The New York Herald Newspaper, July 31, 1875, Page 3

THE NATHAN MURDER. Remarkable Story of an Ex- Police Officer. HOW HE WORKED ACLEW Disappointment and Disgrace His Only Reward. Insulted and Thwarted by Superiors. A STARTLING PICTURE OF POLICE LIFE, t Members ef the Force Have to Say, What Prom: MR. FRED. NATHAN'S VIEWS. History of the Mysterious Crime in Twenty-third Street. | ‘The investigation now being made by the Legis- lative Committee into the conduct of the New York Police Department has been a series of per- fect surprises so far as the general public was concerned, To those having an intimate know- ledge of the inner workings of the Department of Police during the past few years the revelations were not startling, because the facts now for the Orst time made public were well known and un- derstood, ‘To those who had no adequate conception of the corruption and chicanery that have during the past few years crept into the Police Depart- | Ment of this city the revelations made since the committec began its investigations must have come like @ thunderclap, tor the simple reason that they were wholly unexpected and un- looked for, But the stern fact remains that tne Department of Poltce, to which has been committed the care of tho lives and property of our citizens, nas for some tume been paralyzed and weakened by the crimi- Bal action of its leading oMicers. This 1s no idle statement, for It 1s too susceptible of proof to be con troverted, Day after day the readers of the HenaLD have been given statements made by witnesses bejore the committce that were astounding in their nature, Captains of police were voidiy accused of haying protected pro- fersional gamblers in the exercise of tneir nefarious business. Other oficers of tne samo important and hitherto honorable rank have been aiso described as levying a species of hideous blackmail upon povr creatures who | ined a livelihood by a life of shame. Not omy Were captains of police thus charged, but there were found credible witnesses who appeared and accused certala officers of that rank of hav- Ing shared in the spoils of that despicable class of criminals known as panel thieves. Yesterday a new sensation and a new develop- ment was made before the investigating com- mittee. Anex-member of the police came for- ‘Ward and related a most marvellous and extraor- dinary story. He exhibited a singulac talent | for detective work, and, if his narrative is a true one, the department has lost a most efficient and valuable member, He told most interesting | story of a burglary, and his efforts to detect and arrest the criminal. He succeeded in this endeavor after exerting considerable ingenuity and patience. But if this witness is to be believed the prisoner proved to be a most valuable one for the reason that he seemed to jurnish an important | and decided link in the chain of evidence pointing to the real murderer of Mr. Benjamin Nathan. The statements made by this witness undoubrtediy | treate a deep impression, and although some of the facts stated by him are denied by those he mentions, still it 1s quite apparent that we are on the eve of developments that may result in Something more important than anything that has transpired since the committee began its sessions. THE NEW TESTIMONY. It is only necessary to state that auring the afternoon session of the Legislative Committee on the Prevention of Crime yesterday Mr. Syduey H. Conklin, the witness of the morning, was recalled, and it was supposed he was only to be asked to cor roborate or amplily his previous statement. Tnis, however, was not the case, and his testimony, published below, forms an interesting and yal- wable chapter in the tragic death of Ben- jamin Natnan, Iv 1s an eloquent commentary on the modus operandi of the “finest police in the world,’ and snows the dead Jourdan in a peculiar light, In opening he said that during the year 1870 he was in Captain Davis’ precinct, situated on 125th street and Tenth avenue. Here he was iKed by counsel if he had not once obtained a clew as to the murderer of Benjamin Nathan. He answered in the aflirmative, and then was re- quested to go on with his narrative, He then void the jo!lowing thrilling and dramatic svery of how he had traced aimost to a conclusion the so- called mystery :— HUNTING THE NATHAN MURDERER. He stated as follows :—On the morving of the 23th of August, 1870, Lleft whe station house on dog ‘watch and relieved the officer whose beat was up | Broadway irom Manhattan College to the Ath- lete’s Meld; at parting he told me that the house bi Mrs. Lord had been broken Into and that I haa better go up and see about the matter; 1 went up to the house and saw Mrs, Lord, who showed me a small valise and a brace and bit which tne burglar Qad left behind him; the servant maid told me that late on the afternoon of tne previous day a man had called at the house to wk alms, and had remained around the premises for about two hours; this was all the information L there obtained, except a clew which I discovered Bubdsequently. ON THE TRACK, + RMoticed in front of the stoop foot prints in the foft clay, and also scratches on the marnle tiling of tne hallway; IL went back to the station and | reported these facts to Sergeant Fitzgerald, who immediately sent me to work up this case: {returned to the house and toox up the trail; 1 followed the footprints through Mantattanyille, north to Carmansviile, thence cast to Macomb’s Dam and lostthem atthe bridge; I crossed the bridge and again found the trail on the Wes chester side, trackea it up through Melrose and lost it again on the hard pavement; at the point | at which 1 lost the trait 1 meade inquirics and | learned jrom & woman who kept a | candy slop that a man answering | in every particular the —deseription tiven of the burglar by Mrs, Lord's mail; had Called at ier plaice and asked for money; tiat she refused, and thereupon he began to smash her tandy jars; she told me of the direction he took | hiter leaving ler piace; | went down to the Bos. | tou road and again found the trail; followed it to Hariem Bria then lost it again; here I had to rust to guesswork, and, while wondering what | (a do, 1 walked to the corner of 125th street and | Third avenue; here f imagined Leaw in a soft portion wf the stdewaik prings of the shve- aatis, which I had noticed at the mouse and which had aided me in keeping up the chag nm chance I went over to Kiehth avenue, and there stood the man, on the corner in front ofthe Adriatic Hotel; 1 knew him by his boots; Taccosted him wd ed him where he was going; he said to froy, and asked mo why I had spoken to nim; 1 jold him he was wanted at the station how Manhattagvilie; he then made a break to elude me, butt DREW A SIX-SHOUTER ON HIM, and he was persuaded to return; when | the newspapers; his manner made me a littie | me of | Mext morning, prepared to go to Chester, - that Fred Nathan told me, when he saw vne dus- NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, JULY 4), 1875—WITH SUPPLEMENT. I brought bim to the station the Ser- geant locked him up, and I took off one of his shoes and went up to Lord’s to | compare it with the track tn the clay; the print of | six heavy nails in the toe were as plainly visible as the footprint itsel(; [then brought him up, and the girl recognized him; be could be easily recog- Rized> he was & Man BIX loot two anda half | inches, and very stontly built; the next morning I brought him to court In Harlem, before Judge McQuade, and the Judge remandea nim to the station house, that I might get more evidence against him; when [ searched him I found ® Key in his vest pocket, which fitted the valise found up at Lord’s place; my prisoner asked me if the key fitted the bag, and 1 told him it dia; he then asked me if I had found a duster in the bag, and I told him I nad; satd he to me, “That damned I{nen coat will hang me;"’ the coat had the bloody marks of a hand whtcn was minus the second finger; in two different places the marks were plain as gpuld be, but they were not dark red as stale bioou generally 1s; as I had some doubts about the blood 1 went over to Hofl- man’s drug store, ana Mr. Hoffman examined the coat and told me the stains were blood, but that some one haa attempted to erase them with bees- wax; bejore | brought my man to Headquarters I took an illustrated paper into his cell and laid It down on the table; it hada picture of Washington Nathan calling for help from tne stoop of his house in Twenty-third street; I saw the man, whose name was Michael Ryan, pick it up and. stare as it inientiy for afew moments and then throw tt from him under the table; when I returned he said he had not seen the paper ana did not Know where it was, but finally he produced it; shortly after the paper episode he said to me, “Do you intend to stick to me?’ I said, *You bet I do,” and then | he grumbled a little and said, “tis ashame a poor man shoala suffer for a rich man’s crime ;’’ up to this time I had never ever hinted as the Nathan murder to him, WITH THE CONSPIRATORS. I then prought him to Police Headquarters, and saw Jourdan, who sent me in to see Kelso; I told Kelso just what I have now related, and told him I thought it would be best not to show Ryan the coat; he told me he was captain, ana I had better keep my thoughts to myself; maybe I would lixe to be captain; if so, he would give me his snield; he then ordered Ryan to be brought into the omMce, and the first | thing he did was to show him the coat and ask him if he ever saw it before; Ryansatd he had not, and he was remanded to his cell; he was kept at Headquarters for about two hours, ana then I was sent back with him to Judge McQuade; Jadge MeQuade told me when I went to him that 1 bad better go and see Washing- ton Nathan; [I went to his office, No. | 25 Water street, and asked for him; he was not in; 1 walted for him, and | when he returned I told him my story and asked him iffhe had seen @ partof it whica had been published iu the HeraLp; he treated ne very coidly, and satd he had something eise to do be- side taking notice of the stuif that appearea in mad, and i said to him, “Mr, Nathan, if tnis 4 man opens his mouth he’s going to make you sick ;’” after this remark of mine he took a little interest in me and heard the rest of the story; when I was leaving he said to me, “You keep thisaway from the papers and I'll ‘sec’ you;’? I didn’t want to be seen; [ wanted to get the murderer, so I went to Morristown, N,J., and saw Mr. Frederick Nathan; I met him in the carden, and told him I had something very importent about his father’s death to tell; that I had been to see Washington, but he had too much business to hear me; Frederick dropped his cane turned pale aad said, with much feeling, “What! business before my father’s dearth!’’ I picked up his cane, handed it to him and tried to make some explanations about Washington's conduct, as I saw it affectea him very deeply; 1 told him how |) anxious I wasto find the man and what I had already done, and he said, “Thank God there is one man on the New York police who wants to do |) he asked me if Washington nad rola | waiter he employed named Jobn Ryan, who had a brother named Michael yan, who used to work witha Mr, Chapman, at Ches- ter, Pa.; Itold him he nad not, and he kindly toid me that 1fI would call on him next morning | he would pay my expenses to Chester, in order that I might see Chapman; these occurrences I reported to Captain Dayis; I went to the station HOW CAPTAIN DAVIS HELPFD TO FIND THE MUR- DERER. Captain Davis ordered me on post immediately, and told me iff did not let the Nathan matter drop he’d bounce me; 1 went on duty, and suabse- quentiy when I went to Headquarters Jourdan sald to me, in the presence of Kelso, “If you don’t drop this Nathan business you won't wear the buttons twenty-four hours;’ I was present at Headquarters when my prisoner was identified by an old lagy and gentleman who hud seen him ride from Morristown behind Mr. Nathan; the servant girl of Mr. Nathan’s | house in Twenty-third street also identifed bim as the man who, the day before the murder, had called to inquire about John Ryan, Ms brother; Washington Nathan refused to go into the same | room with Ryan, and Ryan said he woulan’t go to see Wash Nathan; I met Judge Cardozo in company with Judge McQuade im_ the flarlem Court Wouse during tne time I was working up the case, and Judge Cardozo said to me, “You have got the best case I have heard of yet;” he asked me what theory L had about the $500 check that was founa on Mr, Nathan’s table, and 1 told him my theory was that | Washington had drawn up the check and waked his father to sign it, also that he had men tn the room to slay him if he refused; he refused, and the men or man dtd the work he er they were brought there to do; Judge Cardozo satd, Jooking me straight In the eyes, “IfI were looking for the murderer of Mr. Nathan Wd arrest you,’ the duster, I suppose, went to the Property Clerk at Headquarters, but 1 don’t know; ine brace and bit went to Caprain Davis’ hoyse; the duster was much too small jor ® man of Ryan’s size; it wouldan’t tit me; every- boay tried to binff me, except Inspector Milks, and one day while I was talking to im in nis room be was fired at; I also received a letter signed “A Friend,” stating that if I did not give | up the chase Vd get a biow some nignt and wouldn’t know what struck me;! forgot to state ter, that ne could swear he had seca % at his table; while I was bring: ing Ryan from Harlem he tried to jump of the cars and told me if I had not been so quick there'd have been some brains and piood on tne track; L was never called on to testily egainst Ryan ‘or burglary, nor for the murder ol Mr, Nathan, and I don’t Know what bappenca fonim; he was in Judge McQuade’s care. This finished the most startling chapter of criminal history ever given to the public, WHAT FREDERICK NATHAN says, A HERALD reporter called at Mr. Frederick atham’s residence on Filth avenne, between fty-third and Filty-sourta streets, yesterday evening with a view to ascertain whether he con. | firmed OMcor Conklin’s starting statements so | | far as they reflected upon his — drother, Washington Nathan. It will be observed on reading the testimony of the officer that he makes Frederick # party to his charges agalnst Washington. It would not be expected, of conrae, that one brother wonid array himsett againss another m a matter invoiving to so paln- ful a degree the peace, honor and happiness of the jamily, Gut there were certain tacts on which Mr, Frederick Nathan's testimony coula throw light, aud which, If corroborated by him, woul) go far toward strengthening the credibility of Conklin, THE TEST QUESTIONS, Was he visited by Conklin at Morristown? That Was the first important question, Did Conslin complatu of Washington Natran'’s suspicious de. meanor? Did Frederick encourage him in ny attempts to ferret out the sceret by saytny “Thank God there 1s one man on the New York | police who wants te do his duty 9 Was it true that Frederick cailed conk- lin’s attention to the important fact that | Washington’s waiter, John Ryan, was a brother of this burglar, Michael Ryan? Was it true that Frederick Nathan declared that he had seen the blood-stained duster “at the table’ of the family, leaving the inference that he meant he saw it on his brother? All these are important facts to ve ascersained and the very Grst question Lhat occurs upon reading the testimony is, Does Frederick Nathan confirm the statements of this police officer which Lear so heavily against bis brovher? A MEETING BY CH Both brothers live at the Fifth avenue manston, which 18 @ very handsome one. It 1s not quite so large as was the magnificent and ill starrea house on Twenty-third street; but its interior is very handsome. Both brothers were out when the writer called, and the family did not know how soon they were likely to retarn, Not long after- ward, however, Mr. Frederick Nathan came | strolling along leisurely and with an air of good- natured abandon toward his residence. The writer immediately recognized Mr, Nathan and accosted him, Frederick Nathan returned his salutation in the most polite and cheerful manner, | and it was evident that be had heard nothing of the painful revival of the murder story before the Committee en Police Corruption, as tt might prop- erly be called. A SKETCI OF MB, NATHAN. Prederick Nathan 1s a good looking young man, Whose face scarcely betrays nis Hebrew origin. In fact, he looks more like a Spantard or Porta- guese than an American fevrow. He ts of portly frame, well made, broad shouldered and full-habited, with a round face of dark complexton and framed by ‘ull dark whiskers and a dark mus- | tache, What is perhaps more prominent avout him than anything els are his large durk eyes, which are of unusnal size, and give Nis face quite & striking expression, “Mr, Nathan,” sald the writer, “I bey your par- don ror troubling you on so uisagreeable a matter as the murder of your Jather: but do you know tt has been revived in a most startling manner this afternoon?” Mr. Nathan satd quickly, “I did not know it; why, what is it?” HE DENOUNCES CONKLIN AS A LIAR, The story of Omicer Conklin was outlined to nim briefy, Mr. Nathan, with but little show of in- dignation, said, when the writer came to the point | where Conklin recounts his trip to Morristown, N.J.,to seo Frederick, “On, all thats a lie. Its a fabrication from beginning to end,’” “Is it not true that he went to see you at Mor- ristown?? “Why, no,” replicd Mr. Nathan. “He never came to me, and, whatis more, I never lived in Morristown after the murder. It was my mother who was there, and not 1” gHad you no dealings whatever with this police officer?” was ihe next query. “never saw him, as far as 1 can remember,’? Mr. Nathan replied, in his quick, Impulsive way. “pid you ever hear of him? “I never heard of hun,” he replied, energetical- ly. ‘1 believe the whole thing 1s a fabrication,’? And then he inquired at what time tnis testimony was given, THE FAMILY’S POLICY. “Well, the papers car publish what they please,’” he said, rather petulantly; ‘of conrse we can’t help that; but we have all made up our minds to say nothing about the case. We leave all that to our counsel, Judge Cardozo, wno has the case completely in bis hands. As far ag this testi- mony js concerned, as I said before, I don’t know Conklim any More than the man in the moon—as Jar as I can remember now—and you can say that ali these insinuations against my brother Wash- ington are totally untrue.” ‘This ended the interview. INSPECTOR DILKS’ STATEMENT. Last evening a Herap reporter found Inspec. tor Dilks at his residence, at No. 46 West Ninth Street, and showed him prioter’s proois of Mr. | Sydney H. Conkling’s evidence, given before the Legisiative Committee of Investigation on Crime, and asked him jor his opinion on the subject. The Inspector adjusted his spectacles, relit his cigar, and read the matter in question without litting bis eyes trom the print, and then gave the following statement :— Lrecollect something about the arrest of Ryan, but not distinctly, I had nothing to do with the Nathan murder case, fur the reason that Kelso and Jourdan took entire charge of tho matter— and further, I had no time to give any attention to the case, having to attend to office work. Tne Superintendent, Mr. Jourdan, gave the case the Most persistent attention possivie. I dtd not know anything about the antecedents of the arrested man, whe witness 1s mis- taken in saying that he was in the room with me at Police Headquarters when a shot was fired, presumably at me. The only person in the room was a HERALD reporter. The ball, which I think was fred from an air gun, hit the jamb of tne window, then made a ricochet off the glass to the wail across the yard, which is about twenty-five feet wide. After it was spent it was picked up by the HERALD reporter 1 have bejore alluded to, My impression is— but 1 am may be wrong—that the shot Was accidentally fired. 1 don’t think that the story you show is entirely worthy of credit, From an intimate acquaintance wit Captam Davis (now retired), Whose precinct was in 126th streetand Tenth avenue, I feel persuaded that he would have had the matter worked up to the bitter end If he had possessed What he coasiderea any decent clew or reliable iniormation in the mat | ter. driving at, pamely:. To incuipate Washington Ex-Judge Cardozo worked most assiduously in tne case, and he had every reasou to believe that gen- tleman innocent of the foul crime whica people chose to impute to him, Jim Kelso, who was | head cf the dete@jives, and is a man of brains, possesses more real iniormation about this case than any Other living man. I have no special recollection of Police OMcer Conkling excepting that/ think Captain Wilson once told me that he was a good and reliable officer. I would rather nol express my Opinion as to the general effect the, story I have just read produces upon me. It is evidence; let that suffice. Superintendent Jourdan took tho conceivavle interest in this case, ana 1 am of tne opinion that his death was remotely caused by his close application and Wear of mind avd body in this matter. Me did his best, so aia Kelso, and no men could have | done more than they did, in my opinion, to un- Tavol the mystery, The only statement that strikes me in Conkling’s story is what be says abont the man Ryan whom ho arrested, You see he says here :— “Il was present at Headquarters when my pris- oner was identified by an oid lacy and gentiemaa, woo had seen him ride from Morristown velind Mr. Nathan, ‘The servant girl ot Ar. Natnwn’s house in Twenty-third street also identified him as the Man Who, the day belors fhe murder, nad calied to inqaive about Joan Ryan, his vrotuer”? ‘That is undoubtedly am important statement if Ite an be corroborated, Washington Nathan was subjected to as searching a cross-examination as ever man was, and Superintendent Jourdan told me he was satisfied of his innocence. ‘The day be+ jore Mr. Nathan was murdered he came irom New | Jersey to offer prayers im his synagogue fur the memory of Is mother, as Was his practice at a certain period or periods in the year, ana [do not | think that people outside o; bis family would have | known that he was coming into town, PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF Mie NATHAN. IT knew the elder Mr, an for # great many years, and respected him highly as a gental and kind-hearted man, when he used to hive at the corner of Thompson and Lleccker street, in the house now occupied by Reeves, the butcher. He was devotedly attached to his chiloren and they tohim, 1 was the captain of the Fifteenth pre- einct, BILLY FYORRESTER, ‘The theories of Jourdan and Kelso on the sabdject were that Billy Forrester, now in Joliet Peniten- tary, Indiana, was the man who killed Mr. Nathan, and if you call upon Mr, Kelso, at Nis coal | ofice, he will, doubtless, explata to you bis reasons orsothinking, The Nathan case is, however, one 1. whieh It is easy to form various theories, 80 con- flicting Is the evidence, Kelso continucd Mis in- vestigations alter the death of Superintendent Jourdan with great energy, but, unfortunately, {ttle success, lcleariy see what Mr. Sydney H. Vonklin is | deepest | j ROGERS CASE, ly You may remember, said the Inspector, that two lodgers were arrested in the Fourteenth precinct ‘on suspicion of being Implieated in the Rogers | | murder, by Sergeant Lowrey (now captain in the | | Sixth ward), when one of them escaped, and the | | arrested man was found innocent. The persun | | who Js actually supposed to have committed tms | murder was Logan No. 1 or Logan No, 2, I forget | whieh. I merely mention this to state how easy | | 1tis for us police eMvers to make the mistake of | working upon false clews.”” | EBX-SUVERINTENDENT KELSO. | A HERALD reporter hunted high and low in the | city to find ex-Superintendent J. Kelso, and finally learned that he was at Lake Champinin | and wonld not probably retarn to this city for some time to come, STATEMENT OF SERGEANT DELAMARTEB. Sergeant Delamarter, of the Thirtieth precinet, stated that he remembered well the time when | Miebael Ryan was arrestod tn 1870 by OMoer Sid- | | ney H. Conkling. The prisoner was a man sixty- | three years of aye and stood six feet three; he was partly id; what hair | he had was gray, & were also bis whiskers, The Sergeant said that Oficer Gonkiin found Kyan acting in asuspictous manner, lolter.sng along the road, carrying a black carpet bag. He conciuded to arrest him, and brought him to’ the station hoose. Ryan was very bois- | terous, and ucted half wid and crazy. The dag | was searched ard in it fonnd a dit, @ chisel, @ serewariver and one or two other | things which he (the Sergeant) could not recol- | | leet, Ryan was loched up on suspicion ot break- ing invo the house of a Mr, Ponnelly, on 133th | | | | Street and Broadway, also one other house, the name of tke occupant he could not The following day Ryan was | taken to Headquarters, where his likeness | was taken, and irom thence to tae | police court, where his brother put in an appear- ance and showed that the man could not have committed the burglary; that he was a man unable to accomplish such an act. Ryan was, therefore, discharged and was taken away by bis brother, Sergeant Delamarter turther says that he thinks Ryan waa brought in once before on some petty charge, but released. bame counected in any way with the Nathan | murder or the Nathan family. Ryan’s picture | stil adorns the Rogues! Gallery and is numbered 503, 1¢ fully answers the description given by Sergeant Delamarter, WHAT SUPERUNTENDENT WALLING SAYS A reporter of the HizRaLp also calied upon Su- Pperintendent G. W. Walling last night at his home, No, 311 West Nineteenth street, in order to ascer- tain his opinion of tne evidence given by Sydney H. Conklin befure the Legislative Committee yos- terday, and aiso to discover what, if any, steps were being taken in the premises, The Superintendent caretully read the state- ment, as published elsewhere, and stated that it Was the first he had heard of the matter. He had, he said, Seen two of the members of the commit- tee after thelr adjournment—viz., Mr, [ess and Mr. McGowan—who had visited Police Heaa- quarters, but had said notNing to him of any such evidence having been adduced before&’nem. He thought, he said, if they Rad attached any im- portance to+the staiement given by the man Conklin that they would either have communi- cated it to himorto the Commftssioners, He did not, he said, attach the slightest importance to the statement, and from what he knew of the case he would ‘not arrest @ dog on the testimony this man had given, He could not understand how aman who had beena police- man up to within a few weeks ago could have al- lowed sach important Information as he proféssed to have to lie dormant for so long. The state- ment in regard to Captain Davis threatening to ‘pounce? him if he told anything he looked upon a8 a mere fabrication, for the rea- Son that it was well known that tnat official | was, above ali, Known to be an honest man aad one that would not attempt to suppre: ny such information as this man professed to have, He did not either, he satd, believe that Mr. Jourdan or Mr. Kelso would try to | shield any man whom they supposed was connected with tne case, ‘Even,’ said the Superintendent, supposing they were so inclinea, what reason is there that this man should keep this secret for 80 many years? The Commission- ers were changed some two years and more ago, Kelso was out of power and Jerdan was recollect, | if | | dead, Why did he not come itorward and tell nis story, knowing, as he must have done & policeman, that the new Cammissioners and officials would con- sider it to be the greatest Jeather in their | caps could they elucidate | murder mystery. If he was afraid of being ‘jaid out at that time, why should he not have the same tear now? The faot is, said the Superintendent, I do not belleve a word of his whole story. There were two men named Conklin in tne precinct referred to, but botn of them were discharged some short time ago for quarrelling with other oMcers, THE HISTORY OF THE MURDER, Atan early hour on the morning of Friday, Jmy 29, 1870, Mr, Benjamin Nathan, a prominent mer- | chant of New York ctiy, was brutally murdered in | the library of his residence, No, 12 West Twen- thé great Nathan | He never heard Ryan's | | notoriety. | ber, b lves arrived at the conclusion that the deed was perpetrated after midnight’, irom the fact that a check torn from the deceased’s check book. and partially drawn in bandwriting, bore date of July 22 it = woald seem as if | the ill-fated man had risen to execute | some business projects which Mashed through his mind aud was interrupted in the transaction by the murderers’ visit. From the unprotessional manner in which the butchery took place It was presumed that no veteran burglars had done the deed. It was said to be tho work of strangers Whom it might be more diMcult to ferret out than | regular thieves, j - REWARDS. ‘sho members of the New York Stock Exchange offered a reward of $10,000 for the arrestof the | murderer, and Mayor Hall subsequently offered a | reward of $30,000 for the same purpose, with va- | rious minor rewards for any persons who might recover portions of the stolen property, The most exciting rumors regarding the entity of the perpetrators were set afloat, Several per- — sons Were arrested on the merest suspicion, but | Were almost as speedily set at liberty. Anony- | mous correspondents sent letters to the police | oMece, pretending to know something in refer- | = ence totne case, and on several occasions the public were informed that the real mur- | derer had been caugnt at last, Doe | 4 consideration was given to reports, how- | ever trifing, by the Coroner’s jury, whose Jabors were proionged during srx weeks. Hope- less of ever ascertaining a clew to the assassin, | the fury finally, on the 14tn of Septemper, through their foreman, Mr. Maunsell B. Field, returned a | verdict that the deceased came to his death by wounds inflicted on the head by an instrument — Known as a dog, tn the hanas of a person or per- | sons unknown io the jury,on the morning of July 29, 1870, ARRESTS, On the 26th of August, and prior to the render- ing of the verdict, an officer of the Tuirtieth pre- | | cinct arrested one Micaael Ryan on suspicion of | bnrglary. In the possession of tte captive were | found a bit, a brace, a screw driver and a file. His linen coat was dotted with spots apparently of blood, working in sawmills in Morristown and various parts of Pennsylvania, He was taken betore Justice McQuade at the Harlem Police veurt and committed on suspicion of purglary. He was alro taken before the late Superintendent Jourdan and his detectives, who put him to @ vory severe test in endeavoring to elicit some- der, Ryan was an extremely active-looking man, then about fitty years of age, six feet | in height and a native of Tipperary, Ireland. He | emigrated to this country in tne year 1845, He was detained in custody for some time, but was | finally Nberated, there being nothing adduced to impheate him, save & bloody coat found in his valise, and he was supposed to be playing for Toward the close of Septem- in the same year, a young man named Franco's J. Kepling was taken into custody ip Scuylktll Haven, Pa., on suspicton of betne ihe much sought murderer. He had taken quarters in @ hotel there on tne 13th of Aug die betrayed much emotion during his stay, and asked the Proprietor if he had heard anything of the Nathan murder. Then he admitted to a fellow ; at the time of the murder; that he (Kepling) had the iron “dog” in his hand a short time before the homicide was committed; that he knew where the ‘dog’ was pur- chased; that Nathan dropped when he was bit the first blow, and that he (Kepling) could at any time lay his hand on the mur- derer, He had a pawn ticket for diamonds in his pocket, and would unfold everything ne knew tothe New York police “if a ceriain party did not do the right thing.” He was brought on to New York, and found to be insane. Another luna- tic Damea Rudolph Duler, im November, Teported himself at Police Headquarters as the man who secreted bimself under Na than’s bed, and lay there until he saw | deceased open his si when he ()uler) jumped out and beat him to death with the *dog.’? Duler was set at liberry, A fellow giving the name of Dallis Lord contessed to Deputy Sherif Warren, of Norfolk county, Massachusetts, that he had butchered Nathan, aoi he was taken prisoner and removed to Boston, where it was found that the captive had made the confession with the hope of getting a free ride to New York. The notorious “Billy Forrester,’ while serving a term of imprisonment in the In- diana Penitentiary fer burglary, was conveyed to New York two years afterwards, but the evidence against Lim being incomplete he was remanded to the Indlana prison, where ho stiil remains. There were other developments, such as the 80-called confession of Joba T. Irving, who wanted @ free passage from san Francisco, WHEELING INTO LINE, —_—_—_+—__—. THE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT TAMMANY GENERAL COMMITTEES AND THE REORGANIZATION MOVE- MENT. Now that the action of the Sub-Committee on | Disctpiine on Thursday, in declairing what mem- | ty-third street, The first intimation of the | pers of the General Commitices of the | terrible deed was given at nalf-past | Third, Eleventh and Fifteenth Assem- six —o’clock on that morning, when | bly districts as they stand now. re- | the two sons of deceased rushed te the trons door- | steps in scanty attire, and, with frenzied voices, officers rushed to the Nouse and on the second | floor found the corpse of Mr. Nathan, clottea with ! | blood from nead to heel, gashed in the face and ent } and battered in the head, the body cold and sti | a mute testimony to the heartless brutality of the assassins, The hands were firmly clenched, the | head thrown back, the chest aistorted, and the | doors otthe library and the drawing room, be- | tween which lay the body, were spattered with | streams of blood, in such a manner as indicated | a feartul and desperate struggle between the IIl- fated man and his murderers, Little he dreamed ot his appalling fate when, at twenty minutes | past nine on the evening previous, he en- | tered his dwelling and retired to his bed- room on the second floor, in front of | the building. His two sons entered at a later pe- riod, spoke to Dim and bade him good night as they repaired to their respective rooms, one in | the front and the other in the rear, on the third ; foor, Next morning at six o’ciock Washington Nathan, one of the sons, went down to hts fatner’s room to call him, when the horrible spectacle al- ready describea presented itself to his view. A | chair near the door of the library was fount up+ set, the safe Was open and the desk leaf closed | down, with only a few papers resting thereon, | THe UPSET CHAIR | was dyed with blood and streaked with hatr, and | there were clots of blood on she carpet. ‘rhe | | clothes of the murdered man—a gray coat and | | trowsers anda white shirt—hung loosely on a | chair near the window, A tin box, full of papers, | near the desk, Stood apparentiy.untouched, but | otherwise the whole room and its contents | bore the evidences of @ terrible strugaie. | un the bed lay & wooden box arawer, | (taken from the safe), containing an American nickel vent and two Frencn pieces of the denom- | ination of SIX centimeseuc . A heavy piece of | | iron, eighteen tnehes long and curved at the ends, “with blood on one extremity, was found as the | | Irout door by the police. It waa found that | the safe had been blown open with powaer, | fand that @ set of diamonds and a vain- | able gold watch had been abstracted from the | clothes of the deceased, What the sate had con- | tained was @ mystery, but the supposition pre- | | vated that a large sum of money and bonds had } A curious feature of the anuir | Thomas Wallace, Uscar been stored in it. Was that the bedchamber of a servant man ad. | Joined the room above deseriyed, but the occupant | hoard nothing of the occurrence, Coroner Rollins and his agsistuat, Dr, Beach, made an examina- tion of the wounds, The bones of the fingers ot ; the left hand were fractured, four scalp wounds, | aninch and a halt long, were discovered on the | pack of the head; flve wounds on the tight side of the head and one over the right orbit. There were | also. two wounds an inch and a half in length, on the lorehoad, and fragments of vrains oozed through the gaping incisions, | shouted “Murder! police ! Cliizens and police | Nathan in the matter, which 1 consider too bad, | | i | corded on the rolls of the Wigwam, shall step down and out, thus boldly declaring that Tam. many nas lost confidence in them as fairnful Joliowers, bas been announced, the General Com- determined to show what they think about the | reorganization movement, The First and Second districts held meetings a day or two ago and ranged themselves on the side of the reorgan- izers, Last evening meetings were held by sev- eral other district committees. The following resolutions, offered py Mr. James Daly and sec- onded by Mr. Jonn lylet Kelly, wer jopted by TH FOURTEENTH DISTRICT GENRRAL COMMITTEE, after Mr. Bernard Reilly had stated the object of the meeting :. Resolyed, That the members of the Tammany Mall General Committee of the Fourteenth district commaly. inJorse the recent action of the Committee on Organi- zation with referonce to the Third, bleventh and Fit- among tho most consmicnons evidences of a acter. mination on the part of an honest and disinterested Jeader to bespeak pabite confidence and to seeure hars | mony and efMfeiency in the organization ot which w an integral part. | foRunolved, That this, delegation, recognizing the tact of the mistortanes of out times, so painfully apparent and so largely dae to the political depravity of the last jew Yours. plotges its support to atty and every effort within the party woreh tends to clevate the tome ot our ities and iinprove the character of our representa: Ves. Hesolved, That a Copy of the foregoing resolutions be published in tue dally papers, and another copy, at. tested by the members of this committes, be trausmitted to the Commitice on Organization, A vote was raken on these resolutions, when the committee adopted them by the: following Members voting for them:—Bernard Kellly, Jacob A, Gross, Peter Gillespie, Jonn Tyler Kelly, M. 8. Batties, Michacl Lestrange, Peter W. McGuire, James Daly, John Honey, Thomas Sullivan, Henry Allen, John A, Foley, Sebastian Michel, Philip Weber, Edward Carey, Alexander F. Kirchos— a unanimous vote, The RIGUTI DISRICT GENENAL COMMITTER passed re-olntions as follows:— i Whereas the Committee on Organization botnet iat 1 tall, i Diseipiin eth nded the reorganization of the Fhird, Fourth and rit Committee on and from the testimony such re- fifled and necessary ; iherets h Assembly district comme Resolved, 4 imbers of the Kiehth Ass Diy district Geuera oof Tammany Hall, Heartily Indorse and approve of the action of the Com: oo on Organization in relation 1@ the above-men- ed districts, The following members vozed for the resoju- | tions:—Seth C, Donglas, Michael Engiebarat, H, Bogart, James Bb, | Murray, Willan Campbeil, Henry Wallace, | PMP. Goldman, Daniel Gunver, Cornenus Gulen, <Aiburtus Wood, Jobn . Kuntz, Ja. cob Gernaud, Nathan Frank, James ‘Durn- ing, Stephen Mott, kowarad =D. Gate, George A. Staui, William Dunham, George Hall, Kaward J. Knight, Wil J. Rapp enhagen, Lows Wengenroth, Joon O'Neil, Thomas Kerrwan, Bers nard Kenny, goon Bredenbacn, Francis Breckner, James Towers, James Corr, There was no ulssent- ing vote, ‘THY SIXTH DISTRICT GENERAL, COMMITTER adopted the fuilowing resviutions :— Resolved, That we cordially and heartily approve of the action ot our, representatives in the Committee on Tre detec- | Orzanization of Tammany Hall in recording their votes | ttons:—timotny J. He stated that he obtained the tools while | | thing that might possibly bear en the mur- | boarder tmat he was within four tect of Nathan | | Carolina, the Sea Island negroes. Giscovery of a bloody shirt in the stable gna tne | mittees in the other Assembly districts seem to be | teenth districts, and that thoy regard such aotion as | 3 | for reorganization and pacification of the democracy @ | the elty and county of New York | i, That we have the most implicit confidence and integrity a Kelly, d leader « deavoring to promote maue fo understand al ambition mu 7 the general welfare ot the party : ¢ tollowing members voted for the resoiu- Uampbell, James Canane Willam Clancy, Richard #vans, Lawrence kb. H Jacon K avld. Adrian, Charies Galingne Jacon se Willlam Long, Patrick Farle Patrick J. ugniin, Moses Menrb; John Hughes, B. Wood ana Willia t. was the 1 ail the members present, the Bentee be: Patten. ANTI-TAMMANY DEMOCRATS, The anti-Tommany democrats in the Secomd and Third Assembly districts, wherein no meet ings were eid on Lourscay night, met yesterday and elected the fo lowing delegates to the County Committee :— SECOND DrsrRicr, artholomew Cronin, Maur: be, kdward Bb itiegins, Jonn EF ‘Timothy 4. Redica Keane, George James Cowan, award Kiel "Brien, James donn Mevatrey, Jona Cun , Charies ninghs ard iit : kK, Thou atric or m, n, Jou S. Kelly, Francis Mur- irphy, vael *elix , Jeremiah O'brien, Matthew 'M yy ehael Seheily, Thomas Wienhoid, Thomas Wild, Josepa ‘David, Damel seutly, Wiiiam Mughes, Wiilam Ward, Jonn siiteneli, Owen Hunt, Denis Burns, Willam 1, Kennedy, Patrick Crow. ley, Jonn Waters, Patrick Breen, bern) | McLaugulin, John Foley, Patrick Sullivan, Stark, Jevemlan Healy, Timothy Daree Ha timothy J. Dunn, John Sullivan, Marin Gallaguer. THIRD PISTRICY. James Ross, futrick Dempsey, Patrick O'Laugilin, Matthew Mebriee, Bernara O'Connor, doon J, Hennessey, James Donnellon, Martia Metlugh, Patrick Seanion, Jeremiah Ward, Thomas Norton, Michael J. Panning, James Palas- ter, Timothy Harrison, Marin O’vonnor, Joho Cabaghan, Patric iough, Dents Nolan, isd: | ward Gillen, James B. Maguire, Michael | Gimarten, Thomas Carey, Micnael Collins, Patriek Walsh, Winam M mara, Jonn Meintire m Hirehler, Martin MeGloria, Thomas Quinn, Michse Gillen, Patrick Horan, Patrick McGowan, James Burns, Michael Cunningham, Moses Sands, Felis vollins E GALLOWS. TH | EXECUTION OY SMITH, THE NEGRO, AT CHARLES | TON, XESTERDAY—‘‘DIS NIGGER A GONE coon.” CHABLESTON, S. C., July 30, 1875. The preceedings at the execution to-day were | very quiet and orderly. It was witnessed by fully 3,000 persons, mostly negroes from the Sea Islands, but, unlike the last hanging, negro | women were not admitted to the jail yard. At | eleven o’civck the proclamation was received | from the volored Lieutenant Governor, who, in | the absence of the Governor from the State, re- | prieved one of the prisoners, Gibbes, and com. | mated his sentence to twenty years tn the Pent- tentlary. A CONPESSION. Befcre leaving nis cell for the gallows, Smith made aconfession to a reporter, saying, “1 did the murder, put I didn’t know when I did it. J thank the good Lord for having mercy on my soul and hope that ali of you, white and colored, will take warning from me.” In reply to the question by tne reporter whetier he struck the fatal biow, he answered, “Or course I did tt; de devil fooled me, and | done it; that’s all [got to say.” THE EXECUTION, Upon arriving at tne gallows the prisoner, who | isa mere boy, about twenty years old, appeared | very faint and feeble, and could only move his lips | Without articulating. ‘he drop felt at haif-past | twelve, and the murderer ceased to struggie in forty seconds. PARTICULARS OF THE MURDER, Both these men belonged to the worst and most mniettered class of the black population of South For some time previous to the murder they had veen engaged in ; Tanning a small sloop between the city and Edista Tsland, and had had frequent dealings at tne store of the man whom they murdered. From the evidence brought out on the trial, but more | especially irom their own confessions, 1b ap- | pears that on the day preceding the mur- | @er they had laid ali ther plans to come. | mut the deed, the opject being to get their provisions without paying for them, | James Geraty, their victim, was an Irishman, wha | Kepta eountry store on the island, where he | resided with bis waite and children, | The night of the 2ith of February, was selected by the black fends to carry out their designs. ‘They accordingly armed themselves’ with stout hickory sticks, | and proceeded to the store of their victim. When | they arrived there they found the store closed, | Dut upon kuocking at the door tt was opened by | Mr. Geraty. ‘The murderers entered the store and | callea for a qnantity of provisions which Mr, | Geraty served 'o them, After Smith had put tne | articles in | his bag, Grobes culled tor some whiskey, and was given a half pint by Mr. Geraty. Gibbes sald he wanted a whole pint, and whtic his viettm went to draw the whiskey sont Smith ont of the store, This is what Smita | Stated at the trial. Gibbes says that it was nim. self that went out of the store, jeaving Smiti Mr. Geraty alone. At any rate the victim | leit alone with one of them or both of the | | | | while he stooped down to draw the w ered, one of them stru which they nad or over the head With a Dindgeon twice, and then both men ra y. Geraty’s wile, who lived up stairs, heard the blows and — heard — ty husband's =wroans, Sne ran down = tntny | diately, followed by her servant, a negro gt She found ler husband lying upon’ the four wi q ed in, He ved jongenongn to give the murderers, and pursuit wom | of instituted, Ir must be re j Kuisto Island 18 populate | alnost entirely with negroes, many of tn | Native ns, do most of them enti | UNeduected and in an almost savage cona But a posse Was at once or; a DY the Kesic Magistrate, and the two murderers were iourd in | The sloop wise the identical watskey and pro- | vistons which they had stolen, ‘The sivop at tne | ume of the arrest was tying bigh and dry on a shell bank, aud the murderers at first attempted | toresist arrest, but upon seemg the number ot | the posse, all viack men, and realizing that there Was anevident dispostiion to lynet thom, sure Tendered and confessed to the deed, Trey were tried at the June termo! tne Criminal Court ia ) ol nm, and were defended by a biack lawyer named 4. D. Lawrence, The juries in thig | county are composed almost entirely of black Mien, | and the counsel jor the defence fought jor @ colored jury, whteh he secured. Twelve dluek | men sat upon the vury, and, ater a full hearing, | broughtim a verdict of gumity against both men, | The counsel ior the defence, Mr. Lawrence, who ia | aiair sample of the average colored lawyer of | Sousa Carolina, closed his speech with the Jollow. | ing TOUCHING AP! “Gemplemen of de jury—‘WVhen Katn = killed Abei de Lord pronounced sevenfold venvin o; Whoso should kill tum. Derefore, gempiemen, ax you jor a Seriptical verdict tor dese derenaente in Ge dokit.” After delibe ing for fifteen minutes the jury | rendered the Seripticat verdict ed ior, aud tn to be hanged When the Court asked them the usual question if they bad anything to say why sentence of acath should not be passed upon them Smith touched his hand to ms foretevd, Satlorfashion, and answered ju @ very nonchalaad munner, ‘ “Well, boss, Irecken dis nigger isa gone coon, bat Gibbes is de man what kil Mr. Geraty”? which Gibbes atonce dénied, Since their incar- ceration in jak poeta men have beep constantly attended by the ministers of | tne colored churches and have — potb | professed religion and been baptized, but both | persisted mm tne statement teat the other had | committed the deed until Monday, the 25th, whea Smith made a confession to the attending ‘minis | ter, in which he aamitted that he had struck une | blow, but that both of them went to the store for the purpose of “knocking Geraty on de head” ana obtaining the provisions without paying for them, TUE HEMPSTEAD RESERVOIR. Ata meeting of the Law and Waterand Drain. age committees of the Brooklyn Vommon Council | neld iast evening to consider the proposed appro- priation of $500,000 for the completion of the storage reservoir at Hempstead, Mr. William Dor ; den, President of the New York Hydranlie and Drainage Company, offered to Mmruish the city 89,000,000 Nons of water day tor tulrty % at the rate | OF $35,000 per:vear, the interest on $500,000. He proposed to coustructacanal irom Hempstead Wo Brovklyt running parallel with the present city to purchase the ground and pros oto way. str, Burden criticised tna Leservoir now bw if, usverting that it would Not iulfil the expectations of: the taxpayers. After a ong discussion the committce adjourned without action. SERIOUS “ACCID t TO A CHILD, Wililam tasiebary, a child of eight years, resid- Ine at No. 195 Throop avenue, Brook while stealing a ride on the back step of an icc wagon fell Of, and before it could be stopped « farm wagon, driven by licnry Meyer, ran over tie boy, one Wheel going over its head, Inficung probanly Jatalinjuries, The cnild was atcended tO by Aua- buiance surgeon Lindiey aad taken Rome.