The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-04
CLAIMED HE WAS HOUNDED.
ALEXANDER MAsTERToN SHOT TO
DEATH BY NEALE PLUMB.

Plumb's Motive Mysterious One.
Said MastertOn Had Followed Him
Like a SIeuth Since 1S62-AIIeges
Wrongs That No Law Could Reach.
Conversation Chambermaid
Heard-MastertOn Was Wen
known Financier-PIumb Was
Once Wealthy.
New York, May 3.-Alexander Master
ton, director of the Farmers Loan and
Trust Company, and 72 years of age, was
shot and killed this afternoon by James
Neale Plumb, in the Burlington Hotel on
West Tirtieth street.
The murder was premedltated as is
evidenced by voluminous statement
written in advance by Plumb and given
out after his arrest.
AT present the real motive for the crime
is unknown. Plumb in his statements Is
sued to the public, and entitled, why l.
j. Neale Plumb, Shot Alexander Master
ton" declared that he had been actuated
to do the shooting because of a systematic
bounding of him by Masterton. Plumb de-
clared further that Masterton had not only
ruined him financially but had tried to
ALLEVIATE the affections of his wife and chill
| dren and to cause his social downfall
Plumb's statements, one of which was
| addressed to the Associated Press. deal
with period of his career embracing the
| past thirty-hve years, are rambling in
many places, and conclude with the follow
ing:
Tells why He Did 1t.
mo man has a higher regard for hui
man life than 1 have; but the just and
| righteous punishment of Alexander Mas
terton is decreed by an outraged God, and
I am simplysthe humble instrument in MS
hand. rs He has selected me as His chos-
! en- instrument of wrathful vengeance.
have rid the world of man who was not
! fit to live and whose death a thousand
times over could never atone for the mon
strous wrongs done me-
Masterton and Plumb met by agree
ment in the Burlington Hotel at 1:S0
o'clock p. M, in the apartments occupied
| by Manager Cole. They mad been there
| but a short time when five shots were
| fired in rapid succession Plumb then
came out of the apartments and walked
| into the reception room, where he was
arrested.
Claimed He Was HOunded.
He was later given hearing, but moth
| ing was brought out that could be accept
ed as reason for the killing, beyond the
statement made by Plumb that Masterton
had bounded him for many years.
In his statement Plumb writes as fol-
lows:
FtTha TAKING Sd
was that for upward of thirty-five years
commencing as far back as 1862 at the
time of my marriage engagement, this
man has followed me like a sleuth hound
from that time to this and yet l was never
able to discover the cause or motive of
his vindictive animosity toward me, as
when he commenced 10 attack me I had
never seen the man nor even heard OF
him"
Plumb declares that wrongs which Mas
terton has done him. no law could reach.
Strange Conversation.
chambermaid at the Burlington. who
was the only one near the room in which
the shooting occurred told the police that
she heard the men in angry conversation
before she heard the pistol shots.
One of the men, she said, and She was
positive 1t was not Masterton said in
loud, angry tone:
Il will not be satisfied with that
amount
Two shots were fired in quick success
sion a moment later and then three more.
Plumb came out of the room perfectly
collected and said to her:
There's man in trouble in there"
He then went down stairs and into the
reception room, where he was arrested.
The Two Men in the Car.
Alexander Masterton was a leading resi-
dent of Mount Vernon, where he occupied
a handsome home with his wife and two
daughters, Mrs. c. b. Tibbals and Mrs. w.
N. Ferris. He was formerly connected
with the Old Manufacturers and Mer-
chants Bank of New York, and later was
interested in the Farmers Loan and Trust
Company. He had the management of
many estates, and was interested heavily
in West Chester real estate. He had held
a number Of public offices, He was a
prominent member of The Masonic fra
ternity, and was a popular man in Mount
Vernon.
]. Neale Plumb at one time was very
wealthy, occupying a fine residence on
Fifth avenue, and having a $500. 900 villa
at Islip, Long Island. 1t Is said by those
who are intimately acquainted with Plumb
that he LOST most of his fortune, although
he had eufIicient to retire from business
twenty years ago He also is said by
those who know him best, to be popular,