The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-31
CONFESSED TO MURDER.
Solution of Bloody Mystery Of Thirty
Years Ago.
From the ST. Louis Republic

From the st. LOUIS hepttOttc.
Boston, MASS, July "a murder of
thirty years standing has been revealed by
the deathbed confession of the murderer,
and the mysterious disappearance of rich
Boston liquor dealer is thus accounted for.
On the night of Dec. 10, 1859, James Mar
tin started from his place Of business with
the intention of walking across the bridge to
bis home in Charlestowu. That was the last
seen OF heard Of him until the story of his
murder was brought to light a few days
ago. His dog appeared on the door step of
his house the morning after the murder wet
with blood. That was the only clue to the
cause of the mans disappearance. As he
was known to have a large sum of money
with him on the night he disappeared, it
was believed that he was murdered, but as
his body was not found, his case was in
Guided in the long list OF unsolved mysteries.
Edward Callahan returned from the west
few days ago, bringing a solution of the
mystery and confirming the theory that Mr.
Martin had been murdered for his money.
In 1885 Mr.. Callahan was in the southern
part Of New Mexico in the employ of the
Central Pacific Railroad Company. One
| evening when walking along the track he
| came upon a very dilapldated tramp who
was dying. He said his name was Tip"
| Mclaughlin, and, knowing that death was
| at hand he gave Mr.. Callahan a his
| tory of his life, which was continual
story of crime. His murderous career
| in the west created quite a sensation, and
| his escape from death through influential
| friends secured for him the nickname Tip"
| Mclaughlin. In some way he got into the
| Masonic order, and he made his boast that
he had got the tip and grip" and now
ne was all right. Afterward he killed a
man in Sacramento, was tried and con-
| Il Il 4 - -
| he was taken out OF court the officer in
charge of him said: swell, Mclaughlin,
guess we will take drink before lock
| you up.n So they went into q
liquor saloon and Mclaughlin sat
| down to play whisky poker
for the drinks, while the officer looked on
Pretty soon Mclaughlin said he was going
| out of the back door a minute to the closet
and he did go, and the officer did not catch
him. He got down to San Francisco and
then he shipped on a trading schooner,
| going down the coast some 800 miles and
| then went off into Southern California
| Mr.. Callahan, in one Of his talks with Nc
Laughlin, said he spoke of returning to hi
home in Boston and that brought out the
confession of the murder in 1859. The story
| is told In Mr.. Callahan's own words
He asked me if | remembered anything
about the disappearance of man named
|
although had heard my cousin, who was q
friend Of Martins, speak of it, Then he
| told me that he was one of the men who
helped kill Martin aud throw him over thu
old Charlestown bridge, between the draw
and Tudor's wharf. He said that Martin
had dog with him and that the ANNA
fought so hard in defense of his master
that they had to throw him overheard
too, to defend themselves. Mclaughlin dix
not tell me who were his companions il
this murder, and | did not ask him many
questions for | had no heart to talk with
man who would take from another what ht
could not give-his life. He informed M
that he made his escape from Boston b,
shipping with Maine captain for voyag
around the Horn with load Of lumber anC
made me promise that if | ever came t
Boston | would tell his story to the Marti
femily and their friends.
''His story was not like deathbed con
fession of repentance. He seemed t
have no remorse of feeling, but simply re
, lated the story without an appearance c
possessing a conscience | hardly believe
his story. He told it with bravado, and h
was so weak and 50 near death that | re
garded his yarn as the raving of dyin
man, but did not forget it. At the tim
thought / should come to Boston 4
an early date, SO L did not writ
I ANYTHING about the matter, choosin
to wait until l came home.
,, delayed coming east from month to mont
and only arrived few days ago. Whe
Mclaughlin died he was buried like a do
!, with no ceremony, for there was no clerg,
5 man to perform one. l simply took son
rough boards from the railroad fence, mad
:, the best box could, and in this he WE
| consigned TO his grave which will be u
I marked forever. | never learned b
christian name nor anything about his hi
i tory except what he told me about h
y crimes. simply knew him as Tip 81
% Laughlin."