The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-27
A MURDER MYSTERY SOLVED.
TIE DTSAPPEARANCE OF A BOSTON
MAN IN 1859 EXPLAINED

A Dying Desperate In New Mexico CooIiS
COnteSSea that he One of the Men
who Killed and Robbed the Man aud
Threw him Over ChnrIeHtown Bridge.
BOsToN. July 26.-A murder MI story OF thirty
| years standing has been solved by tho DEATH
bed confession OF the murderer. and the mys'
torious disappearance OF q rich Boston liquor
dealer Is thus accounted for. On the night Of
Doc. IL, 1893, James Martin started from his
place OF business with the intention OF walking
across the bridge TO his homo In Charlesown,
That was the last seen or heard Of him until
the story OF his murder was brought to light a
fow days ago. His dog appeared on the door
step the next morning, wet and with blood on
his collar and head, but that was the only clue
to the cause of the mans disappearance. AS
he was known TO have largo sum OF money
with him on the night he disappeared, it was
believed that ho had been murdered but as
his Nody was not found his case was included
In the long list OF unsolved mysteries.
Edward Callahan returned from the West a
few days ago, bringing solution OF the mys-
terry and confirming the theory that Mr.. Mar
tin had been murdered for his money. In
1885 Mr.. Callahan was in the southern part OF
New Mexico in the emtloy OF the Central Pa
cluc Nailroad Company. Ono evening when
walking along tho track he came upon O very
dilapidated tramp who WAS dying He said
his name was " Tin Mclaughlin and know
ing that death was at hand he gave Sr. Gala
han history of his life. which was continual
story OF crime His numerous career in the
West created quite n sensation, and his es-
caro- from death through influential Masonic
friends secured for him the nickname OF Tip
Mclaughlin. In some way lie got into the
Masonic order, aud lie had made his
boast that no had got the tin and the grip
and now he was all right. Alterward he killed
man in Sacr amento. was tried and convicted
and sentenced TO he hanged. When he was
taken out of court the officer in charge of him
said: We'll. Mclaughlin, | guess We will tax o
drink before Iock you up" So they went
into LIQUOR saloon and Mclaughlin sat down
to play stud horse poker for the drinks. while
the officer looked on. Pretty soon Mclaughlin
said he was going out tho hack door a minute.
and he did 80 and the officer did not catch
him; he got down to san runci-co and there
the coast some 300 miles, aud then went Off in:
20 5 uthern california. flr Callahan, in one Of
ms talks with Mclaughlin, SPOKE, OF returning
to his home IN Boston. and that brought out
story is tod In Mr. Cailahan's words;
TN. di not remember much about II. al
though l had heard my cousin who was q
mo tina he was one " the men who helped Kill
Martin and throw him over the old Charles
town bridge between the draw ard Tudors
wharf. He said that Marin had dog will
MIN. and that the aulmal fought SO hard in
DC ence OF his master that they had TO throw
MIN overheard. too. TO defend theu selves and
to stop he noise McLaughl did not tell mo
VINO were his companiouS in the mUr or,
and J. did not ask him many questions.
Tor ! had no heart to talk with a man who
would lake fr' IN another what he couldn't
gtve-hs life, He informed me hat he made
bis escape from Boston hy shipping with a
Maine Captain for a voyage around the Horn
with load of lumb r, and made Inc promise
story to the Martin family and their friends.
bis story was not like q deatn-hed confession
OF repen lance lie seemed have no remo~$s
or feeling, but simply related lie story wi'ht VI
any appearance Of possessing Il cons iauc\k
hardly believed his story. lie told t withons
bravado, remorRe, or any other appar" eel
ing and no was so weak and 80 near death
that regarded his yarn as the lRvnR o a
dying man. But did not forget it. At that
tine thought should soon come t. liostOn
80 d. /! not write anything abeut the matter
choosing to wait until came home ] delayed
coming East from month TO month. ami ouly
arrived few da 5 ago. When Mclaughlin
died he wns buried like dog, with no
form one. | simply took some rough boards
fr IN the railroad fence. ma.e the best box |
could. and in this he was nsigncL to his
grave, which Will ho unmarked forever. |
never learned his Christian name. nor any
thing about his history. cAcept what he told
me ABOUT his crimes l simply knew him as
TIP Mclaughlin"