the Crime
for $500
A Railroad Vice-President
Duplicated.

81 Louis, Sept. IL -ZAIUulllUOls Tt
Gently captured at Covington, Tenn afieI
having travelled under several abuses, ha.
acknowledged his identity an1 makes the
following confession vi his murder Of
Bowman, at East St. Louis, last winter.
Arbuthuot says: During the earl, part
of November, 1855. | WAS residing IN East
st. LOUIS, and while walking in the out
skirts Of the tow about dusk une even
ing, | wa. approached by Il well dressed
man OF pleasing manner who stopped
aud conversed with me. Alter IA while lie
asked me If l wanted Is make sumo
money. told HIM yes. | was pretty
hard up. and was ready to do most any
thlng. lie said there was a man in East
st Louis whom lie wanted to put cut of
the way. | told him | was his man, and
| could make arrangements ~ kiLnap his
victim lie said he did not want him
kidnapped, but put out of the way. |
said | would murder the man for 50. 900:
II | was gong 10 be hanged at all, |
wanted to sell myself for a decent ampuut.
| didn't intend to commit murder, how
ever. | meant to kidnap the man and
keep him in an a-y YUM. BY this means
| couli extort money iiom my captive and
my principal at the same time.
| made an appointment 10 meet him
again. and ut this second interview |
learned that my employer was a vice
president of a railroad company, and u
resident of St. Lonis. Final arrange
ments were then made and | then agreed
to do the job for 81. 800. | started I'M
mediately for New York, and while there
made arrangements with Dandy Jim
and 'Strired Charley Blake to assist
me. On the 18th of November | went
back to East st Louis, and there com
pleted the details OF my scheme. |
bought a bull dog revolver, a five shooter
of A calibre. and two long hunting
knives. | didn't intend, | want it un
derstood, to murder Bowman, but only
bought the weapons to defend myself if
he should resist my attempt to kiduap
him. That evening | III the railroad
vice president by appointment, ami while
We were talking together Mr.. Bowman
passed by.
There is the man., said my CON
panlon. that | want you to put out Of
the way. He gave me his photograph 70
that | could make no mistake. Gu the
next night my plans We're complete, OK
cept that my accUmplices had not arrived
| stationed a hack near Bowman house,
Ill which it was my intention to drive him
to an asylum where | had made arrange
ments for his confinement. | then con
cealed myself near a lumber pile in front
of Bowman house and waited. | sOun
perceived the gentleman walking in my
direction and when he came opposite me,
| spring out in front of HIM aul present
ed my pistol before his face and com
uanded him to halt. He seized my hand
aud | told him let gu. that | was not
going to kill him nor take his money.
He dropped my hand and stepped away
a foot or two and called police In OF
der To quiet him, | raised my revolver
and fired. He fell face d%ownwards and |
then knew that | had hurt him worse
than | had intended. [ did not even
then comprehend that | had killed him
! only intended 10 disable HIM. place him
in the carriage and take him to the asy
lum.
Il walked up to his body and found
that he was dead. | then starred 10 Is
cape and had gone bur a short distance
when / met my employer. He then paid
me my money and we went to his place IN
=. Louis. and spent the rem Under Of the
night. Early in the morning, disguised
as a woman | took the fist train Tor
Springfield. ILL.,"
The confession then details his travels
through the South, and his final arrival
AT Covington. Tenn, and his subsequent
arrest. He states that he makes the con
iessiun voluntarily. simply because of a
guilty cons ,icuce, He knows his employ
ers name. his place of residence, and
could easily identity hun if he should ever
a.. HIM u4ratu Ila V.fnaus IN ttnltrr I hs4