Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-15
A Self-Confesssd Murderer's Story of His
Crime.

A Self-Confesssd Murderer's Story of His
Crime.
ST. LOUIS, September Observation-Disclosures who
confesses to the murder OF Mayor Bowman. of
East st. Louis in November last gives the fol-
lowing details OF his crime During the early
part of November 1885, was visiting IN East st.
Louis, and while walking in the outskirts of
town about dusk one evening was approached
by well-dressed man of pleasing manners,
who stopped and conve1sed with me. After
while he asked me il would like to make some
money. | told him yes, was pretty hard up,
so I was ready to do most anything. He said
there was man in East St Louis whom he
wanted to put out of the way. told him was
his man and could make arrangements TO kid
nap his victim. he said he didn't want him
kidnapped, but put out of the way. / said l
would murder the man for 5000. II | was
going to be hanged at all, wanted to sell my
self Tor q decent amount. didn't intend to
commit the murder, however. meant to kid
nap the man and keep him in an asylum, and
by this means ! could extort money from my
captive and my principal at the same time. |
made an appointment to meet him again, and
at this second interview learned that my en-
ployer was Vice-President of a railroad COM
pany and a resident Of st. Louis. Final ar
rangements were then made, and then agreed
to do the job for s., 500. started Immediately
for New York, and while there made arrange
ments with DANDY jim and Striped Charley
Blake" to assist me. On the 18th of November
| went back to East st. Louis and there CON-
pleted the details of my scheme. bought
bulldog revolver five. shooter of A caliber,
and two long hunting knives. l didn't intend,
want it understood, to murder Bowman, but
only bought the weapons to defend myselfn he
should resist my attempt to kidnap him. That
evening / met the railroad Nice-President by
appointment, and while we were talking to
gether Mr.. Bowman passed by. There is the
man, said my companion, that want you to
put out of the way. He gave me his photo
graph, so that could make no mistake. Or the
next night my plans were completed, except
mill ln.l ngnf v~aI ufa
toned Il hack near Bowman's house. in which
il was my intention TO drive him to an asylum,
where had made arrangements for his cOnfine-
ment then concealed myself near lumber
pile in front of Mr.. Bowman 5 house and waited.
l soon perceived gentleman walking in my oil
reCtiOn, and when ne came opposite sprdng out
IN front CT him ard presented my pistol before
his face and commanded him to halt.
lie seized my hand, and l told him
to let co. that / was not going
10 kill nor take his money. He
dropped my hand and stepped away
a foot or two and called for the police In order
to quiet him | raised my revolver and fired. He
fell face downwards, and l then knew that
had hurt him worse than had intended. | did
not even then comprehend that l had killed
him, as ] only intended to disable him. place
him in the carriage and take him to the asylum
I walked UP to his body and found that he was
dead. L then started TO escape, and had gone
but a 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 a woman, l took the first train for Spring
field, H."
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 confession voluntarily, sim
ply because of guilty conscience He knows
his employers name and his place of residence,
and could easily identify him if he should ever
zee him again. He refuses, however, to declare
the Vice Presidents name, but promises to do
so when the proper time arrives.
TnrriI,I.a and Fatal RAILROAD hnni.In.,t In,