The New York Herald Newspaper, August 12, 1870, Page 6

THE NATHAN MURDER. Fifth Day’s Proceedings of the Coroner’s Inquest. WILLIAM KELLY ON THE STAND. A Rigorous Cross-Examination and Its Result. The Mystery of the Tragedy Deeper Than Ever, Mr, Nathan’s Watch—A Long Search for It by the Detectives and the Re- sult Disappointment. ‘The Supreme Court room was crowded to suffo- cation yesterday forenoon long before the hour fixed for the opening of the proceedings had arrived, and it was just as much as the policemen in charge could do to keep back the hundreds who clamored for admittance after every inch of available standing room had been seized upon inside, It was given out the previous day that young Kelly, the son of Mr, Nathan’s housekeener, was to be exam- ined on the opening of tie court, and this fact, no doubt, had a great deal to do with attracting the immense crowd to the court, as it was generally believed, from the way the young man’s name had been so often referred to during the inquest, that his evidence would reveal something startling The jury were all in their seats promptly at half-past ten o'clock, but the Coroner did not open the pro- ceedings until eleven o'clock, much to the disgust of the sweltering hundreds in the main part of the room, who were packed together, sitting and stand- ing, as thickly as herrings in a barrel. Samuel Williams, an elderly gentleman, was the first witness who testified. He said he was a lawyer by profession and was acquainted with Morris R, Williams, the mason, with whom he had a conversa- on the afternoon of THE FUNERAL OF MR. NATHAN. He told the witness that he had attended the funeral, and in speaking of having seen the dead body he re- marked that the instrument with which the deed was done was a shipbutlder’s “dog,” and to illus- trate how effective blows from such a weapon would be he took up a poker and raised tt in a striking manner. He also told the witness that hejmad seen a “dog” in the stable very similar to the one that had been used m doing the murder. He referred during the conversation to Mrs, Keliy’s son and remarked that he was doing little or nothing in Mr. house, He was positive that Morris R. Willi told him that he had recognized the “dog found the morning of the trageay the moment he saw it, and that he said nothing whatever which seemed to imply a doubt that he gad seen the “dog” before. ONE OF THOSE TWO GIRLS, Miss Clara Dale, an inmate of the house in Kast Fourteenth strect, already referred to in the evi- dence of Washington Nathan a day or two ago, was the next witness. She was very gayly attired; in a costly dress of green stripea silk, embellished with all the usual paraphernalia of panier, flounces and trimmings. She wore light colored lavender kit gloves, and over a jaunty roand hat of the latest pattern was spread a green vell which hung down over her face almost completely hiding it trom view. Beneath this she wore a black iace “masked battery” which totally covered the upper portion of the face. Her evidence did not amount to much, and only went to corroborate the testimony of Washington Nathan as to the time he left the house in Fourteenth street tie night of the murder. She stated that she had met him at about half-past seven o’clock and gain at nine o'clock, and that he remained im her company until ten minutes after twelve o'clock. The witness, alter giving her evidence, through the courtesy of the gentlemanty Coroner was saved the trouble of elbowing her way through the crowd to return to her seat by carefully conducting ner through the enclosure reserved for the officials, after which she resumed her place Among the audience. The name of William Kelly was cailed soon after this, and as he got up from his seat there arose a murmur among the audience and everybody got on Up toe to get a glimpse at him. He had occupied a | seat near his mother irom the opening of the proceedings, and arose at once when his name was cailed and mate his way | through the crowd direcly to the stand. He is | atall, very spare young man, with sharp features | and smail eyes deeply sunken In his head. He was neatly dressed. He wore a black frock coat, Scotch tweed pantaloons and a ‘dog’ collar, with a shirt | of immaculate whiteness, When he took his seat atter being sworn he looked rather furried and moved his hands about in a restless sort of way, asif he did not know exactly whereto put them. He at firstanswered the questionspat to him by the Coroner | © tm a rather Boweryish bravo sort of style, and fi jost his temper when he was asked as to his birth and who his father was, It is qnite likely that nine men out of ten woula ha lost their tempers under the same circumstances, as the werd certainly not of a character to make a man feel good natured. Indeed, there were many p er- sons in the court room who expressea themselves very freely on the subject and declared the questions as to his father not only not pertinent to the c but simply outrageous, that there is no latitude, legal or otherwise, to ex- aminations in a coroner's inquest, but many people believe that some regard should be had for a wit “ness’ feclings, uo matter who he is, providing always that it is mot a necessary part of the case to disregard them. Indeed, Kelly was treated throughout by the jury and the other exam- mers as though BE WAS REALLY THE ) URDERER and was under arrest for the crime, The examina tion of the witness consumed nearly two hours and was of the most rigorous character. The Core was the first to take him in hand, and then he was delivered over to the tender mercies of the District Attorney, who, aiter exhausting his own stock of quest.ous, and nearly exhausting the witness hime self, gave him up to the jury, who made most of the opportunity, as will be seen by a perusal of the ev dence as reported in fuil in anoth olumn. ‘The witness showed that he was not a very intelligent sort of person and tp many instances contradicted himself, but it was evident from the way he did it that the cause nota desire to equivocate, but the result of the confusion of mind into which he was thrown by way he was pelted with quea tions that were pur y put to THROW HIM OFP HIS GUARD xzzle him. In one instance, however, when he could not nave been confused, a portion of his evidence as taken before Superintendent Jourdan a days ago was read to him, and which was in with part of his sworn statements in terday. It was in relation to his ts on the affernoon precediug the night Hie swore yesterday that he met cqnaintances of spoke about the the whereas of the murder. that afternoon two young m court Nis, in Madison square, to wii then ph in the poke of that and nothiug more. Tu ad to him he was reported as having Said that while in the Fark he met wo, person whoin | he knew to whom he spoke a word. This, on being soned, he denied having stated. One of tue jost astonishing statements he made was that he never heard tell of “bounty jumping,” ner did he | know What the term meant, yet he enlisted in the | army aud served jor nearly a year during the war, ‘Testimony of Sumac William ‘amuel Williams sworn and examined;—I reside 22 West Twenty-fourth street; ama lawyer by profession; on th A 1 the a/ternoon, Mr. Willams was in my office and spoke of the funeral; he spoke of Mr. Nathan as an acquaintance, and sald that he had bulit his house and worked Jor him for several years; he spoke of Mr. Nathan as an estimable man; he satd that he had had men at work there about the time of the murder; that on the morning of the marder he saw the young Mr, Nachans, one of whom told him his fever had been murdered. Mr. Wiliams then said he saw the Lody, and described its position and the appearance of the room, the furniture and the clothes; as to the wounds he sai! there were four or five onthe head or temple, and that they were made by aD iustrument called a dyz; he de Jt 18 generally. supposed | questions | day of Mr. Nathan's funeral,in / | No, sir. Q. What time do you generally breakfast? A. | About eight orelock. " Q. bo tie family breakfast before or after that? | A. Alter. Q. What do youdo alter breaktast? A. Stop in the house and atiead to the door bell. Q. Js that a portion of your duties? A, Yes, sir. Q. At ali times when’ you are tn the house? A. Yes, si. . Does that occupy you In the house ail day? A. scribed it; be @id not use tt, he said, tn his pust- we tool, and deseribed how used; he iilustrated the ap nce the — ins lying on the the 08 tying avout in the stable a year ; he said he did not bey for w: ised | spoke Of housekeeper; he recollected that ou one it to Mrs. Keily, who said it was very hot, and then shut it; he spoke of Mrs. Kelly’s sou, who assisted his mother; had war, and doin or nothing in about luoaer dog that he recognized it ag @buy ay he saw it as the one about the stable; I thingy saose were bis words; he said he thought Mr. Nathan came up from Jersey in a public conveyance and that the coachman was ship- | Wateon? peara: wor | went wit which was | Twelfth street. Had you ever met them before? A. I had never them before, an@ I went to Massachuselts at bly in repair- | their solicitation, ne recruiting was going onin New st Q. You Q Wh to- Lawrence ? met At that york? A. YY Ir. What bounty did . Five hundred dalane ty did you receive? A. Fiv Sao, much of that did you send your mother? a ree handred and titty doltars; 1 Kept $10. in the army? A. I joined the army the 9th of Oc- J got the bounty.on the 23d of August. o Where was your regiment at that time? A. At Petersburg, at thie frout. What was the name of your colonel? A. We in the country; we had some general conversation | did not have any colonel when I joined; the major also about this matter; he expressed sorrow for the fauily and hoped the murderer would be discovered, ge District Attorney—Did he ever express any doubt about this being the same instrament he nad seen in the stable? A, No, sir; that was the impression he left on my ‘mind; 1 think his words were, “I knew it as soon as I saw ’ he said it was about a3 long as the poker, but hardly, and that it was bigger. By @ Juror—Mr, Williams 18 no reiation of mino; I have been a lawyer twenty years; | looked upon What was said a3 crushing upon the coachman or some other person, 4. As a lawyer, with your mind trained as a law- ness. as he was @ mason; he Sa wes 8 trument by @ poker, table; he sald nethiad seen ‘hat it hi ug the floor; that was not all the conversation; he occasion the door was open, and he remarked about he said the been in the was Mitte the house ; i yer, your attention was called to the significance | A, ad Importance of this fact, and you called his at- commanded it; I belonged to Company D, Captain Page. ‘EF pia you ever have any subsequent captain? A. Yes, sir; Captain Powderley, Does his name appear In your discharge papers? A. I think it does, “Q. Where are your discharge papers? A, They were Ra in a tronk at Mr, Nathan’s, not at part of the house’ A, In the coach ol 1ISe. Q. Have you looked for those papers? A. Yes, sir; yesterday afternoon, after I returned from the court; I did not find them, When did you look for them last before that ¢ ‘ot in a year. Q. Have you been before Superintendent Jourdan ? tention toit? A, Yes, sir; 1 called his atteation to | A. Yes, sir. 1, aud he said “IT LOOKS DARK,’? or something of that kind; I mentioned this circum- stance to Mr, McCoy at the dinner table by the imerest accident, acd the next morning [ saw about it in the H#KALD; detective Farley called upon me a few days ago: I think he had a sitp of the HERALD in his hand, and he asked me if was true; I said ] did not cndorse any man’s paper, but that tv Was substantially true; Thad a conversation wi.h detective Farley about the conversation | had with Mr. Wiullams, * Sestimony ef Clara Dale. Clara Dale, sworn and examined—Reside at 104 East Fourteenth street; am acquainted with Mr. Washington Nathan; I saw him on the evening of the murder avout halt-past seven o'clock; left hi about elght o'clock; met him again on that evening at nine and lett him ten minutes past twelve; he was in my company during that time. ‘Testimony ot William Kelly. William Keliy sworn and examined Q. Whatis yourn:me? A, William Kelly, ao Where do you reside? A. 12 West Twenty-third street. Q. How long have you been in this country? A. Going on eleven years. Q. How old were you then? A. Going on about thirteen, Q. What was your first business? A. I went to ‘school. Q. What school did you goto? A. St, Patrick's, @ Where did you go when you came from that? A. To work. . Where? A, Ata hat factory. How long did you go to school’? A, Altogether about two years—thiree or lour years; that was when I first arrived in this country. }. Whose hat factory did you work at? A. Boyle's, m Clif? and Front street, pay did you live at thattme? A. Eleventh be What was your salary? A. I do not know. . How long dui you remain there? A. I was there about a year. Q. Where did you go from there? A. T worked sor a plumber and gasitter la Eighteenth sireet; that ‘Was it 1861 or 1852. -@. Where did you go from there? A. I went to work down at the corner of Broome street. At what business? A. Silver plaung. . Who did you work for there? A, Mr, Hart. . Did you at any time work for Mr. Underiull? ‘es, sir, I have. Q. What ume’ A, In 1853 or 1864, Q. How long were you at work forhim? A, Well, about @ year altogether; I am not certain about dates; Ido not commit these things to memory. Q. What did you do alter you seft there? A. T was in the army, Q. Where did you enlist? A. Lawrence, Mass. Q. How came you to go there io enlusty A. I just wWeut there to enlist. Q. Lussed you the reasons that inauced you to go there? A. I Went to entist there. Q. For what reason? A. To go into the army; that is ail the reason I bad—no other reason; i was vat of employment and could not get work. Q. You coud have enlisted here? A. I suppose so; 1 had no special reason to go there, Q. Who did you go with A, A couple of youn fellows—George Deagau and Patrick Calahan Q. What regiment did you goin? A, ‘The eighth Massachusetts, Captain Page. Q. Did those men with you enlist also? A, No, str. V seen them since your return from (ie st wenty- papers ? pie he ask you about your dischat A. Yes, str; ace yester- ; T have not looked for them 31 day. "S: Had you any reason for not looking for them ? A, Superintendent Jourdan did not teli me he "0. are 0 disch: howl . Are those your discharge papers (showin, papers)? A. Yes, sir, eer BOR . Is that intended to be a photograph of you? A. Yes, sir. Q, Atthe ume you entisted’'you did not wear a Taustache ? No, sir. @. How soon after joining the regiment did you leave it tor the first time? A. 1 was not absent a day ungil 1 was discharged. nf Did you ever work for a Mr. Beekman? A, No, A. Where m | Bot to my knowledge. Q. Are you quite positive of that? does he keep his place of business’ Q, ask ie have you ever worked for a Mr. Peek man? A. 1 might forget all about it; 1 never re- member these things. Q. At any place where you have worked have you ever had any diMoulty with your empioyers?’ A. No, sir; not the slightest. Q. No suspicions of dishonesty have ever attached to you’ A. No, sir, never, Q. Have you ever been accused of taking $200 in money? A. No, sir, never, Q. On the morning afier the murder Aid you go out of the house? A. I went over to the Filth Ave- nue Hotel for a piece of ice. Q. Did you go elsewhere? A, No, sir. Did not you goon acar? A. No, sir . You were nol absent trom the house for an od ortwor A. No, sir; 1 stoppeu im the house all ay. : Q. You answer, then, that Mr. Nathan was mur- dered on Thursday night? A. 1 do uot know whether it was night or morning. Q. And you did not leave the house except for the purpose of getting a piece of icey A. Yes, sar. Q. tow long were you gone? A, Two or three minutes, Q. You remained in the house all the day? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you ever enlist or offer to enlist New in Jersey, or in this Sate’ A, No, sir; my moth mistaken about my enlisting im New J knows nothing about it, Q. You have never had any difficulty, or been ac- cused of any crime, or been in the hands of the Police? A. No, str; I have never been suspected. Q, Can you give any reason for yoing into the army under @ false name? at that time in Massa- chusetts It was not a disreputable thing to eater ihe arjay? A. No, su"; not to my knowlege. Q. Were you y Ume court martialled during your service In the army? A. No, sir, never. Q Or bes belore aly court of inquiry + sir, neve q. There have been no ch a . you ever been use of liquory A. No, sin. qQ. Uave you seen to Massacnisetis First avenue. q. Are you not aware that George Deagan has been sent to the siaie Prison for lighway robbery doring the fast tiree months? A, i am not. ustomed to the free AY ince the war? es, 8 i, in 1 do not kno Dia they ¢ did. Q. The only object the: y had was to accompany in. y in New York now? A. Ihave not ay Q. Dii they take on there to enlist? A, Yes, sir. Q. What bounty ‘did you receive’ ve hun- | dred dollars. Q Was that all the pounty given to recruits at that time? A. 1do not know; i inight have $1,000, perhaps; $500 1s all | got Why did not you receive as much as anybody ? A, [do not Know; 1 suppose the other uvo lows got the rest, ©. What entitled tem to tt? A. I do not know. £ Q How loug aid you stay in the army? A. Tili suly, A800, Q. What were the cirenmstances thai compelled yo. toleayer A. I was discharged Q. Have you that discharge now Q. You have not your discna at Some place 1n tie house, q. ‘Then it 18 im your possession? A. tinhk onicer Bennett took it down yesterds, A, No, sir, A. Ji is home sir; 1 | A. | Hieventh str aid you live? A. Laid not do any- Q. What did you do there | thing; 1 bad fo go to the hospital, { Q. How long were you in the It A. From | of August to the 23d of Oc | e you discharged on a of bemg | A. Yes, si, and disability too. | ving te hospital what did you do | | uexty A. I went home; I couid not wo Q, Afier you recovered from your wounds what did you do? A. Stopped home, q. From the time you came ont of the army up | to the pr time What have youdoue? A. Lave worked in Mr. McGee's place, in Barclay street, Q. He is the only person you nave worked for since your return from the army? A. Yes, sir. | Q. Jiow jong after you came out of the nespial | did you work for (his many A. T wentto work ior A. Up till May. ary therey A Q. Have you done anything sivce thattimey A, No, sir. Q. Has your mother any other place of aboue ex- cept Mr. A, Notat fhe present time, Q. What did you do at Mr, Nathan's; A, 1 attended round the house, Went of errand ed the shoes, swept off the sidewalk and did anything to be doug about the house. Q What salary did you receive? A. Lrecetved no salary Q. Who takes care of the horses? A, The coa man and groom. Q Why was inthe honge on the nigh der besides the faypily apd yoursell sir, fo my knowledge. Q Wiere id the coachman end groom reside: A. ‘The couchman slept tn the stabie, Does )our mother support you? All, then,’ that youn received at your board’ A. Yes, str. g have you been steeping *y A, Four summers, | ecolleetion of any man being tn | the day prior to the murder? A. No, “sir, | e two carpenters and the mason and the of the mur- A. No one, in ¢ during the employment of these any strangers inthe house? A. | men did you Q. What time did you get up on the morning of | the 29th of duly? A. About half-past five or six | o’clock—my usual time of rising, | Q. What is the first thing you usually do when you get np’ A. Lgo downstairs, aweep off the side- walk, black the ehoes, take them up stairs, go oul and sweep the yard and go on avy errands that want to be don Not all day. @. Who attends to the door bell when you are ab- s y mother doe: Q. do you do iu the daytme when y not In the house’ A. Go out to tuke a walk are go over into the square, sit dowa awhile, cou again, go down to the reading room of the Young Men’s Christian Association to read the papers. — Q. How long have you been inthe habit of going unere? A. About a couple ot years. Q On the night of ie mure what time dia you leuve the house? «A. Seven o'clock Q. What ume did you retui pust ten. A what Ume were you aware that Mr. Nathan homey A. My siotuor told me he was; | did not Buu Qe Mh A. A, Six minutes assing his room, was lls door open? sir: ib was open. iid you notice a gaslight varning tn the room? pice It. Y ~ Ldid no! . | By the District attorney—What 1s yonr father's frst uamer that, A. Don’t ask apy such questions as Q When you came home from the aviny where | think it was a double-cased watel | sides yon? you aul see you enlist? A. Veapsix. @. Did you'pay them any part of yourbounty? A. | No, sir, Q. They got no remuneration for going there? A. | Nor from me. Q. They were acting out of pure (lendship? A. | Yes, sir. } Q. How jong i ibeen itving im Mr, Nathan’s ‘ seusiomed Lo go through Mr, Nathan mises us you pleased? A. Yes, sit. Q. Jn the back yard and coach house? A. Yes, sir. @. When did you last see that de house’ A. 1 never saw itjn the ¢ It Airst on (he moralog of the murder Q What kind of diamond studs did Mr, io the coach | have? did they fasten with a screw? A, Ldo not know, wi Ts uw kind of a watch was Mr. Nathan's’ A, [ of the size of the sir; 1 have seen size ol yours, jonds he A. Leannot, q. On Ue mi past fiver A. Yes, sir. Q. Who slept in ‘the fourth slory of the hoase be- A. Only me. Q, Was there any person that night exeopt yoy ¢ did you walk arouna o gel sume walter to . When you woke how the roomy A, Gace or iwie you i came down m the low appeared v father bud been mur k very distinetly, he Was so Q. What aid you say ordo? A, T did not sa thing, Fwas so much horrided; 1 could not spi word | iy vhave in your hand at that time? | 2 a Mr. Washington's shoes wer A. sed? Yes, sir, » second Moor, In Uhe Toor ¢ room at that time? A. an, my mother and Mr, W tain. Lam not © 4 | them tn the hail, Q. How soon did you return a Aninutes, ou go to blacken them Q. You are posit than’s house that m Yes, sir, no! to my Know y except (0 get the lve? A. age. q. You would have knowledge of it on liad? A. | Yes, sir; Lat confident [did not. Q. You ar postive abont that as ofany state- ment you have made herey A. Yes, sir. q. On the eveuiius belore the jmurder were you at re Yes, sir, lw tpurposey A. F went ov 1 was playing that evenm) Nathan ther ‘ou go front Maddison sat to hear the e square? A, To no aq. When you | Mr. Natuan’s / Yes, sir, (did. Q. Had you been to (he reading room of the Young Men’s Christian 0 jou that d ‘ in the forenoon, avout Q. How ions wnere Fou tn the arm close of the w. Dia you y wis disbanded’ A. Until the jurn to Washington when the grand A. L was in the hospital Q During that year that you were in the army you learned something about bounty jumping? A. No, sir: I have never heard it spoken of Do you kuow of your own know meant by bounty jumping? A. No, sir; (do not. Q. Have you ever been accused of doing anything of the kind? A. No, sir, never. Q. Do you kuow what Deagihn and Calahan dtd when they returned to New York’ A. No, sit. Q. How often ave you seen them since the close or the wary A. Avoul was e year ago. Q. Jiad you much couversation with them then? ALN, sir. «. What were they dolag at that time? A. 1 do not kne q. Where were they living? 4. Ido not know, Q. How did you meet them? A, By ehance. Q. Do you think you could recognize ihose men ogain? A. Yes, sir. Q. Have you ever beer in Mr, Nathan's Nbrary? A. Yes, sir. Q. When last before the murder? days. s q. What was your business there? A. He called A, Four or five Q. You will answer all questions that are asked you here. What is your father’s mame. A. William. Q. When did you see him Jasty A. Ido not know. Q. Did he die vefore you came to this country? A. I think he did; Lam nog sure of that. ind you ever go by any other name? A, Yea, ; Laid in the army. . q. What was that name? A, James Watson. Q. Was it by (hat naiue you enlistad? A. Yes, sir. Q. What was the reason you gave a false name in the army? A. Because { «id not want vo give my right yame; I did not like to, Q. Under what name do you receive your pension? A. James Waison, Q. \ou are, inher, receiving it under a false name & A. Yeu, site si me upjsiairs to go ancirand; he gave me some money; he got it out of lis pocketbook. Q. Was the safe door open when you were there ? A. No, sit, it Was not; I never saw It until the morn- ing of the murder; I have never seen the key of the sate in my life; [have never been in Mr. Nathan's room after he retired for the night, Q. Did ne usually leave his door open? A. Ido noi kuow; Mr. Nathan slept in the country; he used not to be at home; he has only been home while I have Leen there twive before; once was on the night of the murder. Q. When he was at home before at what time did he gotobed? A. Ido not know. q. What me did you go to bed that night? A, About ten minutes past ten, got Tor ciacharge papers in the name of A. ‘Yes, sir, dia you meet men that ts ein Fuse avenue ind was his door lett open? A. J think 1t was closed, How long after recefving the bounty did you back to New York? A. J think { A Q. Did you take the shoes up stairs? A. L ieft | a dozen times; the last time nese men that went with you | squ } toay { vathan | your tru Q. Was Mr, Nathan accustomed to go to bed at an eary hour? A, 1 believe he was. Q, When: he came howe first from the country Q. When yousaw the door open did it excite your attention? A. No, sir. Did it seem an unasual thing? A. No, str: T pasted directiy up stairs; there was a stair Mabt urning at the end of the hall. Q Do you know whether Mr, Nathan was aceus- tomed to have any light burning when he went to bed? A. No, sir. y That library door, leading into the ball, was It locked on the mside or tne outsider A. 1 do not know if it was locked; it was shut. 9. Do you know if that door was usually kept locked? A. No, sir, ‘te Have you entirely recovered from your wound? es ir. t Since how long? A. About a year in he army? A. No, sir; my leg 18 weak, . Have you any trade? A. No, str, |. What trades have you worked at? A, Mat- making, plumbing and gasfitting and boiler making, Q, Are you competent to go into elther of those trades and do a man’s work? A, No, sir; 1do not undersiand them, Q. Could you serve as a laborer in those trades? Nar fihve you tried to-get work yf th ve you work In any of those trades’ A. No, sir. i ri Q. Has your mother any means besides what eho bir by going out? A. No, str, not to my knowledge; have been supported by my mother without trying to get work; I have not earned any money. Q. Who furnishes you with your clothing? A. My PENSION MONEY. Q. How inneh is that? A. Eight dollars a month, Q. When you examined the trunk for your dis- charge papers who was with you? A. No person. Q Who gave you the key of the trunk? A. I did not have any key; the trank is my mother’s; I wanted to see If the officer took the paper out; 1 had no conversation with my mother about it yesterday unl we got to the hoase, KS You never worked for a Mr, Beekman? A, No sit, Q. How long before you left Ireland did you see your fathery A. 1 canuot say; 1 do not know whether iny father and mother lived together; I Hare ners heard from my father since I came from reland. Q. When did your mother come over here? A, I cannot say; Lcame over from Ireland in i859, and was then (welve years of age. . You say you were twelve or thirteen years of age when you arrived in this country’ A. To the beat of my knowledge, Q. Did you Lot say just now you were twenty-five or thirty years of age? A. No;'I did not. By the Coroner—Were you sent to any school in Ireclandy A, Yes; 1 went to a school in the same place 1a which I was bora; it was a parish school. Q, You said just now you were with two friends In Madison square oa the eventug previous vo the mur- der; what was the conversation there? A. We talked about the music. Q. What were the names of those triends? A, One was James Gardy and the other James Cassell, Q. What was the business or occupation of those two men? A. One was a plumber by trade; I can- not say what the other was; I got up at my usual hour on Thursday morning; I came home at six minutes tee} ten on Thursday evening, after I had been to Madison square, listening to the music, and Idid not go to any other place that night, Q. Have you any other clothes beside those you are now wearing? A. Yes; I have a black cloth coat and pants and waistcoat of mixed cloth, = you sure Mrs, Kelly 1s your mother? A, es, sir. Q, From whom did you obtain this knowledge, and who brought you here from Ireland? A. iy mother sent for me, and I was brought bere in charge of another person, After a recess of ten minutes Kelly was recalled, By the Foreman—When did you awake on Friday morning? A. Between half-past five and six o'clock, when I got up, dressed and came down stairs. Q. From whom did you first hear of the murder? A. I first learned it from Mr, Frederick Nathan: I met him on the stairs and he told me in a very excited manner that his father had been murdered, Q. Did vou hear any screams before you came down stairs. A No, si heard no screams. Q. When you saw jathan’s body lying in his room did you approach the body to examine it? A, I did not approsch nearer than within five or J arges preferred against | sx feet; | did not see my mother when T first came down; | spoke to Mr. Wiillams, the mason, and oue or two others about the murder that morning. Q. Was there not a woman with you iu Madison in addition to the two young men you have A. No, 6hr; Iam pogittye 1 did not speak a n in Madison square? Q. When you lave been im Mr. Nathan's room with reference to errands you sometimes did for hin did yor ever ea safe there? A. Yes; 1 saw yum Q. After you enlisted were did these imen go? | the Safe last summer, but 1 did not see the key of A the safe, ver talked with wny one about the pald me money when i went ou Q. From where did he usually take the money which he gave your A. Out of his pocketbook. q. Aave you had any articles washed since the murder? A, Yes. sit; } think my mother shed Them in the house; | have not seen them sin Have youeyer been arrested or been in the aids of tu? poliee, or were you, during the thne ) tite artay, subjected to a court martial ? No. | was never arresied or subjected to a yurt marca, Q, Ind you ever remain any iength of time in the stable while you have beeu to Mr. Nathan's house? Yes, sir; the coacbman was always in the coun- vhen | was there. Q. Did you keep your clothes and papers in your A. It was my mother’s trunk in whieh they id you kept your papers, &c., in been to the trunk since the A. [ have not been murder | was kept over the sta lem in his | aboubthe stable and yard this yer tn | know there wa ning of the murder you rose at half | library; J knew there wi ny: | ay | slons some. | ing the last tw srick Nathans in the lower | three or four times; I have no specific place of wor- | ship, but go sometumes to one aud then another. to black the shoes? | M ' ye you were not ont of Mr. Ma- | | to Mr. 1 did not | to the trunk My ull nothing in the trunk beionging to me | butmy pension and discharge papers; the trunk jast evening since the murder; there Ww orywhere vepting the oft; L have not been in the hayloft this sum- ihave been e Q. Were you aware that there wasa closet in the dining room in which a Jarge qnanuty of sliver | Was kept? A, | Knew there was a closet there, but 1 dad not know there was any sliver in it; 1 did not a safe anywhere but in Mr, Nathan's sets in the billiard room, which were usually left op vonversation wiih the tabor- nn's house? A. No, sir; nor have | had any one to visit me at Mr. Nathan's house Ulis sumiter, Q. Who do you think committed the murder? T have not the stightest idea, Q. Do you suspect anyhody ? Q. How m rooms aré there on the top floor? 4, Four rooms; there is also an open water tank; though these roums were always open T did not enter them. Q. Do you veimember if you were near the water tank on thatday? A. I cannot recollect. . What religious belief have you, Mr. Kelly’ A. Lam a Cathoite. Do you atrend reguiarly , atieud confessions, &c.! A. A. No, slr. to WY religious A. 1 atiend confes- ay do you attend confession? A. Dur- Q. How « years T have attended confession Jow much money has Mr. Nathan given you wenty-five dollars or ‘A. | nave us mnueh as th rs from him th € mine rs (. Had you everan altercation or dispute with A sun « No, sit. ver been in any other regiment ov entered in Massachuse Ihave never gone under any other s¢ of James Watson and William Kelly. Q. What ume did yousay you came home on Thursday night? A. At six minutes past ten o’ciock. Q. How is it you remember so accurately 23 to give the precise time? A. Lsaw the time by the clock at the Fifth Avenue Hotel; my mother Jet me tn and L jocked the door safely aiter me; 1 saw my mother lock the back door, Q. Were you acqualnted with the woman who was in charge of the VACANT HOUSE NEXT DOOR i's’ A. No, sir; only Knew the house ng the bill in the widow that the Naihan be- A. No, house was 3 q. When Mr. V shington and Mr, Frederick Na- | than caine in did they make much pojse—I mean in eft the square did you retacnto | Coming up stairs, Yes, sir, | 4! v ; then and j am now sleeping in age what is | | the A. [never heard them; I me in uing)-—1 wish you wonld mention you have been in the house since ; have you slept tn the house, in sleptin another room since he middie room, on wud hot the atic room; Tam certain uns the night of the murder. the ciowwes washed which you named just now? A, In the house, by my mother. Q. Have you been to your mother’s rooms, in Fit tecath stxeet, this summer? A. No, sir, Q. Has your mother a sister living? A..Yes; she visited my mot at Mr. Nathan’s in July last— about a week before the murder; she did not sleep in the house; her home is in Connecticut, Q. How long was she there?’ A. ‘Three days. Q. Wass she there three days successively t A. No; she caine at different times; she used to come at o'clock in the morning and leave at ix i night. Q. Was this trunk we have spoken of keptin the coachman’s room? A. Yes; and locked, (. Was the room locked? A. Yes. low did you get in if 1t was locked? A, I had don't Know wien Porem: 1 ( cont your room? ine saine flo 1 heard no ser Q. Where we: Q. Did you notice if Mr. Nathan’s room door was open on ine morning we are speaking ofy A. I inink it Was open, but I did not notice particularly; Jusually went out the first thing In the morning to Sweep the stoop, &c., but Lomittea dolng soon the Friday morning; I went over that morning to the Fiith Avenue Hotel for a piece of ice; Ldid not go out anywhere else outside the house before I heard that Mr. Nathan was murderea. Q. Did ihe police enter the house before you came down siairs? A. Yes; there was one standing near the door; there was a crowd collected in front of the eee some time after, and near the Fifth Avenue ‘otel. Q. How near did you approach the body of Mr. Nathan when you saw it hie im the room? A. I went within five or six feet of it. . Q. Did youenter the smail room then? A, I did not; I feit so horrified when I saw the body that t could not go near it; Isaw the pody again before it was placed in the coffin, ° Q. Have you not been engaged in action while in the army and accustomed to see men shot down by scores, aud yet you say that when you saw Mr, }. Are you as strong as you were before you weut Nathan's body you were afraid wo gonearit? A, I had only been in one e ment, Q. Has your mother had any other rooms than ben ? a. Yes, in Eleventh and Fifteenth . Are you snre you have never worked for aman bythe name of Beekman in Third avenue? I don’t remember, Q. When you go toreceive your pension is it not Tequisite that youshould be by two per. sone? A, 1 do not know; I on! 4 receipt in the name of James Watson, the name in which I en- lasted in the army; I was examined after the murder by Superintendent Jourdan and detective Farley; if took an oath at all on entering the army it was in the name of James Watson. By a Juror (snowing a ethook)—Is that Mr. Nathan’s pocketbook ¢ A. No, sir; 1 think the one I saw in his haud was smaller and darker, i Willyou show me how to openit? Yes, sir, (Witness opened the book.) Q, Take that instrument in ne hand, and say whether you ever split any kindling wood with tt, A. Ihave split kindling wood with @ small axe or hatchet, but never saw this dog" before the day of the murder, Q. Have you seen that axe or hatchet this sum- mer?! A. No, sir, Ihave not. By the Coroner—How do you account for this—if you always locked the basement doors, how did the Masons get in before you or your mother were up? A. We were up when they came. By the District Atiorney—Did yon meet any ac- paence there in Madison square on Monday? her saw two young feliows; 1 conversed with Q. Do you remember your statements heretofore arding that? A. Yes, sir, Did you make the same statement hefore as you have now? A. Yes, sir; 1 am confident 1 did not say that I had seen anybody, Testimony of Francis Wheato Francis Wheaton sworn! and examined—am a& carpenter; worked for Mr. Nathan about the 12th or 16th September last; never saw the dog ‘the staples; Mr. Willams asked me the n/ dast if I had ever seen the dog about the premises; he seened pretty Positive that be had seen one similar to this one there; that was about the substance of what was sald; I cleaned the stable out, and it was not there then: if it had been there 1 think Lshou'd undoubtedly have seen it; Mr. Wil- Hams described it and said he thought he had seen it after the carpenters had been there: he seemed as if he wouid not like to take his oath about it, but Was pretty sure he had seen something tke it; do not know any instrument like that employed about @ coachhouse, Kelly Reenlled. William Kelly recaiied, By the District Attormey—Were you at work at Mr. Nathan's iast September’ A. Yes, sir; the fam. ily were in Connecticut, The Coroner here read an aMldavit from Mr. Morris R, Williams, dated the 3d August, in which he posi- tively stated that the “dog” was not the tustrument had seen lying about the coachhonse, The inquest was then adjourned until nalf-past ten o’clock this morning. MIR. NATHAN’S WATIH. A Loug Search by Detectives and the Result a Hoax. , Captain McDermott on the return of the Eighth precinct yesterday morning gives the following de- tatled account of a fruitless search for Mr. Nathan’s watch:— At a quarter-past six P. M., August 2, Snperin- tendent Jourdan sent a telegraphic despatch to no- tify all pawnbrokers, loan offices, second hand deal- ers and jewellers to stop and cause to be arrested any person offeripg a donble-case gold watch, stem- winder, No. 5,657. I directed detective Glynn and Dunn to go notify these persons. When in the Jewelry store of Geo. W. Schedermann, 187 Spring street, they were informed by Frederick Zingrebe, a workman there, that on the previous Saturday a colored man presented a watch of that description and wanted to ascertain its value, which the jew- | eller declined to give, ana the man cit. I called upon Zingrebe next day and he informed me that 5,657 was positively the number of the watch, and gave me a description of the man who presented it. At seven P. M. same day, with detective Dunn, we arrested a@ colored man answer! the given description at the corner ef Broome and Thompson streets, He gave the name of James Jefiers, aged thirty, a waiter by occupation. The waten, he said, was given bim by Edward ——, a bartender at Ed. Lynch's, at the corner of Broome and Thompson streets, to find out its value. The bartender was arrested, and gaye his name as Ea- ward Melley, aged eighteen. When questioned he said that on the previous Saturday a colored man came to him wanting to borrow money on the watch, and he only wanted to ascertain its value be- Jore giving the money, and sent Jeffers to the jewel- Jer’s ior that purpose. He loaned the stranger five dollars on It; but he called soon after and redeemed it, and he had not seen the man since. He did not know the man’s name, except that be was called Smit or Smitty, but gave a description of him. We iooked for him in the resorts for colored men in all parts of the ¢: and finally on Sunday even- ing, the 7th, we learned of the existence of one Wil- ham Thompson, alias Smit, living at 60 Thompson street; but nearing of the arrest of the others he left for Newark, On Monday evening, accompanied by the detec- tives, Lwent to Newark and learned that he had gone with an excursion party up the Hudson. Finally we came back to the city and cap- tured bim in Thompson street. He gave his name as William Thompson, aged thirty-two, & waiter by occupation, He bought the watch, | he stated, at Heury Goldstein's loan office, ; No, 208 Spring Crone for fifty dollars, ng tothe | | same man for forty dollars in @ few days, I went to the pawnbrok whom { confronted with Thomp- son, and @ Waich was roduced, which they acknowledged to be the one In question. On examining the watch Thad so long been look- ing for, Lfound that it did not answer the descrip- | tion given of Nathan’s watch, eltner in make or number. Iam contident, however, that the watch was stolen, the pawnbroker having sold it far be- low its value. On Tuesday last, the prisoners were taken before | Judge Barnerd, of the Supreme Court, ona writ of habeas corpus, and the writ was dismissed. On Wednesday they were taken before Justice Dowling and discharged, there being no evidence against | tnem. THE CENSUS RETURNS. i Complete List of all the Returus Made So Far ‘The census returns are now coming in with con- | siderable despatch, and Marshal Sharpe feels confi+ | dent of being able to have them all in on or before the 1st of September. The following are correct re- turns of the vartous enumerators for the several dis- ticts or sub-divisions which have been sent in up tothe present time. General Sharpe has compiled | the first forty complete returns and forwarded them to Washington, and one-half of the claims of the enumerators will now be paid upon application at his office in Chambers sireet:— FIRST WARD. POURTEENTH WARD, w. T. Coleman J. Allen. SIXTEENTH WARD. . Barclay 4 3,649 FOURTH WARD. 3 Dist. inh. Dist. Inn. Hy. Karples.. 3 3,616 12° 1,754 | H. M. Karples.. 1,668 3 1,814 | THIRD WARD. 4 8,389 J. W. Dunetrop. 2 1,589 6 2,501 P. W. Cunning- 7 2,608 Geel Veen WARD, | re M. Crel. C. W. Whitlock, 1 2,969 | John Brown. E. Phillips... 2 58 | | John White... 3,283 FIFTH WARD. L ‘A. Loewel. J. A. Whitman.. 7 2} SEVENTH WARD. P. V. Halley. 3 3,534 13 Ww. Wi f 9 4,696 ©, O'Riordan... 14 10 4,570 M.A. Herman. 17 EIGHTH WARD. SEVENTEENTH WARD. B.A. Mazerean. 3 1,026 8. A, Roberts.. 1 3,2 F, Belon 5 2,165 P.J.Meintyre.. 2 elon. 6 2311 J. F, Clure. 4 7 Mazerean. 7 2,224 7. Block.. 6 3 . W. Creighton 9 1,983 S.S. Davis..... 6 4,994 G. W. Creighton 10 2,335 H.H.Wilcox 7 4,079 J. Giidersiceve. 12 1,959 9 2,872 J. Gildersiceve.. 13 1,510 J. Camphell.... 16 1,772 Ui Campbell... 17 1,547 NINTH WARD, Je y W, H. Church ‘VENIH WARD: 930 A. S. Bugbee. i bite 9 4,734 T. J. Corbin F. Guisberg.... 12 1,844 J. Wilcox. ELEVENTH WARD. 3. Renned, JLN. Lautrier., 1 5,459 2,902 2, P. Lenard J.R.Jobnston.. 24 2) NINBTEENTH WARD. FE, O'Grannis... 5 2,190 J.P. McCarthy. E. O’Grannls... 7 A. W. Kennedy 10 A. W. Kenneay 12 E, A. Boyle. 19 E. A. Boyle 21 TWENTIETH WARD. 2 3,059 vee & 2519 17 O48 «14 2/2462 5 3,125 3,751 ‘al Jennings, M. Wi Dd. ‘T. W. Johnson. 3 1,689 R W. J. Robinson. 17 855 ‘THIRTEENTH WARD. Tah Seu Rnuerson, 4 Souk “rware > WARD . Li, Anderson, v. N ©, Oreuty...... 6 Par C. W. Willimont 2 6,179 J. Freelain..... 8 2,025 G. H. Drew.. 7 3,880 W. B. Krait.... + 9 2766 A. Andrews.... 10 2,402 ee “Xe Dyrui... 11 2,956 ‘otal. a7 ae | of ‘EUROPE. War Despatches by Mail to July 30. | The French Positions at Nancy and Metz. Metz---The Fortress, Armament, 'Tops~- graphy and Strategical Importance. Special History of the French Fortification. The Prussians “ Marching Along’? and How They Go to War. First Fighting on the Frouticr—Prnssigig, Plans and Dash. g FRANCE. : { At Nancy and Metz—The Imperial Ganard om the March—-A French Camp After Jt» Evaca= ation—Dangers of the Rail—Metz: its Hise tery, Topography, Iinmense Fortification aud Sweep of Fire~French Camps and Sentinel Dinlogue—The Imperinl Position at Metz—Reporting to the Emperor. Nancy, July 27, 1870. ‘The last regiment of the Garde Impériale left thie! morning for Metz. Ihave just returned from visit~ ing the spot on which but a few hours since stood a city of canvas, inhabited by twenty-five thousand of the choicest French troops. Not @ vestige of the late | encampment remains, with the exception of the bundle of buttons, rags, and other similar valuablet now being carefully gathered by the ugliest old woman I have encountered sinceI bid adieu to Paris.) She surely cannot he one of those whose trade itis, to follow armies and strip ths dead already at work,’ although her battered face and Dideous features, plainly tell of terrible deeds in bygone days. As E told you in my last, the Voltigeurs of the Garde left for Metz on Monday morning, and hearing that the gren~ adiers were to follow yesterday I started for Mela at four A. M., and returned here last night, You cannot calculate at the present moment thet hour of departure or arrival of your body. Traing, come and go with extraordinary irregularity. Col+ lisions are avoided with unaccountable good luck. An employ¢ of the railway company was scalded ta death by the accident to which I have before re< ferred, it is true; but then he was a stoker and bak the privilege of being killed in that manner if he de~ sired tt. Poor fellow, it was on his programme. They train by which [left started, mérabdile dictu, only ong hour and a half after time, which is nothing; any< thing under six 1s not calculated as nowadays. At Pont & Mousson, on the Moselle, still overinoked by its ancient chateau, the train stopped for a few min~ utes, and [ thus had the opportunity of seeing my friends the Voltigeurs de la Garde, the chasseurs and two batteries of artillery on the point of stariing for Metz, It was a lovely morning, and the men were im high spirits with the bands piaying amid the cheer~ ing of the people. Icould not, however, repress a feeling of sadness when I reflected that hundreds of those before me were marching to destruction andi had embraced those most dear to them for the last time. The troops marched steadily forward a a rapid pace. They had a long and dusty road before them, and 1 felt anxious to see them enter, Metz. The train dashed on, and within a few mo-~ ments the eye could detect nothing to indicate tha march of troops but clouds of dust. LIVE AND SCENES AT METZ. ; Atlength we reached Metz, and found it all life and bustle, On the slope opposite the railway sta~ lion there was a cavalry regiment encamped, and, in the station itself were soldiers of every brancly! in the service. Men hugging each other, drinking’ and shouting with patriotic madness; women cling- ing tothe men with the tenacity of despair, while taking a long, perhaps, eternal farewell. For somes time past important works have been in course of | execution for the purpose of converung Metz and the environs {nto a vast intrenched camp. HISTORY AND TOPOGRAPHY. f ‘The town of Metz being most important in a stra tegical point of view a rapid glance at its history and present capabilities of defence will be of inte~, rest. The ancient capital of the Medioratrict—al people of Celtic origin—it became one of the most, important cittes of Gaul. Ruined in 451 by the Huns of Attila, it soon recovered and was tie capital of the Merovingians, At the time when the empire of Charlemagne was @simemberedi , in 843, Metz was part of Lotharingie, from rout o the name of Lorraine springs. In 900 the kings | Germany and of France disputed the possession off this province, and it ultimately remained witit the former. In 1032 the Emperor Henry tl. gave itto Gérard, a noble of Alsace; but the Emperors reserved to themselves the three bishoprics of Metz, Touland Verdun. in 14id, on the demand of Réng IL, the town was beseiged by Charles VII, and) saved itself by paying a ransom of 100,000 crowns.e In 1562 Henry I. took possession of the threa bishoprics, and since that time they have belonged toVrance. Their possession ts the key to the mili« tary possession of Lorraine, The Emperor Charles Quint attempted to retake the town with an army) of 69,000 men, commanded by his best generals; butthe Duc de Guise shut himself up in the tows) and withstood the siege for sixty-five days, On the Serpenoise entrance gate, which 1s passed through on leaying the railway station, 18 am inscription ini commemoration of the event. Charles was forced to retire, with bis army reduce® to one-half’ by sickness and battle. tn 1676 Vauban was sent by Louis XLV. to fortify the town— and the cxceinée with its bastions, Which have un- dergone but slight alterations, were erected, in, 1736 the works were perfected by Cormoutaigne, and the forts Moselic and Bel OixX Were construcied., Since the year 1514 the system of intrenched camps. have gained ground.” Cologne, Paris, Mayence, Verona and oiler places are surrounded with forts, which would keep the enemy at a distance and shelter entire armies between the forts and the enceinte, Tuts principle has been adopted Metz with great discernment by ihe French engineers. In order to understand the important part that ‘Mets Will take im {nture Wars, some description is necessary of the splendid work executed by the, engineers in order to permit of the demolishing of the nids de bombes as the acute angicd bastions have been te! by Marshal Le Bent. Metz is situated at the confiuence of the Moseile and the Seilie. It 1s 170 metres above the level of the sea. On the riglit the piace 18 commanded by the batteriee Guetlen and Saint Julien, on an. alte tude of about 250 metres; on the | left the more distant heights of the Moselle are 350 inetres, Stave 1866 in order to give more air to the town the St. Vincent front was demoiished and pusied for ward onthe right bank of the Moselle. It would cover, in case of siege, the bridge of boats necessary” | for the service of the garrison. On the left bank, in advance of the St. Vincent front, 1s te Fort Moselie of which the extremities of vhe four bastions tonch the river. On the right bank, facing the east, the town was defended only by the Fort de Belle-Croix, erected by Cormontaigne. On the south, between the Moselle and the Setlie, the place, in case of need, is perfectly secured by an ingenious system of inun- dations, With the exception of the St. Vincent front, designed by Vauban and Cormontaigne, no importan’ modification has been effected. The twelve millions allowed from the loan of 1867 for enlarging the fortifcations of Metz have been almost exclualvely consecrated to the creation of forts necessary to make the place the great buiwark of the east of France. The french engineers followed the example given by Todleven at Sebastopol, where the Russians raised smail eartiworks on prominent. points, which became redoubtable fortresses, under the fire of which the Russians sustained themselves during eleven months. TAE FORTS. At Metz the heights of St. Quentin, Plappeviile, St. Jutien and Gueulea have been crowned with forts, and at present it would be easy for & garrison of 59,600 men to surround the intrenghed camp with a continuous enciente of earthworks simi- tar to the courtine which connested Malakoif with the Redan. ‘The Fort de Gueulen, ata distance of 2,600 metres from the Porte Mazcite, is composed of five fronte, aod contalus casemaies capable of receiving 2,00! men. The engineers have strictly conformed to the tradition of bastions; but to diminish as much as Dossible the inconveaiance of this avevem, whicd