The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-04
WAS SHOT FIVE TIMES
Banker Masterson Killed in a
New York Hotel.
REAL MOTIVE Is UNKNOWN
The Murderer Alleges That He Was Sys-
tematically Hounded by His Vic
tim, Who Alienated the Affec-
tions Of His Wife.

New York. May 3.-Alexander Mas
terson. director of the Farmers Loan !
and Trust company. 70 years of age.
was shot and killed this afternoon by ,
James Neal Plumb in the Burlington
hotel on West Thirtieth street. Mas
terson was shot five times and died
within an hour or two.
The murder was premeditated, as evil
denced by voluminous statement writ
ten in advance by Plumb and given out
after his arrest.
At present the real motive for the
crime is unknown. Plumb, in his
statement issued ito the public" and
entitled why I, ]. Neal Plumb. shot
Alexander M. Masterson," declared that
he had been actuated to do the shooting
because of a systematical bounding of
him by Masterson. Plumb declared
further that Masterson had not only
ruined him financially. but had at
tempted to ALLEVIATE the affections of his
wife and children and to cause his So
cial downfall
Plumb's statements. one of which
was addressed to the associated press,
deal with a period of his career en-
bracing the past So years, are ramb-
ling in many places and conclude with
the following:
mo man has higher regard for hu-
man life than l have. But the just and
righteous punishment of Alex Master
son is decreed by an outraged God and
I am simply the humble instrument in
his hand, as he has selected me as his
chosen instrument of wrathful ven-
geance. | have rid the world of man
who is not fit to live and whose death
a thousand times over could never
atone for the monStrous wrongs done
me-
Masterson and Plumb met by agree
ment in the Burlington hotel at 130 p.
m. in the apartments occupied by
Manager Cole. They had been there
but a short time when five shots We're
fired in rapid succession. Plumb then
came out and walked into the recep-
ton room, awaiting. arrest. The murs
derer was taken be- re- Poiir are' e p pafia De II
Price of the 1enderloin precs g1ns, oI
whom he is an intimate friend. He
was later taken before magistrates
in the Jefferson Market police court
and held
Nothing was brought out at the hear
ing that could be accepted as reason
for the killing beyond the statement
made by Plumb that Masterson had
bounded him for many years. He ap-
peared cool Immediately upon his ar
rest, but when ~ the police station.
word came that Masterson had died.
Plumb broke down and said:
1T had to be-
A chambermaid at the Burlington.
who was the only one near the room
where the shooting occurred, told the
police that she heard the men in angry
conversation just before she heard the
pistol shots. One of the men. she said, i
and she was positive that it was not II
Masterson, said in a loud, angry tone.
II will not be satisfied with that
amount.
Two shots were fired in quick success
sion moment later and then three
more. Plumb came out of the room,
perfectly collected, and said to her:
'Theres a man in trouble in there.
He then went downstairs and into
the reception room, where later he was
arrested.
Alexander MaSterSOn was a leading
resident of Mount Vernon. where he
occupied a handsome home with his
wife and two daughters. He was for
merly connected with the old Manu-
facturers and Merchants bank of New
York and later was interested in the
Farmers Loan and Trust company.