New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-04
PRICE THREE CENTS.
MURDER FOR REVENGE.
SLAYER WROTE OUT HIS
REASONS BEFOREHAND.
ALEXANDER MASTERTON VICTIM OF J.
NEALE PLUMB's HATRED-RENfARK-
ABLE STORY OF ALLEGED PER-
SECUTION, CONTINUED FOR
MANY YEARS.

SECUTION, CONTINUED FOR
MANY YEARS.
Just why James Neale Plumb. a retired lawyer.
murdered Alexander Masterton. O wealthy repre-
sentative of the Farmers Loan and Trust Com
pany in this city. yesterday Is not altogether
clear, in spite Of the remarkable fact that In the
murderer's pocket was found long typewriter
statement addressed to The Associated Press.
and headed: ITO All Whom IL May Concern;
Why j. Neale Plumb Shot Alexander. Master
ton"
The theory advanced by the police Is that
there was quarrel over money matters. An
other is that Plumb. irascible and erratic
man, who blamed Masterton for trying 70
ALLEVIATE his wifes affections years ago. and also
blamed him for various quarreis since then
which had resulted in the gradual separation OF
Plumb and his children. had by long brooding
over his troubles become so mentally warped
and upset that his hatred for Masterton rose to
homicidal mania which he could not resist.
The murder committed In a room of tho
Burlington Hotel. No. 10 West Thirtieth-st.. on
the third floor. The Farmers Loan and Trust
Company has temporary administration of the
estate OF which the Burlington. private hotel.
is a part. and 1t was a part OF Mssterton's duty
to call there every day. Plumb and Masterton
had a meeting there by agreement yesterday
afternoon. They entered the hotel together at
1:3O o'clock and went TO Room No ~, which In
one OF a number Of rooms occupied by Manager
Cole. They shut the door and were there alone.
THE CHAMBERMAIDs STORY.
Loud talking was soon heard within by Ellen
Reilly chambermaid. She heard one OF the men
she says she is positive that II was not Mas
In nd
Tone II will not be satisfied with that amountr'
Louder words that she could not understand
followed for what she thinks was perhaps Ave
minutes, when she was startled by the firing Of
two shots in quick succession and the sound
of body falling. She says there was pause
OF some moments. when three more shots wers
fired, rather slowly. as though the person shoot
ing simply wanted to make sure OF his work.
Following the last shot she saw Plumb come
from the room. He seemed perfectly collected
There's man in trouble in there" he told her,
and started down the stairs.
The chambermaid says she ran to the top Of
the stairs and called to the persons below,
stop him. Hes killed Mr.. Masterton." But
Plumb showed no intention of running away.
He walked into a reception-room and sat
down.
Dr. Asch, of No. 8 West Thirtieth-st. was
summoned. and another doctor was called.
They found that all five of the shots had taken
effect, one of them in the spine. The doctors
at once saw that Masterton. who had been
propped up in chair by the attendants who
rushed into the room. could not live. and they
esked him IL he wished to go TO a hospital He
replied, mo- Then word was sent to the
Coroner
One of the attendants OF the hotel ran To
iatb md and
Patrolman William Dehl. Of the Broad
way squad. who was on duty there. When
Diehl reached the reception-room where
Plumb had gone, the policeman him
standing with the revolver in his hand. Diehl
drew his revolver and pointed 1t at Plumb.
Plumb placed the handle OF the revolver he
held against his breast as a token of surrender.
Then Roundsman Arnett, Of the West Thlr-
tieth-st. police station. arrived, and Plumb was
taken to the police station.
Masterton was placed a bed in adjacent
room and died at 800 o'clock. before the Coro-
ner arrived
1T HAD TO BE-" SAID PLUMB. soBBINo.
When Plumb was taken 10 the police station
he carried with him a satche In this satchcl
were large number OF papers. mostly type
written. Captain Price refused TO surrender
the papers though he allowed their perusai and
Permitted copies to be made OF them. While
Plumb was in the station, II was announced
that MastertOn had died. Plumb bowed his
head on the rail and sobbed. and said, 1T had
to be-
Plumb told Captain Price that Masterton had
bounded him for many years; that he had
ruined him financially, and tried to ALLEVIATE the
affections OF his wife and children, and destroy
his social position.
Plumb was taken before Magistrate Deuel.. In
the Jefferson Market Police Court afterward
and remanded to the custody OF the Coroner.
who. after brief examination. cent him to the
Tombs, without bail. where he spent the night.
Coroner Bausch and his physician. DIR. OHan-
lon, made an autopsy on the body Of Masterton.
They found that one bullet had entered the
right side and passed out through the left. an
other had entered the back and three more had
entered the legs. son OF the murdered man
arrived at his fathers side before he died. Tho
old man, L is said regained consciousness be-
fore he breathed his last, and told his son that
Plumb had shot him.
SAYS HE WAS HoUNDED BY MAsTERToN.
Plumbs typewriter statement which he pre-
pared previous to the murder was as follows:
Why I. J. Neal Plumb shot Alexander Mastcrton-
Inc reason LOT tdniS ln'' ooitcNs oe-fs
hat for upward of thirty-nye years. commencing
as far back as 1862 at the time OF my marriage en-
ragement this man has followed me like sleuth
hound from that time 10 this. and yet was never
,ble TO discover the cause motive or his vindic-
i've animosity toward me- when he commenced
o attack me had never seen the man nor never
Again in 1885 on my return from California, after
hree years absence, he at once renewed tne i' ih-
secretly doing all injury In his power soeia"'
md financially .-s -
onstantly plotting and conspring against me. en-
ea vorng 70 undermine my wifes confidence IN me.
va we man and covert insinuatons and endeavorng
3 y avery way 10 ALLEVIATE the affections OF my wiie
nd children and he had a powerful innuehee' Ne
no no the tr,rstee OF my wifes large estate.
As Il was imr sssible for me to have any peace OF
"a nniness where this man was. AT tne earnest ~
n fion Of my wife, leased our fifth.aye resi-
enca 10 the late Robert Hargrave. ESQ., Tor q lons
eitNc - rfedf for EurOpe with son.