The Portland daily press., 1899-05-04
Victim was Bank Director and
Wealthy Business Man.
Alleged Criminal was
Formerly Rich.
Claims His Victim Has H0unded
Him for Years.

New York, May 3.-Alexander Master
ton, a director of the Farmers Loan and
Irust company and ~ years of age, was
shot and killed this afternoon by James
| Neale Plumb, in the Burlington hotel on
West 30th street. Masterton was shot five
times and died within an hour or two.
The murderlwas premeditatsd as evidenced
by the voluminous statements 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 issued "to the public" and
entitled "Why I, J. Neal Plumb. shot
Alexander Masterton," declared that he
had been actuated to do the shooting be-
| cause of systematic bounding of him by
Masterton. Plumb declared further that
| Masterton had not only ruined him dnan-
cislly, but had attempted to ALLEVIATE the
affections of his wife and children and
to cause his social downfall.
Plumb's Statements, one of which was
| addressed to the Associated Press. deals
with period of his career EN- bracing the
past IS years; were rambling in many
places and concluded with the following:
"No man has higher regard for hui
man life than have. But the just and
| righteous punishment of Alexander
Masterton is dscreed by an outraged God,
| and l am simply the humble instrument
| In his hands, as he has selected me as his
chosen instrument of wrathful vengeance.
l have rid the world of a man who was
not fit to live and whose death a thou
sand times over could mover atone for the
wrongs done me. -
Masterton and Plumb met by agreement
| in the Burlington hotel at /. 80 p. M, In
the apartments occupied by Manager
| Cole. They had been there but n short
time, when five shots were fired in rap
id succession. Plumb then came out oi
the apartments and walked into the re-
ception room awaiting arrest.
In his statement, Plumb at great length
reoites the accountssof Masterton's perse-
| cution of him, alleging that he endeas-
orej to turn bis wife against him; that
| he caused his son TO marry an unworthy
| woman and abducted his daughter.
A chainbermaid Mt 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 Just before she heard the
pistol shots One Of the men, and she
was positive that it was not Masterton,
said in loud, angry tone Il will not
be satisfied with the amount" two
| shots were fired in quick succession mo
| menu lAteF anu bu6n luFtS
came out of the room, perfectly collected
and went down stairs and into the recep-
ton room where later he was arrested.
Alexander Masterton was a leading
resident of Mount Vernon. N. Y, where
he occupied handsome home with his
| wife and two daughters. He had the
management of many estates and was in
terested heavily in West Chester real
estate. He had held number of public
offices. He was prominent Mason and
was popular man in Mount Vernon.
j. Neal Plumb at one time Was very
wealthy, occupying q fine residence on
Fifth avenue, and having half million
dollar villa at Islip. l.. 1. Persons in
timately acquainted with Plumb say that
| he lost most of his fortune, although he
| had sufficient left to retire from business
| 20 years ago. He also is said to be popu-
lar, easy going man by those who know
| him best.
| A number of the lawyers interested In
the legal proceeding of the Plumb. Mas
terton case were greatly surprised to learn
| of the murder.
.,J. Henry Thompson one of the lawyers
admitted that Plumb was very bitter
over the court proceedings and believed
that he was the victim Of conspiracy.