The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-04
LEADS ALL NORTH CAROLINA nAlIE@ I'M NEWS AND GRGlA
A SENSATIONAL MURDER
ALEXANDER MAS TERSON KILLED BY JAS.
NEALE PLUMB.
The Crime Premedtated. Plumb Declares he
Was Driven to it by The Systematic
Hourdirg e Ct Masterson.

New York. May 3.-Alexander Master
ton, director of the Farmers Loan
and Trust Company, and y years of
years of age. was shot and killed this
afternoon by James Neale Plumb. in the
Burlington Hotel on West Thirtieth
street
The murder was prcmeditated, as evi-
dence by volumnOus statement written
in advance by Plumb and given out after
his arrest
At present. the real motive for the
crime is unknown. Plumb, in his statc-
mentS issued to the public and entitled
why |, j. Neale Plumb. shot Alexander
Masterton," declares that he had been
actuated to do the shooting because of
Il systematic bounding of him by Master
ton. Plumb declared further that Mast
erton had nearly ruined him financially,
and had attempted to ALLEVIATE the affec-
tions of his wife and children and to
cause his social downfall.
Plumb's statements. one of which was
addressed to the Associated Press, d,al
with Il period of his career embracing
the past thirtyfive years. are rambling
in manyp laces, and concludes with the
following:
NO man has n higher regard for hu
man life than | have; but the just and
righteous punishment of Alexander
Masterton is decreed by an outraged
God, and am simply the humble instru-
ment in His hand. as He has selected
me as His chosen instrument Of wrath
ful vengeance. | have rid the world of
Il man who was not fit to live, and whose
nd
atone for the monstrous wrongs done
me-
Masterton and Plumb met by agree
ment in the Burlington Hotel at |: 80 p.
m. in the apartments occupied by Man
ager Cole. They had been there but Il
short time when five shots were fired in
rapid succession. Plumb then came out
of the apartments and walked into the
reception room, where he was arrested
He was later given hearing. but
nothing was brought out that could he
accepted as IL reason for the killing. he-
yond the statement made by Plumb that
Masterton had bounded him for many
years.
In his statement. Plumb writes as fol-
lows:
..The reason for taking the serious
step was that for upwards III 81 years,
commencing as far back as 1862 at the
time of my marriage engagement. this
man has followed me like Il sleuth
hound from that time to this, and yet |
was never able to discover the cause or
motive of his indicative animosity to-
ward me, as when he commenced to at
tack me | had never seen the man nor
even heard of him"
Plumb declares that the wrongs which
MaSterton had done him no law could
reach
A chambermaid at the Burlington,
who was the only one near the room III
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. she said.
and she was positive that 1T was not
Masterton. said in loud angry tone: Il
will not be satisfied with that amount
Two shots were fired in quick succession
IL moment later, and then three more.
Plumb came out of the room perfectly
collected and said to her:
There's a man in trouble in there.
Z He then went down stairs and i'll to
the reception room, where he was ar
rested.
Alexander Masterton was leading
resident of oAIunt Vernon. where he oc-
cupied il handsome home with his wife
and two children, Mrs. c. B. Tibbals
and Mrs. W. y. Ferris. He was for
merly connected with the old Manuflc-
turers and Merchants Bank of New
York. and later was interested i'll the
Farmers Loan and Trust Company. He
had the management of many estates.
and was interested heavily in West
Chester real estate. He had held Il num-
ber of public offices. He was a promi-
nent members of the Masonic fraternity
and was a popular man in Mount Yer
non.
j. Neale Plumb ut one time, was very
wealthy. occupying Il fine residence on
Fifth avenue and having a half million
dollar villa at Islip. Long Island Ii is
said by those who are intimately &C.
quainted with Plumb that he lost most
of his fortune. although he had suffi-
cent to retire from business twenty
years ago. He also is said by those who
know him best to he Il popular, easy
going man.