Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-09-23
B0WMAN'S MURDERER.
The Murderer Of Mayor Bowman, OF
East st. Louis Captured.
He Makes n Confession duplicating
tho yicc.President OF u Rail-
road.

ST. LOUIS, Sept. l4,--Arthur Arthbuthus,
alias A. l.. Plttman, alias Charles Walker,
alias Parsons, recently arrested at Covlngton,
Tenn, has confessed to the sheriff OF that
county of having murdered late Mayor Bow
man, OF East st. Louis, on the Goth day OF last
November. Tho confession is as follows;
During the early part OF November, 1885,
was visiting at 81. Louis and while walking In
The outskirts of tho town was approached by
! well dressed man OF pleasing manners, who
stopped aud conyersed with me- After awhile
he asked me II wanted to make some money
told him yes, was pretty hard up, so was
ready TO do most anything, Ho said there
was man In East st. Louis who he wanted
TO put out told him was his man, and
could make the arrangements 10 kldnap him.
lie said he did not want him kidnapped, but
put out OF the way. l said ! would murder
tho man for 5000. II was going TO DO
hanged at all wanted to sell myself for q
decent amount. l didn't intend to commit
MURDER however. l meant TO kIdnap tho
man and fecp him In an asylum. BY this
means | could oytort money from my captive
and my principal at tho Same time,
made an appointment 10 meet him again,
and al this second interview | learned that my
employer was Vice-Presldcnt OF a railroad
company and a resident OF st. Louis, Final
arrangements were then made and | then
agreed to do tho job for $500 | bought u
bull dog revolver, five shooter of Il calibro
and two long hunting knives didn't intend,
want 1t understood, to murder Mr.. Bowman,
but only bought weapons TO defend myself II
he should resist any attempt to kIdnap him.
That evening | met the railroad Vice Prosl-
lent by appointment aud while We were talk
Inc together Bowman passed by. That Is tho
nan, said my companion, that want you 10
put out of the way. IIc gave mo his photo
graph so that could make no mistake. The
next evening my plans were completed except
that my accomplish had not arrived. station.
Oh hack near Bowman's house In which IL
was my intention TO drive him TO tho asylum
where had made arrangements for his con-
Rnement ] then concealed myself near u lum-
Der pile In front Of Bowman's house and walt
cd. soon perceived q gentleman walking In
my direction, and when he came opposite me
sprang out in front of him and presented my
pistol before his face and commanded him to
halt, He seized my hand and told him TO
let go, that was not going to kill him nor
tshN hi'hN1' NV 'iplpNt my uuu
stepped away foot or two aud called police
In order to quiet him raised my revolver aud
fired. He fell face downward, aud / then
knew hurt him worsc than had intended.
did not even then comprehendod that had
killed him. ! only intended TO disable him,
place him In a carriage and take him to tho
asylum. / walked up 10 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 VIC went 10 his house in ST. Louis and
spent the remainder OF the night Early In
the morning disguised as a woman and took
the first train for Springfield, H."
The confession then details bis travels
through the south and his final arrest at Gov
ngton, Tenn, and his subsequent arrest. Ito
states that he makes confession voluntarily,
simply because OF guilty conscience. lie
knows his employers name, his place Of resi-
dcncc and could easily identify him II ho
should sec him again. lie refuses to declare
the Vice Presidents namo but promises to do
50 when the proper time shall arrive.