The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-05-04
FANCIED WRONGS
Causes One Millionaire 10 Kill
Another In New YORK.

| New York May 3.-AleNander Masterton
a director Of the Farmers Loan & Trust
company and q years on age. was shot
and killed this afternoon by James Neal
Plumb. in the Burlington hotel. ON west
s0th street Mastetton was snot five times
and died within an hour OF two.
The murder was premedtated as ew
ldcnced by vouminous statement writ
ten in advance by Plumb and given out
after hia arrest
/ At present tne real motive Tor The crime
lis unknown. Plumb. I'm his statements
ISSUED ITO the Public" and emitted why
]. ]. Neal Plumb shot Alexander Mas
terton." declared that he had been actual
ed to do the shooting because a systema-
tic bounding for him by -aasterton. Plumb
declared further that Masterton had nc.
only ruined MIN financially. but had a.
tempted to ALLEVIATE the affections of his
wife and children and to cause his so
cial downfall
Pluinb's statements, one OF which was
addressed to the Associate Press, deals
with a period Of his career embracing the
past So years, are rambling in many places
! and conclude with the following:
mo man has a higher regard for human
life than have. But the Just and right
/ tOuH punishment OF AltA NAsLtTtlu IS de
creed by an outraged Goo, and ] am simp-
ly the humble instrument in his hand.
as lie has selected me as His chosen I'm
strument Of wrathful vengeance have
rid the world of a man who is not az
to live and whose death thousand times
over could never atone for the monstrous
wrongs done me"
Masterton and Plumb met by agreement
lea.
the apartments occupied by Manager Cole.
They had been there but snort time
when FIVE shots were nrad. Plumb then
came out and walked into the reception
room awaiting arrest. The murderer was
taken before a magistrate in the JEFF
ferson Market police court and held. Moth.
| ing was brought out at the hearing that
could be accepted as a. reason for the
killing, beyond the statement made by
Plumb that Masterton had bounded him
for many years
MASTERTONS DEEDS.
Plumb recites a number Of crcumstan-
ces showing Masterton's alleged conspir.
acy to ALLEVIATE the affections of his child.
rem a French maid acting as a spy for
Masterton Plumb refers to another con.
spiracy" begun in 1885, which he says is
Known 10 MS lIltuQh as lNa washington
conspiracy" where his eldest daughter
Minnie, laid C. trap for Masterton ana his
lawyers by means OF decoy letters and
kilograms and that his enemy fell into
the trap and did not know he had been
trapped until his daughter displayed the
motive CT these kilograms in Surrogate
Rollins court during an action brought in
connection with the case.
A e ,. 10.
Of his son. ]. Ives Plumb in 1885, with
a woman named Anna Burton, Of whom
he speaks IN no complimentary terms,
and laying the blame for this undesirable
marriage TO Masterton's door, he refers
to what he calls the last conspiracy OF
Alexander Masterton which has culminat-
ed his long years Of cruel, vindlcatng op.
preston by his punishment deoreed by an
outraged God"
lie says that soon after his sons, dis
graceful marriage" he went to Europe,
intending to make his home in southamp.
ton, Eng, and he and his daughters were
as happy there as they could be with a
cloud hanging over them In tne moral
death Of his son. He next refers 10 the
kidnapping Of his daughter Leonita in 1888
after they had returned 20 New York.
She was forced ia a carriage by the
agents of Masterton, he AYERS, and taken
10 the Victoria hotel Later she was TAX
en- 20 Troy She subsequently regained her
freedom The object OF this abduction.
Plumb claims, was to force the girl to
give up her father.
Plumb declares that the Vrongs which
Masterton had done him no law Gould
reach. His words are:
"The man who brought all THIS trouble
in my declining years no law can reach"
MORE HISTORY.
In addition to these conspiracies Plumb
goes into lengthy details regarding the
alleged efforts OF Masterton and others
to bring about a marriage between one OF
daughters and a worthless, fortune seek
ing Englishman. who had made the boast
that he could win the little American
Miss" Plumb did not. however, add any
thing to the statement which he had pre-
pared In advance, regarding the events
that took place Iust prior to the shooting.
He appeared cool Immediately upon his
arrest but when at the police station
words came that Masterton had died,
Plumb broke down and said;
1T had 70 be"
a chambermaid at the Burlington, who
was the only one near the room I'm which
the shooting occurred, told the police
she heard the pistol shots. One of tho
men, she said and she was positive that II
was not MastertOn said in a loud an
CRY tone, II will not be satisfied with
that amount"
Two shots were fred in quick success
sion a moment later and then three more
Plumb came out OF the room perfectly
collected and said 10 her: There's a man
IA trouble in there"
| He had went down stairs and into the
reception room, where .ater he was ar
rested.
Alexander Masterton was a leading re.
sident OF Mount Vernon, here he occupi-
ed a handsome home with his wife and
two daughters, Mrs. c. d. Tibbals and
Mrs w. II Ferris. lie was formerly
connected with the Old Manufacturers and
Merchants bank OF New YORK He had
the management OF manX. estates and was
interested heavily IN Westchester real
lestate lie had held a number OF public
Offices. He was a prominent member OF
the Masonic fraternity and was a pop.
ular man IN Mount Vernon.
j. Neal Plumb al one time was very
wealthy, occupying a fine residence OF
Fifth avenue and having a half million
dollar villa at Islp. l.. I. II Is said by
those who are intimately acqua nted witl
Plumb that he lost most OF AVS fortune
I although he had sufficient left 70 retir,
: from business twenty years ago. lie ais,
lis said by those who know him best, I,
be a popular. easy going man.