Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-05-04
MURDER WAS pRemEDITArED.
Alexander Mastcrton Shot and kiIIcIby lanes
N. Plumb at New Yoik.

ton. director of the Farmers Loan and
Trust Co, y years Of age, was shot ana
killed, this afternoon. By, James Neale
Plumb in the Burlington Hotel, on West
30th street. Mastcrton was shot nNe
times ana died within an hour or two
The murder was premeuitated. as eNinced
by the statements written in advance BY
Plumb ana 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 /, j. Nealc
Plumb, Shot Alexander MdStcrton, de-
clared that he had been actuated TO DO
the shooting because Of systematic
bounding of him by MaSterton. Plumb de-
clared further than Masterton had not
only ruined him financially but attempt
ed to ALLEVIATE the affections OF ms Wlie
and children ana to cause his s0cla. down
fall.
Pumbs statements, one Of which was
addressed to The Associated Press deal
with u period of his career embracing the
pas. - years; were rambling IN many
places ana concluded with the following:
mo man has higher repard Tor nu-
man life than ! have. But the lust ana
righteous punishment Of Alexander Mas
tertOn is decrced by an outraged Goa ana
| am simply the humble instrument IN
~ s hands. He has selected me as HIS
chosen instrument Of wrathiul vengeance.
| have rid the world of man VINO was
not lit 10 live and whose death a thou-
sand times over could never atone fer thc
monstrOus wrongs done me.
MuSlpTtpn ana BiuHD met ny bEI tt'IileilI
in the Burlington Hotel, At l.@9 7. NJ, ln
the apartments occupied by Manager
cole. They hHd been there but u snort
time when five shots were fired in RAPID
succession. Plumb then came oui ri ih"
apartments ana walked to me reception
room awaiting arrest The murderer was
taken before Police captain Price Of IN
TenderlO II precinct, oi whom he Az AN I'M
innate friend. IL was latcr taken before
"a magistrate IN the jefferson Market po-
lice court and held. Nothing was brought
out Mt the hearing thIt cJul Dt accepted
As 4 reason for the kiIiing. beyond the
statement made by Plumb that NaSterlon
had bounded him flr EaDy years
IN hiS statement Plumb wrote H- ful-
lows: The reason for taking tn.S Seri-
Gus step was thar for upwards pi -
years, commencing as far back as lN51
the umc 90 my marriage engagement, I
this nan has followed mo Ike a Slcu D. |
hound rom that time tp THIS. dud Nri ]
WIS never able tU discover thc cause ur
motive Of his vindictiVc drlmusity to- |
wards me. aS when hr commenced W al |
iIrk .nc ! hll never -"gn una man nur |
ever heard ~ him. Again III IH>i, un my |
return from california, after years |
absence. he Ht once renewed tEr 4H-riEurN l
aga nst me Iu ms family ard .H puni.y. /
secretly doing me Iii inc injury ID his !
power. socially and financially. After ali |
thrS" years down iv Ii6. tl4s man Wa |
constantly plotting ANA rpnspiring |
against mo. cHdeaNpr.ug in u1aefm.n- !
my wifc.~ confidence .u mc hy mean and I
every way ID alternate thr affections NJ /
my wife and children. and hc had "A pow I
crtul Influence helms thg trustee III mE /
witc's ldrg. estate. |
IN i,i,. Mrs. Plumb died III Paris. aad /
Plumb went iD hEr iu lsiir. Ills S'atr- /
mlIt rCrItc~ number ul Instances Hi I
3ro thn 3rrrrfInus of his children Il |
French maid acting as q spy fpr Master \
tln Ill refers to another Conspiracy. 1
pcy-lu fu lNNI. which was known .ru I
pluDlb's frIruuS I'm New York and Wash /
InetnA as the "Wash:uGtnu conspiracy. I
where l!s ullcSt daughter. Minnie. ia Z, /
tran for Nastcrlon and mis- lawyers 10y |
means OF dccoy letters and jr.aErdm-. /
Ird rhIr iits ,ncnv ftl .utp tnv tran ANN 4
G.I uut kuov. H. nal been trapped uutl |
bi, T1uchfcl ,I!,,l.yci frc motive Of |
tb.-. T'lart.,r,t tu Surrogate Rollins /
c.,rrt during In action brYught ia cJnncg- /
,icn with Ii. cssa.
Nftcr rec.t ug the s,ury VI The marriage
nT tIs sun u Ives Plumb. IN $50 with % 4
Woman named Anna Burton. Of whom hr i
snc1ks i'm no comp!imrntary terms ANA /
Is,-infr IN. hIamr for This undesirable |
ii .rri1.. n- NlLfor.pu'S door Plumb rc- 4
T.~l III v-ba- III calls thc "la@t great con
.suir9t.v ot Alexander NaStrT30N. which /
ha. ciilmiuutrd Ills long years uf cruel. /
N-irIfrrI1t ,pprrs~lua by his pun Shmeu, !
,l.rr.ed bv IN outraged Cod He says |
ihat soon after his sons "d.sgrJcetul /
marriage" hc went tu Europe. int, ndln- /
-n mako htS home FIJI Southampton, Eng I
i,0J They were as happy there a. they |
cnliII M yyith "a cloud hanging over them |
I'M fhs moral ,iratn aT his suu.
IIe rcXt refers II the alleged Kidnapping |
.f Ms ,iair..htar leOuiia i'm lSsN. after |
.t,,,' bal retlrned III \cyy York She was l
fnr..l jutn II carriage. IN the agents pf 4
Masterton. he ave.s ana was taken Ia
~ Tir,uri, Hotel Later she was take n |
i'll Trnv. Shr subsequently regaincd her !
freedom. Tie n5irct If Ihis abduction. |
Plumb claims. was - force the girl e. |
give up her father. IN addition a. these |
cnnsr.racics. P!amb goes !nJo Lengthy oe-
tails rcEardinE me 1H%-tH cn%ItS ol NJ ~ |
terton anu othcFs ~ oi!hS duou. q li1,t NO
r a-n between one ol mn ddu-HJtIS Ill" |
worthless tprtung-Seekl!l- f-iiG ilSililti'' |
Plumb d:d not &ud ans tllIlS a. ms 70at'
ment prepared in advance, rcSdruing th' |
events just PRIOR tN th' shnoInE- TT ,ip- |
rcarcd COO! on ms arrest put "I,Ih az - wv. |
police station Wo!u came 'Ildl -ht1 81 AZ |
hdd died, I4umb prukt upNh 'ul" Sd!'- !
"It hRd 70 be.
y Chambcrmatd at the BurNhEtuh WAC |
WAS the only one near the room III WhlCu
lhai shf hea[1 lil$ iliCi' % a,rI ia ni9 ~ ris