Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-09-15
A MURDERER'S RECITAL.
The Slayer OF Ex-Msyor Bowman Of
East st. Louis Coniesses His
Crime With Particularly.
He Was Paid 10 Ctmmit tho Deed By .
Railway Msgnate Whose Name He
Withhoids Mt Present.

d. tsObloJ HVsg pcpb' ~ ~ tiA"i
Arthbutrot, alias A. l.. Pltman, alias
Charles Walker, alias Parsons, recently
arrested at Covlngton, Tenn, has con-
fessed to the sheriff OF that county to
having murdered the late ex-Mayor Bow
man OF East Sc, Louis, on the goth day OF
November, last. The sheriff has sent the
COME son to The authorities Of East St.
Louis, and in substance 1t is as follows
"During the early part OF November last
| WAS visiting in East st. Louis, and
while walking in the outskirts Of the city
about dusk one evening | was approached
by we'll dressed man OF pleas
ing appearance, who stopped and
conyersed with me. After while he
asked me II ! wanted TO make some
money. | told him / did and was hard
up. He said there was man In East
st. Louis whom ne wanted put out OF the
way. ! told him / was HIS man and
could make arrangements TO kidnap his
victim He said he didn't want him kid
mapped, but murdered | said would
murder him for $4,000. II I was going to
be hanged at all wanted TO sell myself
for decent amount. | didn't intend TO
commit murder, however; | wanted to
kidnap the man and keep him
in an asylum. BY this means
could extort money from
! 9th my captive and my principal at the
same time. We made an appointment TO
meet again, and at the second interview
learned that my employer was the vice
president OF a railroad company and a res
ident OF East st. Louis. Final arrange
ments we're then made. | agreed TO do
the JOB for s2500, $1,000 spot in gold. /
started Immediately for New York, and
while there made arrangements with
"Dandy jim" and "Striped Charley"
who came 70 assist me- On the 10Th OF
November went back 10 East st, Louis
and then arranged the details
OF the scheme. l bought a.
bull dog revolver a five
shooter OF 4i-calibre, and two long hunt
ing knives. didn't intend, | want
II understood, to murder Bowman,
but only bought the weapons to defend
myself II he should resist my attempt to
kidnap him. That evening met the rail-
road president by appointment, and
while we were talking together Bowman
passed by "There is the man." said my
companion, chat | want you TO put out
OF the way" and he gave me his photo
graph so that l could make no mistake.
On the next night my plans were COM
plete, except that my accomplices
had not arrived. stationed
hack near Bowman's house,
in which II was my intention to drive him
to an asylum where had made arrange.
ments for his confinement. then con-
cealed myself near lumber pile in front
OF Bowman's house and waited. / soon
perceived gentleman walking my direc-
ton, and when he came opposite me
sprang out In front of him, presented my
pistol before his face and commanded him
to halt. He seized my hand and told
him TO ''let CO." that WAS not going to
Kill him nor take his money. He dropped
my hand and stepped away foot or two
and called "police.n In order to
quiet him raised my revolver
and fired. He fell face downward and
then knew that had hurt him worse
than had Intended. l did not even then
comprehend that had killed him. | only
intended to disable him, place him in tho
carriage and take him to the asylum.
walked up 10 his body and found that he
was dead. then started to escape, but
had gone but a short distance when | met
my employer. He then paid me my
money, and we went TO his home In st.
Louis and spent the remainder OF the
night. Early In the morning, disguised
as woman, took the first train for
Springfield, M
The confession then details his travels
and his final arrival at Covlngton, Tenn,
and his subsequent arrest. He states that
he makes the confession voluntarily,
simply because OF u guilty conscience.
He knows his employers name and his
place OF residence. and could easily
Identity him II he should ever see him
again. He refuses to disclose the vice
presidenre name, but promises to do SO
when the proper time shall arrive.