The age-herald., 1899-05-04
MURDER WITH A HISTORY BEHIND IT James Plumb Killed Alexander Mas
 torS0n TN A NEW YORK HOTEL Murderer Claimed His Victim Had DOS6ed
 His Tracks TO DESTROY HIS HAPPINESS Had Tried to Wreck Him Financially and Alienate the Affections of His Wife Wrote State
 ment in Advance
TO DESTROY HIS HAPPINESS

New York, May 3.-Alexander Masterson, 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, in West Thirtieth street. Mastersop was shot five times and died within an hour or two The murder was premeditated, as evidenced by voluminous statement written in advance by Plumb and given out after his arrest:
 At present the real motive of the crime is unknown. Plumb in a statement issued to 'the public" and entitled, 'Why I, John Neale Plumb, Shot Alexander Mas terson," declared that he had been actuat- ed to do the shooting because of sys- tematic bounding of him by Masterson. Plumb declared further that Masterson had not only ruined him financially but had attempted to alienate 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 embracing the last thirty-five years, are rambling in many places and conclude with the fol- lowing:
 No man has higher regard for human life than I have. But the just and righteous punishment of Alexander Mas terson is decreed by an outraged God and I am simply the humble instrument in His hands, as He has selected me as His chosen instrument of wrathful vengeance. have rid the world of man who was not fit to live. and whose death thousand times over could never atone for the mon strous wrongs done me"
 Met Nv Agreement
 Masterson and Plumb met by agreement in the Burlington hotel at 1:3O D. m., in the apartments occupied by Manager Colt. They had been there but short time when five shots were heard in rapid succession, Plumb came down and walked out in the reception room awaiting arrest. .
 He was taken before a magistrate in the Jefferson market police court and held. Nothing was brought out at the hearing that could be accepted as a reason for the killing beyond the statement made by Plumb that Masterson had bounded him for many years.
 ' Followed Him Like Sleuth Hound In his statement, Plumb writes as follows:
 was that for upward of thirty-five years, commencing as far back as 1862 at the time of my marriage, this man has followed me like q sleuth hound from that time to this, and yet l never was able to discover his purpose toward me. As when he com menced to attack me I had never seen the man or never heard of him
 "Again in 1885, after my return from Cali fornia, he began his intrigues against me in my family and in public
 'Anser all these years down to 1876 this man was constantly plotting and conspir- ing against me, endeavoring to undermine my wife's confidence in me by covert ln- situations and endeavoring in every way to alienate the affections of my wife and chil- dren, and had a powerful influence, being the trustee of my wife's large estate"
 A Prominent Man
 Alexander Masterson was a leading resi- dent of Mount Vernon, where he occupied handsome home with his wife and two daughters. Mrs. c. B. Tibbals and Mrs. w. N. Freyes He was formerly connected with the old Merchants bank of New York and later was interested in the Farmers Loan and Trust company. He had the con- trol of many estates and was entrusted heavily in Winchester real estate.
 J. Neal Plumb at one time was very wealthy, occupying a fine residence on Fifth avenue, and having a half-mllion- dollar villa at Islip, l.. I. It Is said by those who are intimately acquainted with Plumb that he lost most of his fortune, although he had sufficient left to retire from business twenty years ago. He is also said by those who know him best to be a