The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-15
THE MURDERER OF MAYOR BOWMAN.
A Man of Many Aliases Tells an improbable
Story in Which lie Confesses the Deed.


Story in Which lie COnfesSes tho Deed.
ST. LOUIS Sept. IL Tho selfconfessed muir
derer of ex-Mayor John B. Bowman, of East st.
Louis, is now believed to be in the custody of
the law. His name is Arthur Arthbuthnot, and
the confession of his great crime was made in
the Covington Jail, in Upton county, Tennessee,
where he is at present confined. About three
weeks ago Arthbuthnot was arrested in Coving-
ton for representing himself as detective. He
had in his possession papers signed by chiefs of
police in several cities, but Sheriff Taylor of
Upton county, ascertnined that the signatures
were forgeries, and Arthbuthnots arrest fol-
lowed. While in confinement he informed one of
his fellow prisoners with whom he struck M al
intimacy, that he was wanted for a great crime
in East st. Louis ard that large reward was
offered for his capture. The prisoner communi-
Gated this intelligence to Sheriff Taylor, and at
the latterS suggestion the prisoner made en-
deavors to extract more information from Arth-
buthnot in relation to the crime for which the
latter had told him he was wanted. Although
the prisoner frequently piled Arthbuthnot with
questions, it was some days before he became
more communicative about the crime which be
had committed He finally informed his prison
chum that the crime of which he had
spoken to him on former occasion
was the murder of ex-Mayor Bowman.
of East st. Louis. The prisoner Immediately
informed Sheriff Taylor of what Arthbuthnot
had confessed to him, and Sheriff Taylor, armed
with this information, succeeded in extorting
further particulars. He then wrote a letter to
Chief Of Police Halloran. of East ST. Louis, ask
ing II man named John B. Bowman had been
murdered there, and requesting full particulars
Upon receipt Of this letter, Chief Halloran sent
RI npIff FH0 Aevaix, fall
of OK Mayor BoHman's murder, and also supplied
him with all the additional particulars he
had knowledge OF. This morning he received
from Sheriff Taylor the full confession of Artn
buthnot the substance of which is as follows:
During the early part Of November 1885,
was visiting in East st. Louis, and, while walk
ing in the outskirts of the town. about dusk one
evening, was approached by well. dressed man,
of pleasing manners, who stopped and conversed
with me- After while he asked me if wanted
to make some money. I told him yes | was
pretty hard up, so was ready to do most any
thing. He said there was man in East ST.
Louis whom he wanted to put out of the way.
told him l was his man. and could make
arrangements to kidnap his victim. He
said he didn't want him kidnapped, but put
out of the way. | said / would murder the
man for So, 600. If was going to be hanged at
all, l wanted TO sell myself for decent amount
didn't intend to commit murder, however, /
meant to kidnap the man and keep him in an
asylum. BY this means could extort money
from my captive and my principal at the same
time. We made an appointment to meet again,
and at this second interview learned that my
employer was a vce-president of railroad COM
pany. and resident of ST. Louis. The final ar
rangements were then made, and then agreed
to do the job for So, 800. l started Immediately
for New York, and while there made arrange
ments with Dandy JIM and Striped Charley
Blake to assist me. Or the 10Th Of November
l went back to East st. Louis, and there COM
p1eted tho details of my scheme. bought
bulldog revolver. iveshooter of
44-calber, and two long hunting knives.
didn't intend, u want 1t understood, to murder
Mr.. Bowman. but only brought the weapon to
defend myself if he should resist my attempt to
kidnap him. That evening ] met the railroad
vice-president by appointment, and while we
were talking together Mr.. Bowman passed by.
There is the man. said my companion, that
want you to put out of the way He gave me
his photograph SO that I could make no mis-
take On the next night my plans were COM
plete except that my acoomplices had not ar
rived. I stationed a hack near Mr.. Bowman'e
house, in which it was my intention to drive him
to an asylum, where had made arrangements
for his confinement / then concealed myself
near lumber pile in front of Mr. Bowman'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 and pre-
sented my pistol before his face, and commanded
him to halt He seized my hand, and told him
to let 60, that was not going to kill him nor
nor take his money He dropped my
hand and stepped away foot or
two. and called Police In. order to
quiet him / raised my revolver and fred. He
fell face downward, and then knew that had
hurt him worse than | had intended. did not
even then comprehend that had killed him. I
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. |
then started to escape, and had gone but short
distance when | met my employer He then
paid me my money, and We went TO his house in
St Louis and spent the remainder of the night.
Early in the morning, disguised as woman, l
took the first train for Springfield. Ill"
The confession then details his travels through
the South and his final arrival at Covngton,
Tenn, and his subsequent arrest He states
that he makes the confession voluntarily, simply
because of guilty conscience. He knows his
employers name. his place of residence and
could easily identify him if he should ever see
him again He refuses to declare the vice presi-
dents name, but promises to do so when the
proper time shall arrive
Arthbuthnot states in his confession that he is
thirty nine years DID, was born in Paris, France,
came to this country with his mother when he
was thirteen years of age, lived in Fifth avenue,
New York; that his mother now lives in Sarepta,
Calhoun county, Miss, and that he was married
at the age of Is, near Tuscaloosa, Ala, to Miss
V. l. Lea.
Most of the localities in East st. Louis named
in the confession and many of the circumstances
attending the assassination of Mr.. Bowman,
mentioned in the confession, are correct, and the
East St Louis police authorities seem to place
some reliance in the mans statements but they
will not give definite opinion as to whether
Arthbuthnot is the real murderer until they have
examined the case further. Sheriff Taylor, of
Upton, has been written to again. There is
really nothing in the confession that could not
be stated by any one who read the accounts pub