The New York Herald Newspaper, September 7, 1873, Page 7

: \ , NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1873—QUADRUPLE SHEET. Te NATHAN MURDER, ‘ ‘Search for Mrs. Irving, Wife of the California Prisoner. Some Startling Facts for the Detectives to Consider—Irving, Dan Kelly, Caleb Gunning, Carr and Ellis, and Their Old Headquarters in the Sixth Ward. Taking Up the Link That Death Wrested from the Hand of Jourdan. HISTORY OF THE FATAL DOG. Another View of the Qase Given by a Jour- nal on the Pacific Slope. INTERVIEW WITH IRVING. The exclusive announcement in yesterday's HERALD of the efforts being made by Captain Ken- nedy, Superintendent Matsell and other detectives te fathom the Nathan murder through the iniorma- tion given by Irving in San Francisco, was no mere sensation to attract attention toa crime that the public long ago came to the conclusion would never result in conviction, but was based upon authentic information which other representatives of the press yesterday found to be correct. The state- ments made fell upon Superintendent Matsell and Captain Kennedy like a thunderclap, and Captain Kennedy expressed his surprise that the HERALD should get them, when he had not even whispered a word of his movements to his sergeants, He ad- mitted that he has been SEARCHING FOR THE WIFE OF IRVING, with a view of securing the memorandum book of Mr. Nathan, stated by Irving to be in the possession of Mrs. Irving, but he has been unsuccessful. He ‘Was searching for her all day on Friday, and until four o'clock yesterday morning, and returned dis- appointed. He has also changed his mind as to the importance of Irving’s knowledge. When the con- Session was first made the Captain was under the impression that IRVING WAS IN JAIL @t the time of the murder. Hence he denounced the confession of participation in the tragedy asa ruse to get to New York. He hassince looked over the records, and finds that on the 26th of July THREE DAYS BEFORE THE MURDER, he was discharged on a writ of habeas corpus, for participation in a burglary at No. 181 Bowery, and turned loose. Atthat time Irving resided at No, 94 Park street, or rather made that his headquar- ters, with other burglars named Daniel Kelly, Caleb Gunning (tne two he mentions as his con- federates in the murder), one Carr, and Ellis, the burglar, whom Superintendent Jourdan brought down from Sing Sing and confined in the Sixth Ward station house for three months, hoping to in- duce him to tell WHERE HE SECURED THE FATAL DOG, with which the murder was committed. He re- “mained in the city for some time, and later partic- ipated in the burglary in Chatham street, for which he is now wanted in New York. Previous to the murder of Nathan IRVING PARTICIPATED IN LIFE-TAKING. It willbe remembered that in Devember, 1869, a private watchman at Furman street was myste- niously shot by burglars, A man named Maloney and Irving, who bad been interrupted in a burgiary by the wacchman, killed him by shooting. Irving turned State’s evidence, and it was expected that nis testimony would convict Maloney, but just be- fore tie trial Irving escaped from Raymond Street dail. When the case was called on Maloney was discharged for want of evidence, and Irving, learn- ing that Maloney had threatened to KILL HIM FOR HIS TREACHERY, left the city, and never returned until Maloney was sent to Sing Sing for ten years, and his partner, Moiutz, for ifteen years, for throwing pe_per into a man’s eyes in the Eleventh ward and roubing him, THE SEARUH FOR MRS. IRVING last week developed the iact that about three gears ago she resided at No. 65 Mott street for some . She then moved to Forsyth street, between Grand and Canal. This is supposed to have been her last residence in this city, and subsequen she resided in Hoboken, with her two children. is believed that she is now residing somewhere on the Jersey side of the river. The police have not obtained a warrant for ber arrest, believing that she will, if found, voluntarily surrender the mem- orandum book, and to this the detectives are now bending their energies. What measures Superin- tendent Matsell is taking to secure the evidence of Irviug it 1s impossible to find out, The HERALD re- rter, Whose source of iniormation Is outside of e police officials, cannot, at the present state of the case, give very important and STARTLING INFORMATION in his possession without deieating the ends of justice, but he is satisfied that were the Commis- ‘stoners to send Captain Kennedy, whom Irving has Known for years, and to wiom he first wrote his revelations, to San Francisco, he would in all prob- ability secure enough from Irving to obtain the Memorandum book and Mx the crime very closely on ins TWO MEN NOW CONFINED IN A JAIL mot many miles from the City Hall. For the iniormation of the Superintendent and vaptain Kennedy, who think that the press can get no iniormation except such as they choose to give, it may be here stated that at the time of Su- rintendent Jourdan’s death, and ior months be- we, he was working on the theory that IRVING WAS ONE OF THE ASSASSINS} that the plot to rob Nathan was concocted in a room in West Thirty-first street; that murder was ns Siterthoughs, when the old merchant awoke; THE IRON DOG WAS OBTAINED IN PARK STREET, near the headquarters of the gang, by Ellis, whom he confined so ee, in the Franklin street station house, and that at least two others were associated With the Caliiornia prisoner, Mr. Jourdan, however, had not sufficient evidence to convict Irving, an ‘was energetically at work fastening the crime upon Bim and two accomplices when death closed his Work on the case. ii the Superintendent, Captain Kennedy anc the Getectives are in possession of Mr. Jourdan’s knowledge of the case and his theories they will now discover that the press knows more of the case than they were led to suppose. If they are Rot, and they will take the trouple to INVESTIGATE A LITTLE, they will at once see the necessity of sending Cap- tain Kennedy to Irving, or bringing kim here, and rously following up wnat iniormation he may yonene. If Jourdan was moraly certain oi his par- jicipation in the murder. now that he has confessed his part in it, why should the police attempt to dis- card his statements as unworthy of belief? This te not by me: tue first time Irving has weyed treacherous to coniederates in crime, and if he did soin the case of Maloney he is likely to do soin thiscase. He docs not admit that he actually participated in the murder, and possibly be hopes to escape conviction here of burglary by maxing a clean breast of wiat le knows. ‘What Superintendent Matscll Say. A HERALD man talked yesterday with the head Of the City Police, Superintendent Matsell, on the eubject of Johnny Irving and his self-asserted con- Mection with the Nathan murder. Besides giving that individual a pretty hard name, as one who from boynood in this city has followed the occupa- fons of thief, burgiar and informer by turns, in- terspersed with many terms in prison, the Super. Se wen had no communication to make about - i Bigg could interest the public. Irving has had ‘abit of pretending to iniormation of value to the police which, when brought to the test, was og altogether wanting in truth and pertinency. ln one ‘Woll” till nobody gives any further to his shouts. Some few weeks Zo his wife was anxious to have her husband sent for by the New York Police and brought from California, ou I A a ot Mr. Mateseil, he was’ “not IRVING IN CALIFORNIA. Interview with John T. Irvi; Jol Mason, alias John Wiehaphens @iias John Brown, the San Franciseo—His tioned—He Describes W: ington Na- than and Tells the Story of the Mure der. from the San Francisco Morning Call, Angust 29.) That eccentric individual who is now exciting Popular admiration by his verbal exploits in self. accusation is developing an unusual conversa- tional talent, and (possibly) may be entitled to fank with the most celebrated authors of fiction Defore the velice have dogg with him, Since the, day be was taken from the ship Coulnakyle, Irving, as he now calls himself, has been carefully guarded by the detectives who are “working up” the case. His story was considered sufficiently important to warrant investigation. If, as he states, Irving was accessory to the murder of Mr. Nathan (which the whole detective force of New York has been unable to explain), his retention would be of the utmost importance. But the question of his sanity was raised, and before proceeding further the officers deemed it advisable to have the self-accused examined by the Commissioners tm Lunacy. Accordingly Irving was yesterday brought before Drs, Stillman and Henry. He acted like a demented person; but certain of his tricks led the medical gentiemen to think he might be playing a part, and they subjected him to a very rigid examination. Although his answers to the questions propounded were at first somewhat in- coherent, they became more connected as the ex- amination progressed, and he told his story quite Plainly. He has the appearance of a sailor, and was dressed like one. His face is clean shaved, and has nothing about it, good or bad, to attract special attention. So far as the eyes are concerned they are quiet and restful, and there was nothing in his manner that suggested insanity. When he was first questioned he was not inclined to be very communicative, but his reticence was nothing more than might be expected in the case of every person similarly placed. His replies were more mouosyllabic than incoherent, and gave no evi- dence that he was insane, Alter a while he became comparatively composed, and then, in reply to pop examiners, he gave an explicit history of his crimes. For some time past he said he had been residing at Forest Hill in tis State, and was once possessed of $60,000, which he had obtained by jing. He lost this money in gambling. His name is not Brown, but John , Irving, and he is thirty-six years of age. He generally shipped under the hame of John Thompson, but his real name could be easily ascertained, for he has a tamuy in New York city, living at No. 100 East Thirtieth street, corner of Madison avenue, His family consists of his wile and three children, and his mother tives near them, At this point of the examination Dr. Stillman said to him, “I intend writing to your wife, iniorming her of your situation.” ‘his state- ment threw him into a paroxysm of grief, and he sopbed convulsively for some time. ‘1 am rained,” he exciaimed. When he had become more coin- posed, and when asked in what respect, he reptied, “My name.” after tunis he became more com- municative, and spoke not only intelligently, but like a persun who had been fairly educated, He denied that he had murdered any person, but con+ fessed that he had been implicated in the murder of Benjamin Nathan, of New York. Nathan, he said, Was murdered at the instigation of wis son, Washington Nathan, wio was @ Jast young man, datraid that his father would disinherit him. ‘ne prisoner appeared quite familiar with Nathan’s family affairs and the arrangements of his house, When asked if it was his wish to have his mother, who resides in’New York, informed as to his situa- tion, he placed his hand over his heart and sobbed violently, trembling at the same time. Phe exami- nation having been concluded, Irving was taken back to the prison, The doctors declared that they were not prepared to give any decision as to his sanity or insanity. IRVING'S STATEMENT. In the evening one of the Call reporters visited Irving in ceil No. 2, and soon entered into copver- sation with him. “Well, sir,” said Irving, opening the conversation as the reporter entered the cell and announced himself, ‘If am glad to see you,” for it’s very lonely in here, and it does one good to have some one come, “This is @ nice little place all to yourself,” re- marked the reporter. “Yes,” replied Irving. “But then I suppose you have come down here to see me about this matier. Now, I'd like to know what they meant to-day by taking me before the Lunacy Commissioners. don’t look like a crazy man, do ly” “I can’t say that you do,’ said the reporter, ‘dvs funny, anyhow, that I should be examined betore those Commissioners, tor I ain’t any more crazy than you are.” ft A DIRECT ACCUSATION. “7 see by the evening papers that you charge bade ee fou Nathan with having ‘put up the job’ to put his father out of the way. 1s tnat so?” asked the reporter. “Yes, that is so,” replted Irving. ‘What induced you to make the confession asked the reporter. “Well, [ will tell you all about it. 1Jeft New York on the 11th of last June and came here on the 18th re of the same mgnth on the overland train, ant then I Went up to Sacramento, and while there 1told Matt Karcher—that’s the Chief of Police up there —that I had been engaged in @ burglary in q jewelry store Brookiyn, N. Y., and told ptm ‘where there was a lot of jewelry fiom that burg- lary in Cleveland, Ohio. You see 1 wanted to get back to New York before | said anything about this Nathan matter. Matt telegraphed on to New York and in a short time he got back an answer which said, ‘There is not enough to hoid Irving for the burglary.’ Well, I thought that was strange, as I was caught in the place and was clubbed and beat, and then I was shot in the back of the neck an the ball passed through back and came out under the shoulder-biade. I was taken to the hos- pital, where I remained seventeen = and then ‘was taken to the Kings County Jail and remained only a few days, when I broke jail. If you want to know about this you can ask Captain Lees, for when he was in New York he came over to pay we @ visit, but when he reached the jail he learnea that Ihad broken out the night beiore, ANOTHER DODGE FOR A FREE PASSAGE. Then I thought I'd try another lay, so I wrote to Chief Crowley here about six months ago in regard to this burglary, and he sent back a letter of in- quiry in these words:—‘Is hea bik?” That was enough for me, so 1 went to Forest Hill, Placer county, and worked for a while. Then I came back to Sacramesto, golng on foot most of the time. When larrived at Sacramento I found that the Amador was late, so I jomped on board of her and came down here. When I got here I was starpped, and I thought to myself, ‘(don’t know what to do or where to go, so ll ship.’ ? IRVING NO SAILOR. “Have you been a sailor?” asked the reporter, interrupting. “No,” said Irving, smiling, “I never was before or behind a mast before [got on this vessel, nor did I know one rope from another; but I thought I'd ship anyhow, so I went into a place on Pacitic street, and told the man there to ship me, and that 1 wanted to go soon. Inalittle while he came back, saying that he could get me a berth in an English ship that would sail on the following day, so I said, ‘That suits me,’ and he took me round to a shipping office on Jackson street and I sigued my name as John Mason. By the way, | wonder where the papers got my pame as Brown?” videown ig a good ‘fy name,’”’ remarked an offi- cer who was in the cell, “Yes, so is Mason,” answered Irving, ‘Well, after 1 got into the office 1 was taken to the Eng- lish ean Thad to wait for the captain of n the ship. e were half a dozen men there, and he looked at them and did not like them, so he came to me and asked it I was @ seaman. told He then wanted to know if I was an able or an ordinary seaman, Told him an able seaman. Then he wanted to know when | had been to sea. I told him that came here as an able seaman on the Dav rrockett, Captain Burgess, five years ago. I kne' that that sbip had been here at that time, for I was here myself just five years ago, this month, He wanted to know what I had been doing since. I told him that since then I had been on the Ger- mania, a coal vessel that runs to Bellingham Bay. He then wanted to know how much | wanted, and I told him $60 advance and $25 a month. He said he could not pay that, but Would take me as an ordinary seamau, and would pay me according to what I could do alter I got on board. 1 hesitated for a time, but finally I concluded to go. I was taken to a shop, where they gave me an outfit, and I was put on board. After I got into the forecastle Isaid to myself, ‘I guess this won’t do for you, Ir- ving,” and thought that something might happen by which I might get my neck in the halter, so I concluded to make a@ ciean breast of the whoie thing, and went and told the mate, who put me in irons, 1 went on board at 3 o’clock and was put in trons half an hour afterward, and at 9 o’ciock 1 was brought up nere. “and that was your experience as a sailor, was it ?” asked the reporter, “Yes, that 1s all of it,” replied Irving. HE TELLS THE STORY OF THE MURDER. “Now, what about the killing of Nathan?’’ asked the reporter. “It was this way,” said Irving. “McAnally, the housekeeper’s son, ie to us—me and two others—and told us that Washington Nathan wanted the old map Out of the way, and that we could ‘beat the safe’ for the trouble. ' We had three meetings with McAnally—I think that’s his name— ‘at least he was in the army and went by that name. [fhe housekeeper’s name is Kelly.—Ker.)—and then we met Nathan twice in Tne. Allen’s, and after we took @ drink at the bar we went into the small room adjoining the billiard room to taik business.” “pid young Nathan propose to you to kill the old man?” asked the reporter, “Oh, no!” replied Irving; “ne did not tell me to kill the old man, but he said chloroform him and him I was. put him to aoa “You inferred from this that he wanted the old man put out of the way?’ said the reporter. “Weil, if a man telis me to put some one to sleep, I guess I know what re means,” said Irving. “Then what happened?” asked the reporter, “well, after these interviews it was arranged that McAnally was to notify us when ali was ready, and he came and toid us; so we went in through the basement door that he left unlatched for us. Two of us remained in the basement and the third one went up 8! and hid under the bed. We had drawn lots to see who should do the deed. It was lot to remain down stairs, We remained there [ don’t know bow tong, but the time seemed long waiting in the dark, when the man who had been up 8! came down and told us he had finished the old man. Then we went up on and found bee n, Bog moon roms a eee, Sine pacifto “Mail Company's an somi Stock, Western Union stock and some Hartford and Erie stock—but that ain’t no account, there has been so much litigation about it—and a small book, in which is written the name of Albert Cardoze, that of Samuel Lewis, Commissioner, Fourteenth it, and that of Dr. Leo. Six oF ppyen pages of this book are also covered with Hebrew charac- ters.” “Have you those documents now ? asked the reporter. “No, not with me,” said Irving; “but they are in New York, where I and no one else can lay hands on them, Ican turn them be at any time, but I am not going to do so unless 1 am assured by the District Attorney that I am not to be prosecuted for this, and that 1 am to geta lull pardon from the Governor for my past Offences; for you see there are two charges against me now which would send me to State Prison for fifteen years. “Would you surrender these documents if a par- don was given you?” asked the reporter. “I woud,” replied Irving. “Where are the other two men who were with you that night?” was the next question asked. “One of them is somewhere in New York and the other is serving out @ filteen-sear term at Sing Sing or at Auburn,” answered Irving. “When did you leave the house after the killing?” asked the writer, “We left the house the next morning at six o’clock, going out the front way, and we leaned up against the railing in front of the house. There ‘Was a man on the Spporite side of the street, with 8 dinner pail in his hand, and a shop girl went by, and they saw us. The man who did tue killing but- toned up his coat close around his neck, for his shirt was bloody, His hands had a'so been bioody, but he wasted them in the bathroom.” ‘What became of the old man’s diamonds and hi atuh?”? asked the reporter. ‘hat I don’t know,” said Irving; “I never saw them, if he had them, and it they were taken from him they must have been taken from him by the man who killed him.” IRVING CORNERED. At this point of the interview Mr, E. D. Barnes, of New York, who is on a visit to this city, and is stopping at the Grand Hotel, entered the cell in company with Messrs. Joseph Spear, Jr., and George R. Wells and Detective Bohvn. Mr. Barnes. who is weli acquainted with Washington Nathan and his brother Frederick, visited Irving tor the purpose of satisiyimg himself as to whether Irving was telling the truth or not, ‘ sees Mr. Barnes had bid Irving the time of night e said— “Did you see Washington Nathan,” “Oh, ves,” replied Irving. “I wouid like you to describe him to me,” said Mr. Barnes; “what does he look like ?”” Irving looked at Mr, Barnes ‘or a few moments, and then said: “He looks something like you; he had little side whiskers.’? “You are mistaken there,” said Mr. Barnes, ‘for Wash, Nathan is a very handsome-looking man. Are you sure he had side whiskers?” “Now, look here,” said Irving to Mr, Barnes, very sharply, ‘“‘what are you trying to drive ath Aré you trying to quiz me?” “Not at all,” said Mr, Barnes, “I imply ask be- cause I know both Fred, and Wasb., and I want to see if you are not coniounding Fred. with Wash. Did you ever see Wash. after the murder?” “Yes,” replied Irving, ‘i met him twice,” “Where?” asked Mr. Barnes, i “at Chamberlain’s gambling house’ on Twenty- fifth street,” answered Irving; “but I said notaing to him but to bid him the time of night,” “You say you had @ personal interview with Wash. ; wuere was that ? and did you get at what his motive was in having the old man put out of the way from what he told you?’ asked Mr, Barnes. “1 met him twice at The, Allen’s and spoke with him there, but Idia not get at what his motive Was from What he said; bat from what McAnaily told me | surmised a motive. You see his father Was a very charitable man. He was President of the Mount SinatSociety und several other Jewish societies, and it wax weil Known that Wash was @ rofligate, and he era eG no doubt, that his father would disinherit him, or else not leave 80 much as he would to the others, so he concluded to Lave him put out of the way so he could come in for an equal share of his property.” “fam told you said that you supposed that there was $300,000 in the sae, and that Wash. told you that you could have what was in the safe for your trouble, Is that so?” asked Mr, barnes. “Yes.” replied Irving; “McAnally, who acted as sort of ago-Letween in the matter, told us that we would find vetween $280,000 and $800,000 in oes ja the safe; but there was only $6,600 or 000. “You also, | am told,” said Mr. Barnes, ‘said that Wash. was a fast young man. Did you ever him drink, play cards or gamble ?” jo, 1 never did,’ replied irving. ‘low was that ‘dog’ used ?”” asked Mr. Barnes. “The man that did the deed struck nim on the head with the ‘dog.’ That dog came from a ship carpenter’s chest, and I know where it came from and know the man who owned it. He would know it when he would see it, ior he is a poor man who would know his tools aiter having used them.” “Well, I suppose that you will have an oppor- cunly to meet Wash. face to face pretty soon,” said Mr. Barnes, “Yes, and when I do,” said Irving, “he wil change color,” Boca DIDN'T READ THE PAPERS, “[ presume that aiter the killing you read all the papers and kept yourself well posvea,” said Mr. aye ‘ “Well,” said Irving, ‘that is one thing I forgot to state. {did not read the papers, for T kept shady for a while and went over to Brooklyn, where I lived with my family in a house on Wythe avenue.” Mr. Barnes closed this' conversation, and the re- porter asked irving afew more questions, and the substance of his avswers tv them is that he has a wile and daughter residing in New York city, that he 18a grand nephew of the late Washington Ir- ving, and that his tather was @ well known lawyer in New York city. Mr. Barnes states that Irving’s description of Mr. Nathan is not a correct one, for at the time of the murder he did not wear side wiiskers. He also says that he knows Nr. Nathan very well; that he is not a fast wonug man, but, on the con- trary, is a respectiul, well behaved and exemplary person, He states that Irving is wrong in his loca- ton of Chamberlain's saloon. Captain Lee, who has been investigating the matter since Irving surrendered himself, gives it as his opinion that Irving is not telling the truth about the Nathan murder, although he has told the truth in regard to matteis of which the Captain has personal knowledge, and he strongly suspects that irving is trying to get back to New York (his home) and receive a pardon for past act This case of the man Irving is a puzzle, Either he was a participant in the Nathan murder, as he asserts, or else he has concocted a very weak plot to secure a pardon for other offences ‘against the law as an advance consideration for divulging that whici he really knows nothing about. ‘Thus far his story is nothing more than any smart feliow who knows the ways of cracksmen and the streets otNew York could have constructed from the printed reports of the tragedy, WHAT IRVING SAYS ABOUT CHIEF OF POLICE DONO- VAN’S STORY, The reporter read the New York telegraphic despatch to Irving, aiter which he assumed a sit- ting posture, and, taking the paper, read the despatches over careiuily, commenting upon them as he read, “John F, Irving,” said he; “its strange that they can’t get my name right. My middie initial is not F.; ita T. er what’s the matter with these fellows?’ They have got this thing all mixed up. Why, the dates don’t agree. Donovan says there that he arrested me on the 30th of July, 1870, and below he says the murder was committed on the 28th of July, 1871, and ——”” “The murder was, in fact, committed on the 28th of July, 1870, was it not?’ asked the reporter, in- terrupting. “Yes, that’s the date,” replied Irving: “but what doeg that prover Can't 1 have been in the murder on the 28th of July and be arrested for the bur- lary on the 30th? But he’s made a mistake about he dates, The Simpson burglary was committed about the 8th of May, 1870, but | was not arrested for that at tnat time. Now, the laces were not found in Carey’s possession, as the despatch says. They were found in New York State, while Carey and I were in New Jersey. They arrested me for stealing the $10,000 worth of laces; but they couldn't de anything with me on that, so they ar- rested me for the Simpson case, This was on the goth of June, 1820.” “Weil, how did you get out to be in Nathan’s house on the night of the murder?” asked the re- porter, “Why, I got out on bail. Judge Brady, of the Su- preme Court, admitted me to vail. 1 recoilect very well that I was in a stew about getting out; for the yachts Henrietta and Livonia were expected or day off Sandy Hook about that time, and 1 was in a hurry to get out before they arrived, as | knew that if I did not all the judges wouid be otf to see the boats come in and | could nov get any one to let me out in time to go in the Nathan job.” “How long were you in before you did this yout” inquired the reporter. “Only a few days,” said Irving. He then tooked at the Bulletin again, and gal Why, this thing is all jumbled up. This des) 8 that the Brooklyn burglary was in 7 They were not drug mills; it was Arbuckie’s coffee and spice milis, on Front street. And, then, the watchman didn’t shoot me. I was shot by # policeman, You the watchman discovered us in place, and he alarmed the police, and the others ran out. I was leit alone in the place, and when I thought all the officers were away I came out, and one officer who was near the dour tackled me, and I tackled him; he beat me, and I beat Lim, Then I slipped on the ice, and he shot me. “By the way, Irving,” said the reporter, “how is it you call the housekaeper's gon McAnally? His mother’s name is Kelly.’ “Well, that’s the name he went by in the army,” answered Irving; “and you know men in that kind of business don’t give their right names; at one time they are known by one name, then by another. 1 might know them at one place by one name, and a@t their home they might not be known by that name, Now, Vii tell you what I never told any bop be rter, that’s the Dames of the other men the job. “Their names are Daniel Kelly and Caleb Gunning. Kelly ia the one who struck whe biow, and he is tue one who introduced me to McAnally.’” Irving then looked at the paper again, and after reading @ paragraph, asked, “What are the Com- mussione Rome, todo with me? Have they come to any decision yet?” “The Commissioners have not decided what to do with you as yet,’ replied the reporter. “Well, I wish they would pretty soon,” said r v read him following 8) despatch :—- % Naw York, Augast 20. Mclaren ore ig a fd gree fale Ag) use naire mall, eyes, and’ is abouy wirty‘eight to forty’ years of gray see, police authorities of ti city think . Irving, now in jail in san Francisco, of that name who had been a@ thiet and burg! life, and whose portrait now ornaments the Gallery;and he has a scar which extends ‘of his nose. They also aay that at jathan murder [rving’wasin ‘the State Prisom for a burglary committed.a year previous, and for which two of his accomplices are now in Sing Sing. “That is my description,” said Irving, when the reporter had fuished reading, “You see here 1s the scar,”’ as he pointed to a scar extending alo the entire length of his nose. ‘But 1 don’t see,” he continued, “now they can say that I wasin ne at the time, The records of the Supreme ‘ourt will prove the contrary. They will show when Lawyer Howe had me admitted to bail be- fore Judge Brady, He got me before the Judge on @ writ of habeas corpus.’ “What do you suppose can be the idea of the New York authorities saying you were in jail if you were not?” asked the reporter. “Well, [can’t tell, except that they know I am telling the truth, and they want to hush the matter up On account of Wash Nathan, as they did before, I tell you what, money can do a great many things, Now, | don’t care what may be said, but 1 am ready to take an oath that I can go to New York, and no matter if I have not the assurance of the District Attorney that I shali not be prosecuted, I will get the documents I have spoken of and produce them imany Court of Justice, I know one thing, how- ever, and thatis, that, on account of my charac- ter, I could not do much against Nathan, with his money; but then I could convict the others who were with me,” Irving then paused for & moment, and said:— “gimce you were here I have been reading this despatch again, and I could not help laughing at its Inconsistencies, Now, Donovan takes a great deal of credit to himself, Why, he did not arrest me in New York. It was Detective Fields, of the Filth precinet, who arrested me in Brooklyn, anu he called on Donovan to assist him, because he thought I was a desperate man and would tight.’ Irving then stated that the time would come when he could prove that be was right, and the reporter retire STOKES AND HIS FATE. that a To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— Though my home is ina distant portion of the country—in the “Future Great City of the World,” @ temporary sojourn tn this metropolis has afforded @ scant opportunity to visit many places of amuse- ment and public interest calculated to awaken re- Mections relating to individual and social life. Here, perhaps, more than in any other portion of America, are to be found a greater combination of diverse and antagonistic elements of society. Here the social and moral elements are at work on @ grander scale than in any otner part of our broad land, Here is the great centre of finance and com- merce; here the stronghold of crime and of liberal ideas. Taken altogether this metropolis furnishes greater lessons on the various questions of modern civilization than can be found in any other city in the country, and it has been my privilege to |ook hastily into many of the more prominent phases of public life found herein active operation. On last Wednesday, in company with Miss Linda Gilbert, well known throughout the country as an efiicient worker in establishing libraries for prisons, I visited the Tombs, that Newgate of America, Among the sad pictures of unfortunate humanity there to be seen, and the one on whose tate most eyes are now turned, is Stokes, charged as the slayer of Colonel Fisk. No picture more sad to look upon canbe found in any American prison. At best a prison for living, reasonable human beings, in a Jand of law and religion, is asad commentary on the gov- ernment of any peopie living in a siate of peace and privilege. And when we come to consider the criminal, wherever he may be, no matter what his crime may have been, we cannot dismiss his case without a word in his javor, In the case oi Stokes there is much of principle and humanity to palliate for his supposed mis- guided act.” His careworn, emaciated and desponding appearance are striking evidences of more than @ brutal, of more than a dangerous man. And it may well be argued, in his trial for life, that although Colonel Fisk may have come to his death by the hand of Stokes, there was an in- centive—a cause that is recognized among civilized men and women as a motive to action even to the taking of human life, No people in any nation, however enlightened, have so far attained the ideal of life as not to recognize the apparent justi- fication of an act of resentment to @ personal offence, even to the taking of life. Stokes, like Many other men, was actuated by such a motive, and the crisninality of his act is not found in the person of whom he slew, but in why he slew. Neither wealth nor talent increase the enormity of a crime in the face of the law; the cause alone is the measure of guilt. ‘The character of stokesis not that of a murderer, and were he turned loose to-day in New York cit; nota& man or woman would /eel tis or her life more in danger than yesterday. On the other hand, Colonel Fisk Was a man o! a widely different char- acter from that of Stokes. He was the persecutor and the cause of the financial ruin of Stokes, and in the face of these facts, for the State to execute Stokes would be to administer vengeance accord- ing to that rule that “might makes right’’—the rule of savages and barbarians, Again, what wiil this great city and State gain by taking in turn the life of Stokes? After the deed 18 done will the law be stronger, will human life be more secure, will morality be more ad- vanced in this great metropolis? Who can say that it will’ For myseli I see nothing to be gained, no honor to ve achieved to tke living, by suspending Stokes to the gallows between heaven and earth. If it be assumed that he is not fit to live how can he be suited to heaven? “Mercy to him that shows it, 1s the rule,” and if @ State or nation ig not magnanimous enough to show mercy how can the individual be encouraged do so’ Then be it my prayer that the | rece State of New York extend that mercy to stokes that is justly due from a kind and indulgent sod to an erring child by thus doing, lore honor will be gained and more moral strength born to society than can possibly come from the taking of human life. CHARLOTTE SMITH, ASTOR Houss, Sept. 5, 1873, THE RODMAN ROBBERY, Candidates for the Office of City Treas- urer—Fire Department and Excise Money To Be Refunded—Brooklyn Trust Company and Its Financial Status. Ex-Deputy City Treasurer Marvin T. Rodman remains in the County Jail awaiting the non-com- ing bondsmen, On Monday the papers in the case, which charge him witn embezzling the sum of $140,000 from the city treasury, will be presented to the Grand Jury. His counsel are satisfled of their ability to make a good defence for their client when the proper time shall have arrived. They forbid him conversing upon the subject now, how- ever, and he is most docile in acquiescence to the wishes of his legal advisers in this respect. The candidates most prominently spoken of in connection with the dppointment of Treasurer, in place of Cortland A. Sprague, are ex-Alderman Bergen, formerly President of the Board of Alder- men, and ex-Alderman Cunningham, formerly Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Com- mon Council. Ex-Treasurer of the Fire Department Hugh McLaughlin will HAND OVER EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS, the interest on the Department fund, to the Comp- troller next week, The members of the lately abolished Excise Com- mission will send in a communication to the Com- mon Council on Tuesday evening, proposing to pay over their portion of tue money returned by them under @ special act of the Legislature for personal expenses. ‘They assert that they had been advised by counsel that they were entitled to the money which they are now reaay to refund, BROOKLYN TRUST COMPANY. The subjomned is @ statement of the financial condition of the Trust Company for the mouth of August, 1873 :-— i 517,00) bonds city of Brooklyn. ‘30,000 bonds city of New York bash improvement Bon:ts and mortgages of undoubted value....... Bills reosivablen ry which $25,000 have been se i 000 Willimantic Ow Georgia bond: Loan on Sverdraite oF Milis sud Rodina, This amount of $279,000 is to offset the overdratts le by Mills and Rodman and such loss as may accrue upon the Willimantic Railroad and Georgia State bonds, With regard to the ‘“Lathrope Sewing Machine stook’’ the company had about 300 suares, the total jount Of which is $90,000, instead of $300,000, as as falsely stated in @ morning paper yesterday, This stock ig in no way counted among the uase' of the Trust Company. The trustees have signed secon hole themselves responsible for e Support of the company in the sum Of $600,000, The trustees are Messrs, Henry E. Pierrepont, Ed- ward Harvey, Henry 8. L. Husted, Alexan- der Wd: J be |, W. O. Kingsley: J.D. Fish, A. Cue, jalsey, Danie iit Josiah 0. Low. r aes THR GOLD onEcK stouy. Mr. W. H. Bunker, Secretary of the Trast Com- pany, youterday made the following stawient i relation to the gold check and the sewing machine stock :—"The coinpany made a loan of $66,000 three or jour years ago to Mr. F, H. smith. In the course of business Mr. Smith received a check for $56,000, the certificate of which was forged. The loss of this money involved Mr. Smith pane to repay the joan Mour books “show a Our books show $28,000 of that loan has been paid Whether this is by actual cash receipts ne a same amount ompany the present officers are unable to say; but the facts, as they stand now, are, that Mr. kmith owes the compan: $28,000, for which they hold real estate; ‘and it to believed to cover the loan. ‘The sewing machine stock mentioned {a also a part o1 the ‘collaterals of this los and is counted by the company as worth- Jess, This information I have only very recently ob- tained, and the version I give you 1s the only one I can arrive at from my inspection of the books up tothe present. You will therefore see that the statement that this company have held a forged check is, a8 far as we know, incorrect,” PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENTS, The New Lyceum Theatre—Opening To- Morrow Night. Mr. Halliday’s dramatization of Victor Hugo’s “Hunchback of Notre Dame’ will be produced at the new Lyceum Theatre to-morrow evening. The HERALD has already published an elaborate de- scription of the reconstructed house, and has done ample justice to the beauty, richness and taste of the appointments. Mr. Mansell, the proprie- tor, promises, in addition, that the style in which the drama is proauced shall correspond to the en- semble of the building. To sey that we sincerely hope this will be the case ts only to echo the wishes of a thousand hearts, It is pleasant, too, to ob- serve that the lessee is taking pains to deieat the ticket speculators, ‘There is double the pleasure in attending a theatre the manager of which has a sensitive appreciation of the pubiic’s rights. Along those who will appear to-morrow evening are Mr. I, C, King, Miss Jeffreys Lewis, Mr. Charies Wheatleigh and Miss Henderson. It will be easter to expiain Mr, Mansell’s policy after the opening play shall have been witnessed, Mr. McKee Rankin. ‘We have received from this gentleman the fol- lowing good-humored note, which has reference to the strictures made by the HERALD relative to his recent performance of Sir Charles Coldstream, in the first act of “Used Up,” and which is in amiable contrast to most notes addressed by actors to newspapers that qualify approval New York, Sept. 5, 1873, To THE Eprror OF THE HERALD:— I not only do not consider your criticism on my acting ungracious, but 1 Kindly thank you for it, ‘The role is quite a new one to me, aud must be re- hearsed faithfully and persistently to attain any- thing like success, 1 will try faithfully to do better 1M it; Day, todo my best. ‘Thanktully yours, McKEE RANKIN, Robinson Hall. The marionette entertainment presented last evening toa private audience at Robinson Hall Was a success in every particular, Our crowded columns preciude a lengthened reference to it this morning. We can only say that it promises to be- come exceedingly popular with the younger por- tion of the community, Musical and Dramatic Notes. Herr Wachtel has been engaged by Mr. Carl Rosa and Mr. Neuendorif for the season of 1874-75 in this country. During last August he sang in Berlin to very appreciative audiences, Mme, Nilsson will arrive in this city on Tues- day evening by the Cuba. A reception will, within @ day or two after, be tendered her by the Arca- dian Club, The subscription books for the Stra- kosch opera season will be open to-morrow morn- ing at the Academy of Music, ‘The Neuendorf! dramatic and operatic troupe arrived in this city on Wednesday from Efrope. It numbers twenty-three members, exclusive of chorus singers. The season will begin next Tues- day week at the improved Germania Theatre, with “Aus der Gesellschaft." Performances will be given every evening, beginning October 5; also entertainments will be given at the Terrace Garden every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday night, and at the Brooklyn Athenwum every other Thursday. At Wallack’s an entire change of programme is announced for this week. Mr. Shiel Barry, whose great success last season as Michael Feeny will be pleagurably remembered, has been engaged, and will appear as Miles Nacopoleen during the present week, in the “Colleen Bawn.” The management lias spared no pains in the mounting of this famous drama, we under- stand, and it will be presented with a powerful cast. A new local drama, entitled “Dust and Dia- monds,”’ by Mr. Charles Gayler, is announced for speedy production. “The Wandering Jew” will be produced at the Grand Opera House on Tuesday evening next. The piece will, itis presumed, be gorgeously set, and will present Messrs. Fi Harkins, Hardenberg and Leclercq, and Miss Fannie Hayward and Miss Marie Gordon (her début). The children who danced in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will ap- pear in a demon dance, arranged and taught them by Mme. Lanner. In the carnival scene the whole company will be on the stage. The ‘Wan- dering Jew” is now past its 128th performance in London, and is there considered one of the most exciting sensations of the year. Mr. Daiy’s Fifth Avenue Theatre Company is win- ing favorable comment in the West. The company ia now performing in Cincinnati, where it com- menced last Monday its brief tour previous to opening the season here at the new theatre in Twenty-eighth street. ‘Divorce’ was given to a jammed house, and the reception accorded the artists was warm and genuine. Miss Davenport, Miss Morris, Miss Jewett and Mrs. Gilbert me* with enthusiastic favor, and Fisher, Clarke, Lewis and Davidge reached the popular heart at once. The ladies of the company were serenaded at the Bur- net House on Sunday, the evening of their arrival, and on Wednesday received an invitation to make @ private inspection of the Industrial Exhibition, which opened formally that night. The company piays two weeks longer im Cincinnati and then goes to Buffalo, where it,remains a week, It opens in Philadelphia on the 29th and will remain there a fortnight. ARCTIC EXPLORATION, iain peiitanin The Progress of Mr. Leigh Smith’s Eng- Msh Expedition—Plenty ot Ice, Snow, Seals, Beara and Enjoyment. [From the London Times, August 26.] We have been favored with the iollowing copy ofaletter from Mr, Richard Potter to his fatuer, Mr, T. B. Potter, M. P.:— ‘TRENERENBERG Bay, July 4, 1873. Ihope you got my letter sent by the Swedish merchantman which has already gone home, The Polhem came in here last night, and 1s going away again to-day—in about half an hour probably, so [ have only just time to write aline. She is going home in about three weeks, | believe. We jell In with the Samson two days ago. We have been up to the Seven isiands, latitude 80 deg., 60 min,, but there 1s too much ice to get further north at present, We are all Well and enjoy our- selves immensely. We have got jour sea-horses und one bear, all of which afford capital sport, ‘The Sampson Las had more luck among the seals than we have, ag she has got 150 and we have only >, rofessor Nordenskisid and other men who tried to get north in boats could not get lurther than 80 tee., 36 min, latitude, and then, finding the ice too rough lor sledying, crossed the nortueast land and returned by Hiniopen Straits, They must have had a bad time of it, as there were snow- storins flity out of sixty days, The bay where we are how is where Parry left the Hecla when he went north on siedges, Itis anything but @ fertile place, as the low ground is all one great swamp, and theve 1s @ lot of suow on the ground still. We are going to stop here to take in water and to get the provisions and coals out oi the Samson, and we may have some sport, as there are a lot of white whales in the bay, and there may be salmon in the rivers. I must finish this letter, as we are a going on board the Polhem to say goodby. K. E, POITER, P.S.—Please excuse my short letters, but there is never any time to write when a snip “speaks” us or Only stops @ short time, and I have not missed an opportunity ofgending a line. I never enjoyed anything so mucu as this trip, and don’t feel the cold a bit. It is warmer here than it has ever been, the temperature being 49 deg. We hi plenty of sport with the birds, eider Lib otee] and find them all capital eating, in spite of the fishy favor. We have not seen any reindeer yet, and are, probably, too far north at present. ARREST OF AN INSURANCE AGENT. ‘Sr. Lovts, Sept. 6, 1873. E. A. Whitcomb, formerly State Agent of the St. Louis Life Insurance Company for Indians, was- arrested last evening on @ requisition from the Governor of Indiana, charged with being a de- fauiter in the sum of $20,000 for icy png brood He was lodged ta jatt ‘and pl ly wil al +0 Indianapolis to-day, THE BOND FRAUDS. Still More Alarming Reports of the Magnitude of the Forgeries—Jack A. Cantor, the Noto- ous Forger, Implicated—How He Prac- tised His Art at Sing Sing— Williamson in the City. It may be remembered that on last Tuesday there was published what then was designated as @ “black list,” prepared by the forgers on last Feb- Tuary, showing that it was contemplated to place on the market $300,000 of fraudulent bonds. Yes- terday afternoon Mr. Sampson informed a HERALD reporter that he had received later news {rom the forgers’ camp, stating that the amount to be nego- tated in this country and Europe was $2,000,000 worth of bonds, ’ The HeRaup has already published exclusively the fact that Frank Gieason, Andrew Roberts and Gottlieb Engels, the “Scratcher,” were the princi- pals in the great Wall street bond forgeries, which have lately, toa certain extent, affected the opera- tions of the Stock Exchange, and that Martha Hargreaves ana Walter Sheridan lately left for London by one of the Liverpool stcamers with a large amount of bonds, which are reported to have already been disposed of on the English markets, In addition to this combination of members of the predatory art the history of a most celebrated ras- cal, who is alleged on the very best authority to be one of the most distinguished “operators” M wwe present great swindle here, is given. “JOHN A. CANTOR,’? This eminent worthy, better known as simpio “Jack Cantor,” passed upward of @ quarter of @ century in the pent-up bounds of prison iife be- fore he went on his final pilgrimage to Sing Sing. About ten years ago, when ex-Governor John T. Hoffmann was Recorder, A. Oakey Hall District Attorney and ex-Judge Gunning 8S. Bedford As- sistant District Attorney, ‘Jack Cantor” was sent to Sing Sing for a alight unpleasantness with the federal government. Cantor was arrested for forging the second edition of counterfeit fifty cent stemps and_ holding @ large number of counterfeit bills of different States of the Union. His residegge at this time was in Filty-second street, between Ninth and Tenth avenues. Here the veteran felon engraved his own lithographic plates, worked his own press, and, like a second Benjamin Franklin, did all his own printing, although counterfeit and calculated to deiraud hundreds oi thousands oi his fellow citt- zens, When Cantor was arrested, at the address above mentioned, no less a sum than $30,000 worth of State bills was iound in his establishment, and likewise 0 worth of fifty cent stamps all r bed dump and sized, The arrest was made by E, J, Ryder, a detective, wno took “Jack” tu the Twen- tieth police precinct, situated between Ninth and Tenth avenues, in Thirty-fifth street, He was brought beiore Captain Walling (now the In- spector), who sent lm down to the lockup. Jack Cantor, with the mass of accumulated guilt, could hardly fail of being convicted, and cigar ae aiter a fair and impartial trial, he was sent to Sing Sing with a number of other criminals. CANTOR AT SING SING. Cantor’s “scratc! ” or forging qualifications stood him in good need at Sing Sing, where he was promoted for good conduct to @ clerkship in the ofice, and many were the terms of imprisonment that he reduced from ten to five years and from five to bwo and a half years; but, In an evil hour tor lim, his power of pen was discovered, and he was placed among the nats # riff-raif of prisoners till the term of imprisonment’ to which he had been sentenced—namely, ten years—had expired. is presumed that he was handsomely paid in many or all of the cases in which he forged the records of imprisonment, AT LIBERTY ONCE MORE. About @ year ago Cantor received bis liberty and hied his way to New York again, the scene of so Many o! his old exploits when a younger man, and before so many of his years had been spent under the sheltering roof of a New York prison, or before his sandy locks had become tinged with gray in dishonorable detention, Cantor has now enjoyed his liberty for about a year, and it is believed on all hands in detective circles that he and Gottlieb Engels (who has now taken to flight im company with Frank Gleason and Andy Roberts) did alarge amount of the forging of these bonds, At all events, the detectives are on his track, and it is expected by Captain Thomas Sampson, detective of the stock Exchange, that beiore a hours have elapsed Cantor will find himself a prisoner at potice beadquarters, Cantor is about Uity-five years of age, and weighs about 160 pounds. He is of medium height, and is weil built; has re- markably ree features, no beard or moustache, and is, take him for all in all, a most plausible fel- low, in spite of lis advanced years, BILL GURNEY. He was, as before sald, an excellent mechanio and used to do all his work in the counterietun, trade, and it is not to be wondered at, that he ha only to do with “wholesale men,”’—among them being the notorious “Bill Gurney,’? who 1s now undergoing ten years’ imprisonment at Crow Hull Penitentiary, Brooklyn, for counterfeiting. The detectives consider that the present “job” must have been @ colossal one, when two men, able “scratchers” like Jack Cantor and Frank Gleason, were both required to bring the undertaking to success, WILLIAMSON'S HIDING PLACE. Among the Wail street detectives it was cur- rently reported at the midday session, at tne tele- raph office, at the corner of Wailand Broad, that Williamson was hiding in the city, but airaid to show bis face in the street. The same thing was also said about Gottheb Engels; but whether true or not remains to be seen. in the HERALD of Redatiere | was published a biographical sketch of Yates, the prisoner at Po- lice Headquarters, who has been arrested tn con- nection with this case. Franzing, it may be re- membered, was‘mentioned 48 one of the parrners of Yates. It is worthy of note also that Franzing was a partner of the French forger, Delacroix— now dead—and that he, in company with Van Eten—now in State Prison for ten years—were all three together in Ludlow Street Jali—viz., Fran- zing, Delacroix and Van Eten—and concocted there, it is rumored, more than one scheme of roguery. MELANOHOLY DEATH OF A BANKER, Killed by Falling From a Window. At an early hour yesterday morning Coroner Herrman received information at his residence that the dead body of Mr. Charles A. Lamont had been found in the front area of his mansion, No, 655 Filth avenue, The third story window being open, it was believed that Mr, Lamont, while sitting on the broad wiudow sill or slab, or ona chair close to the window, had lost his balance and fell head foremost into the area, thus receiving fracture ol tae skull, death ensuing al- most instantly. Mr. Lamont, who was & special partner with Win. A. Tebbals, in the firm of Plume & Vanem- burgh, bankers and brokers, at No, 89 New street, was absent from home till half-past eleven o'clock on Friday night, Wen he returned, and retired to his room alone, on the third floor, his family being absent at West Point, At about haif-past four on Saturday morning the body of Mr. Lamont was found lyimg tin the front area, itfe being quite extinct, Mr. Lamont must have falien from the front window, a distance of nearly forty feet, while asieep, as the bed in his room had not been disturbed. Coroner Herrman yesterday al- ternoon held an inquest over the remains, and among tuose present were Mr. John Sparks, Clerk of the Courts of General Sessions and Oyer and Terminer, brother-in-law of deceased, Mr. KE. K. Garrison, Francis Skiddy and other gentlemen well known in the commercial community. ‘The evidence adduced before the Coroner showed conclusively that deceased fell irom the window while asicep. Deputy Coroner Cushman, M. D. testified that Mr. Lamont died from compound fracture of the skuil, From the evidence pre- sented the jury rendered a verdict of accidental death. Mr. Lamont was @ man of immense wealth, was @ noble-heartea gentleman, forty-seven years of age, and a native of New York. Deceased has left a widow and three children with a fortune, clear of encumbrance, of $1,000,000, His invest ments in Wall street covere other miliion, THE APPROACHING FAIR IN WESTCHESTER The twenty-ninth annual Fair, under the au- spices of the Society of Agriculture and Horticul- ture, of Westchester county, will commence on the grounds of that association, near White Plains, next Tuesday, and will be continued each day until the end of the week, The first two days will be chiefly devoted to receiving and classilying bag i stock intended for exhibition, while Sas remainder ‘of the week Will be mainly cee by trials of speed among the feet-footed sores Cs the county, for the encourageme' 4 which tes be premiums are offered, On Thu dhe $ we addresses are expected to be delivere ir. Eliott ©, Cowdin and others, The fair will be form- ally inaugurated ha ag row evening 1A Oa 9 4 ball in the flo , adadtuion to many fair aspirants for local fashiop~ able lame, there Will, doubtless, assemble all those of the sterner sex who would fain be considered the leading political lignts in the country. ACCIDENT TO A STEAMER The Steamer Stamford on a Roeck—Panio of the Passengers. Boston, Sept. 6, 1873, The steamer Stamford, which runs between Long Island ond this ity, while coming up the harbor iast evening struck @rock and more a her vottom. liere were board and quite ®& panic prevailed Fers'tine, Me the boat was kept ogout by her pumps, and East Boston without jurtuer disaster, HM