The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-25
from Missouri is not guilty. and / hope
my son will forgive me for H.

itom MISSOURI ~ not guilty, ana hope
my son Will forgive me for II.
OLIVER DoTSON"
Much evidence has been gathered
against James Macarthur, the eX-conyict.
VINO has JUST been captured and who is
accused Of Dotson's murder. IL is said
That before being discharged from the
penitentiary last December Macarthur
promised Clinton Dotson that he would
XIII the captain and thus procure the re-
tease or his son, Oliver Benson. and Elias
Persinger
IL Is said that Dotson. who thus con
nived az the cold-blooded murder OF hts
iathcr In order 20 secure his own libcr-
~, was 90 divide the sum OF $4,000 in
gold with Macarthur as soon as he and
MS two comrades were released.
The money is supposed 10 be cached
al some point in Wyoming Another
convict in tie peni;entary is reported
10 have overheard the plan discussed
by the tNo conspirators and TO have re-
ported 10 the warden az the time.
clinton. Dotson snd Macarthur were
cellmates I'm the penitentiary, and "a was
I'm their cell that the alleged conspiracy
was formed whereby the old man was
TO be murdered, a confession forged IN
which Capt. Dotson was 10 admit that
Cullinane was killed by him and Edward
Cachelin. and protesting the innocence
Of the three men serving terms for the
crime.
WAS FRIENDLY WITH McARTHUR.
After his release from the penitentiary
Macarthur was frequently seen with Cap
tain Dotson. They were In Helena to-
gether on several occasions. Up 20 a
certain time Capt. Dotson appeared 10
have the utmost confidence in the ex-
convict, Notwithstanding his record
While in Helena on one occasion Capt.
Dotson was robbed OF a sum OF money.
Suspicion pointed 10 Macarthur, who,
as usual, accompanied him, and Near
thur was Immediately arrested. Capt.
Dotson would not appear against him,
SO the matter was dropped. When Dot
son returned 10 his cabin In Washington
Gulch, IL IL said. however. he informed
some OF his neighbors that he had been
robbed by Macarthur.
lt will lac shown during McArtlur's 3
trial on the charge OF having murdered
Capt Dotson that he was seen in the Vi
cinity OF Washington Gulch on the day
OF the murder was committed. The men
who saw him AT that time were driving
along the road which passes near the
cabin where Dotson lived. When he
observed the men coming down the roaG
Macarthur stepped aside into the bushes
near the roadside.
The peculiar actions OF the man caused
the travellers 10 pay particular attention
TO him. They were not acquainted with
Macarthur. nut the description they gave
the officers after the murder was discov-
cred tailed with that of Macarthur.
Another circumstance that will weigh
against Macarthur is that he wrote "a let
ter TO Clinton Dotson the day after the
crime was committed. The letter passed
through the hands of the prison officials
who scrutinized IL carefully without be-
ing able TO detect anything unusual abou,
IL.
IL is now believed that the men COM
municated by cipher. or sat invisible Ink
so used. The body of Capt. Dotscn was
not discovered until the day after the let
ter had been delivered 10 young Dotson
in the penitentiary.