The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-10-07
CONFESSION OF A MURDERER.

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 14.-Arthur
Arbuthnot, alias AL Pittman, alias
Charles Walker, alias Parsons, re-
Gently arrested at Covington, Tenn,
has confessed to the Sheriff of that
country of having murdered the late
Mayor Bowman of East st. Louis on
the goth of last November. The
Sheriff has sent the confession to
the st. Louis authorities. 1t reads
as follows: During the early part
of November, 1885, / was visiting
in East st. Louis, and while walking
in the outskirts of the town about
dusk one evening | was approached
by well-dressed man of pleasing
manner, who stopped and conversed
with me. After awhile he asked me
if l wanted to make some money.
l told him yes. was pretty hard
up and so was ready to do most
anything. He said there was a man
in East st. Louis whom he wanted
put out of the way. l told him l
was his man and could make ar
rangements to kidnap his victim.
He said he did not want him kid
mapped, but put out of the way.
l said l would murder the man for
$4,000. If [ was to be hanged at
all l wanted to sell myself for a
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.
81 made an appointment to meet
him again, and at this second inter-
view | learned that my employer
was Nice-President of railroad
company, and also discovered his
place of residence. Final arrange
ments were made and then agreed
to do the job for $4,000. | started
Immediately for New York, and
while there made arrangements with
Dandy jim and Striped Charley
Blake to assist me. On the 10Th Of
November | went back to East St.
Louis and there completed the
details of my scheme, | bought Il
bulldog revolver, a 5-shooter of A
caliber, and two long hunting
knives. l didn't intend, l want it
understood, to murder Bowman,
but only bought the weapons TO
defend myself if he should resist
my attempt to kidnap him. That
evening l met the railroad Vice
President by appointment, and while
we were talking together Mr.. Bow
man passed by. There is the
man, said my companion, that l
want you to put out of the way.
He gave me his photograph so that
l could make no mistake.
son the next night my plans were
complete, except that my accom-
plices had not arrived. l stationed
hack near Bowman's house, in
which it was my intention to drive
him to an asylum, where l had
made arrangements for his contine-
ment. then concealed myself near
lumber pile in front of Mr.. Bow
mans house and waited. j soon
perceived the gentleman walking in
my direction, and when he came
opposite l sprang out in front of
him and presented my pistol in
front of his face and commanded
him to halt. He seized my hand
and ! told him to let go, that I was
not going to kill him nor take his
money. He dropped my hand and
stepped away u foot or two and
called for the police. In order to
quiet him l raised my revolver and
fired. He fell face downward and
then knew that | had hurt him
worse than | had intended. ! did
not even then comprehend that |
had killed him. l only intended to
! disable him, place him in the car
riage and take him to an asylum.
l 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 Covington, Tenn,
and his subsequent arrest. lie
states that he makes the confession
voluntarily, simply because of q
guilty conscience. He knows his
employer and his place of residence
and could easily identify him if he
should ever see him again. He
refuses to disclose the Vice-Presi
dents name, but promises to do 81
when the proDer time shall arrive. =