The Sun (New York) Newspaper, December 31, 1870, Page 1

NATMAN MURDER, ie Assassin in Discovered aud in Prison. Eo Tentere d the TLIouse Burglar. OMPLICES ARE KNOWN. FAMILY GUILTLE = } WONOCRPUL CHAIN. OF EVIDENCE. rting Narrativ Chairman of = PE Dovgers and Diticultion- Thre sorsivation~fistory Traced The Blo the Iron “Dog” ud pon the Wall =Vertection of Diplomacic Skitl-Behead- jug of Queen Anne Boleyn—The Left~ handed Exccutioner—Terrible Orde Words of Be ~~ Fo A nsider it tobe my solemn duty zen, and by my oath of office as of the Supremo Court, and thence \ tor of the public peace, to render to the people of my endeavors to the murderer of the lamented Ben Jamin Nathan, or the accomplices in the dal felony, and T claim, upon sworn ny, to have discovered both. , 4s in the case of the Malden murderer, igh my diplomatic skill, finally |, and thence was convicted and exe. 1, [have had to meet opposition where oull not have existed; and, as in the Tormer cass, threats of assassination if I con politic inquest, I demanded that ould not be sworn upon the Chris. or the New \eld bis hand up and wa! hanging a Jew into a Quaker !— ¢ Ovid and Jupiter! ty the Coroner, the names and ad- ur witnesses—citizens yctability, and with the knowledge ls—and yet they were not sub. inquest was adjourned, yur witnesses finally became fright and ectually requested me to let the remain where it was | an injury to his brokerage business; two Joan of $15,000 might instantly be demanded back |y the said Dank, to the financial in wspaper association which has wing that I hold @ serious secret gal report of the Jumel estate Sun-clad title was proved by their refusal 1 my lotter of justi y said, and I repeat it here, brother murdered my that brother up to public jus. he had twinned with th et a birth, he should lose me ‘\nius Brutus, who for treason gave j—snd so I wrote to Judge Cardozo—that, while I should have {a personal pride in discovering the guilty, yet tenfold would be my joy to establish the ‘bright isnocence of those against whom the nd dark suspicion, bad caused filial impicty to be an elem: In addition to the horror of the crime itself Whence I have proceeded in my labors to tnravel the felonious mystery of the murder er Who should fall beneath the crush, Thus my exordium ; Ing avala che of truth PAGRATIVE OF DIhcovenr, I visite] the house of the murder; 6 j attended the funeral ; 1e grave of the victim, the brother AnJaw of Judge Cardozo, I vowed to devote avy time, skill, diplomacy, and hazard of per onal dungerte trace out the murderer and iplices; and not actuated by any d, but by the sacred obligation jof a conesientious duty to Almighty God and ¢ Five gentlemon formed aVigilance Commit under Venetian secrecy, It was suggested that» treasurer foe appointed to receive funds from the pub- fic to ad the committec, ‘oppo ad, and demanded that each gentleman Bhoull pay all bis own expenses in his nee no treasurer, and no appeal was not long with myself as ‘This suggestion 1 Yo the public for funds. after or this decision that my associates retired, e ulone as to time, expenses, and anger; and in this duty I cast Weide proffered proter, nal business wived (to write in allitexation) numer. from Jews and jesters, gontiles and gentlemen, matrons and maidens, ladics ‘aud larconers, slanderers and sumners, cler: men and cheate, priests and prisoners, mivastic bullies, bankers, brokers, brilliant bnd bungling burglars, dated in this city, nd from Canada, and from the East, West, collection of composi- ions as would make @ musoum of mockery -of wense, to throw me off my guard ; and some *t me; and in other Wenounced death labtanc 4 wise, suggestive conclusions, FORMS HLS OFFICIAL FRIENDS, How 1 discovered certain facts and appar: lia, 1 keep to myself—that is my 1 dame as in my pri { the sinallaword; ven toa triend has always caused a8 When opposod to an enemy silo incident whereby I traced the { avoassin was 80 slight Aud thea obliterated, like # desk from | the sky—that it has seemed providential. 1 however, give dates, &e., with officials, and then the results for public interest. As carly as Sept. 27 I wrote to Gov. Hoff man for his official evidenes, immediately after my first interview with the accused, and that I believed T was on the track of the assassin, ‘Lhe Governor's reply ia dated at Albany, viz. Karcurivg Camper, Oct, 8, 1870, Yo George, the Cound Joannes. Sin: 1 bave your letter of tie ith ult, T need hardly usstre you that I willdo all that Lean do pro Errly to secure the discovery anit con viction of Mr Nathan's urderer. Leannot, however, prose a parton to any one without having wore information Winn is contained jn your | otter Yours reepectiuily, JOMN T. HOFFMAN, Following the sworn confession, on the next day, Oct, 2,1 had an official interview with the Honorable the District Attorney Garvin at his house, and again on Oct. 5 with Judge Garvin and Judge Cardozo, and also on Oct. 10 with tho latter gentleman at his residence. Subsequently I wrote upon the subject to his Honor the Mayor Hall. I sought my friend, the late Superintendent of Police Jourdan, after the testimony under oath, but his fatal illness prevented an interview; and as Queen Mary of England died with the word “Calais” upon her heart, so John Jourdan died with the word “Nathan” upon his own—being baffled in the wished-for dis. covery, though with the entire police of the Republic at his command; and, as Judge Cardozo truly sald of him, “He died a sacrifice in the performance of his pablie dutiex” A noble epitaph, and from such an author! Subsequently, I sought his worthy successor, Superintendent Kelso, who, to promote my wishes, gave mo the following note to a most intelligent and gontlemanly officer of the force ; or or SUrERINTENDENT oF PoLtcr or Crtx or New Youu, Nov. 14, 1870, Coptain Charles Oaffrey : The Conot Joannes, who ts s personal friend of mine, ® desirous of your assistance (i @ matter of importance. You wiil render him every asalstance 4a your power, oud obiice 9 Tours, LSO, , ra Capt. ie day obeyed the order of his chief, and I am beholden to him for his secrecy, prudent investigation, and proverbial courtesy, A chief editor of eur city wa also in my confidence. Upon due applica- tion, I received the following letter: Derantweyt ow Puntic Cnanitins | AND CORRECTION, New Youg, Oct. 1, 1570. { To the Warden, de.: By direction of the Commissioner atiow Counsellor J view with you will please inter I think it but jast and politic at present to withhold the name of the person having pre- knowledgo of the intended burglary, aad also the name of the accused murderer, whom I have traced, though hidden by many aliases ; aud both the accuser and the accused are safe in prison, THR BWORK DOCEMRY® OF AccUSALION. T give such questions and answers as will be of interest to the public. The roplios in Italics are in his own baudwritine in answer omy written interrogatories—all of which he read, as well as the caption of the docu. ment; aud he evinced no desire for notcri ty, but seemed actuated by a higher motive, and in@uenced by the funeral the day before (Sept. 30) of his old commander, Admiral Farragut, of whom he spoke with emotion State of New York, City and County of New York, #.—In the matter of the murder of Benjamin Nathan, in the city of Now York, at 12 West Twenty-third street, on the early morning of July 29, A. D. 1870. Sworn answers of to written ques. tions propounded to him by George the Count Joannes, in the city of New York, on the let day of October, A. D. 1870, who, having dis covered the alleged murderor, resolved to fortify and secure that fact by legal evidence before the arrest, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, Count Joannes—What are your names in fullt Prisoner—[He here wrote his name, and his alias, he being educated, and writes very well and quickly.) unt Joannes—According to your bolief, what is your age, when and where wore you born ? Prisqner—Twenty cight years of age; born April 14, 1842, in New York city. Count Joannes—What profession or trade did you pursue before you were twenty-one years of age? Prisoner—Civil engineer, Count Joannes—Were you in the mili tary or naval service of the United States of America during the civil war? If yes, stato in full, in what branch of the service, what regiment, &c., or otherwise? Prisoner—I was four years and three months in the Marine Corps, Served three years as detailed Sergeant and Messenger to Admiral Farragut on board the ship Hart- ford, Wasinevery battle with him from taking Forts Jackson and St. Philipsurrender of Vicksburg and Mobile, and was wounded four times, Count Joannes—While in sald military service, orsince, did you or have you become acquainted, personally or otherwise, with t Prisoner—I am acquainted with said ; became acquainted with him in Au- gust, 1869; introduced by , in city of Now York, on the corner of Houston and Wooster etreets; he is connected with the murder, 80 far a6 [alding, &.} the party whe did the murder and robbery, Count Joannes—Do you know of any plot to rob the house of the late Mr, Nathan in the summer of 1869? Prisoner— Yea / There was a “put-up job” by ,and and myslf, and the party who killed Mr, Nathan, (Nove— "This answer, and all othes> &llowing, are in the handwriting of prisonor.} Count Joannes—In the above plot did the plotters know that there were iron safes in Mr, Nathan's house, and containing valu- ablest If yes, where were they situated, andjin whet parts of the house, and what did you all believe they contatned, and who first told you what they contained t Prisoner Yes; they knew exactly the po- vition of said safes, the plan having been derason bu mused, with ha geaialance of We believed tho safca down staire contained silver plate and dining ware, and up ataire, money and jewelry. Count Joannes—By the official reg'ster you were sent to this instiiution in Decem. ber, 1869, for twelve months, &c. Have you always, sincothat period to the present time, been in and about this institution—day and night? Privoner— Yea! day and night since Dev. 14, 1869, [Note—Hence the alibi of thia prisoner 8 proved —J.] Count Jo of any intention to mur jamin Nathan? Prisoner—No, sir! Count Joannes—When did you first hear or learn of the murder of the late Mr. Na than? Was it from a nowspapor ? Prisoner—From the New York Sun. Count Joannes—Do you porsonally know from information who actually killed the late Benjamin Nathan? Answer this ques- tion, and give his name, with the same solemnity—calling our God to witness to your truth—as if you were on your death. bed! Answer freely and fearlessly, Prisoner (instantly writing) — Yeas I know the party! [Note—LHe then paused for a moment, and then ina firm handwriting wrote the name and threo a J Count Joannos—Did that person confess to you that he killed the late Mr. Nathan? If yes, state the words, or their substance, by which he communicated that fact to you, and the date when he told you. Prisoner— When I asked him relative to his doing the " job” in Twenty-third atreet, he changed color and told me to “shut up.” Aug. 8 or 4, 1870. Count Joannes—With what weapon do you believe the murderor killed Mr. Na- than? Prisoner— With the iron muna, or what the people cald the dog (Norr.—It is singular that when I subse- quently asked the accused, and he not know- ing tat he was accused, with what weapon he believed the murder was accomplished, he instantly answered, “ With theiron nuNa, the same and unusual word used by hi cuser, though by all other persons it is called the “iron dog.”] Count Joannes—If you have any know- lodge of the weapon generally now known as the “ iron dog,” state your knowledge in full, or its history in every particular. Prisoner—T his ‘on dog” was picked up in Camp McDermit, Nevada, in May, 1869, while Jim and I were there. Rt was used for opening boxes clothing, from which we fer, and was brought on to New York as a memento of having brained a Piute Indian, and kept by me in my trunk until I gave Jim an order to gett, [NoTR—The foregoing and all his apswers were written instantly.] Count Joannes—Did you seo in the mur derer’s possession any jewels, money, or any valuables that belonged to the late Mr. Nathan? Prisoner--I save three large diamond atude anda gold watch and chain, when Isa him, Auguat 8, 1870. Count Joannes—Did the murderer give you any money ? Prisoner—He gave me five dollars. Count Joannes—About how long a period before the 20th of July, 1870—the day of the murder—4did the subsequent killer of Mr. Nathan call and see yout Prisoner—About July 20, 21, or 22, 1870. Count Joannes—Did he ask to borrow any articles, implements, or professional “ screws” of yout If yes, did you meet his wish? and state what articles you lent him, and whero he went to get them? Prisoner— Yea; he asked me for jimmica, dc., and said he was going to “crack” that place in Twenty-third street. I told him to go to my trunk and get the jimmées, &e., and he took the dog" and a revolver, de, Count Joannes-—-Was the implement now known as the iron “ dog” among the articles you loaned to him? Prisoner— Yes / Count Joannes—Wes the said iron “ dog” ever longer than whon you lent it to him? If yes, why was it shortened ? Prisoner—Jt was unhandy to earry in my pocket. Count Joannes—Do you know, or did the murderer of Mr, Nathan ever state to you, that he killed or murdered any other person than Mr, Nathan? Prisoner— Yes! He murdered uoo Western gambling menin White Pine, Nevada, Count Joannes—If there is any other mat- ter or thing whatever that you know, or believe, relating to the murder or robbery in question, etate it freely and in detail, as if Thad propounded ether special questions to you upon the subject matter. Prisoner—J know that this murder was Nor premeditated ; but as he was a desperate man, he took desperate chances,and killed in self-defence. Ho said that sooner than go to Sing Sing he would kill the party, Count Joannes—Give # personal descrip. tion of the murderer for identity for his rest, prior to absolute identity, Prisoner—ZJ can answer, but not at present, [Norg.—I found the accused without aidance from the prisoner by any personal descrip- tion, though confirmed by him afterward, and conclusively.) Count Joannes—Did the murderer tell you what he did with the blood-stained clothes after the murder? as it is but natural to suppose that, after the struggle, some blood of the victim would have been upon the clothes of the murderer. If yes, state what he said upon the subject. Prisoner—Z can find that out and must, Sor they were my clothes I lent him! Nore.—To many other questions his re- plies are, “I cannot answer at present ;” and quite consistent with his imprisonment and ebsonce from the scone of action, —J. Slate of New York, City and County y New York’ #4 —- ——, now & prisoner, being duly sworn, doposos and aeys that be has read the foregoing Alty-five quessions, and given his answors theroto, nd gonerally In his own handwriting, aud in the bresenge of George tha Coost Sosna0n, and gaye nnes—Had you any knowledge the Jato Mr. Ben that raid nag knowledge Sworn to bet 1870, rs are true, to and of his own (Signataro and alias of deponent.] this 1st day of October, A. D JOHN B, FLAGLER, Notary Pablie, (Seal. Now York conaty. Stite of New York, City and County of New York, #41, the undersigned, George the Count Joannon, Of the city of New York, and of the Bupreme Court of the State of New York, being duly sworn, doth depose and say that at my second interview with the foregoing on Saturday, October 1, 1870, the Afry-Ave questions jn the foregoing docnment were mutually rend by said and = my- self, each being seuted at the table, ori vately, i” @ room granted for the pur, pose by the Warden, upon receiving from moa letter to that effect from the Hon. the Commission- ers, Thinking some one might be listening at the oval opening, jurgested that the sald ~ should reid tbe questions with me, and give anewers in his own handwriting, which he did, from question eleven imelusive to bis signature and alias at end of scument, ‘To the question No, ome he wrote his pe and alias, at the beginning of the document, in his own hiauawriting, at my request We then went to the notary public, accompanied by an officer. ‘Tho aid —— was then sworn to the truth in my presence, and I paid the fee to the Com ner, Who did not know the contents of this document, GRORGE, THR COUNT JOANNES. Sworn before me this im day Sof Ni mherA. D 1870, SAMUEL SKETCHLFY, Commisstoner of Deeds, New York city. LAST WORDS OF RENJAMIN NATHAN, Since the above deposition, I have had in- terviews with the prisoner; and at the last one, when I proved to bim I had traced the alleged murderer, and the deponent ad- mitted ite truth, he stated that he had some evidence of détail, obtained since he saw mo, and concerning “the last words of old Mr. Nathan.” He stated that when the barglars were in the library at the safe Mr. Nathan was awakened, and their first knowledge of that fact was his saying, “HARMON! 18 THAT You?" bis last words on earth, for one of the burglars instantly struck him with hie clenched fist between the eyes, stunned him, and ho fell, when each assailed him, and one fatally with the ‘iron rang” (the word again used], and beth the accused and accuser say that there were two burglars present. Assuming the above to be true, it would indieate that Mr. Nathan, having bado his son Freterick good night, and inquired as to his. brother Wash. ington being at home, had himself slept, and being awakened, possibly thought that his other son, Harmon, had entered the house and library ; and 60 thinking, spoke : “Harmon! is that yout” The father could not imagine a burglar present, tor he went into the library defence. loss and almost sightless, his spectacles being found near his bed, where he had laid them, prior to sleeping his last peaceful sleep; and, perchance, dream. ing in filial piety of that beloved mother whore death anniversary was to be his own, and whose spirit he wis 80 soon to join in heaven, as a reward fot a good and benevo- lent life, suddenly to be entombed by a violent and bloody deatht Requlercat in puce. HE ACCUSED MURDERER, When Queon Anre Boleyn was sentenced to death by decapitation, and the “ burning to desth” remitted, the celebrated exe- cutioner was summoned from Calais to Lon- don to behead the Queen. This executioner was a left-handed man, and his beheading axe, traly a“ wedge of steel,” for I have seon it in the Tower of London, was made to accommodate his left-handed power, and the binde placed at an angle with the shaft, se as to atriko sideways, instead of vortically, in order that one blow should be sufficient. The divorcing blow of the axe upon the Queen's neck, therefore, fell from right to loft, instead of the usual left to right, as in beheading Mary Queen of Seots, aud her grandson, King Charles the First. The reader may sey, “ What have these interest. ing facts to do with the murder of Benjamin Nathan, or the person accused?” Nous ver- rons/ asthe French say. “ We shall see.” All that man dare I dare, to detect the gnilty ; yet will Ido all that an angel could do to guard the inuocent; and my public duty herein has exactly roached that duplex position when both those mental preposi- tions must bo exercived and concluded. If the deponent prisoner has told and sworn the truth (and his self-sacrifice is otherwise), ho demands protection and reward, and shall have them; but if he has wilfully and maliciously wronged an innocent man, he deserves public indignation, and punishment for libel and perjury. "Tho ovidence of the intelligent surgeon at the Nathan inquest as to the death-blow from the iron “dog,” was that it penetrated the forehead brain; and he expressed tho blow by his action, as from right to left, thence, apparently, by a left-handed man, ‘That was the mental result from the evi- dence. In my interviews with the alleged mur- derer, he not knowing that he was accused, he freely rendered to me his theory (at least) of the robbery and murder, aud during our conversations I obsorved that he always kept his right hand in his side pantaloons pocket, and gesticulated and even wrote with his left hand, I asked him how it was, in his theory of the murder, that the diamond studs were taken from the shirt bosom, and no marks remaining of the bloody fingers. “ Of course," I said, “they must have been taken out before the murder ;” when he quickly re plied ; “No,no! They were unscrewed and taken out after the murder ; for nothing was casier than to wipe the blood off the hands, as thus, upon the sides of the pantaloons [suiting the action£o the word with both hands). I used often to do it when I was a butcher.” It was this expressive action of his which betrayed the deformity (from a factory acci- dont) of his right hand—the thumb of which, and one flager, are crooked and paralyzed. The deformity of a bloody hand was seen upon the walls and the door-lintel, and espo- cially noticed in the remarkable deacription in Tx Sun, July 80, 1870, the day after the infernal deed. In answer to my question as to what he thonght the nivvteror had Gone with the ond etada, be eald. “ Ha watob end i appear before him as her own ghost! 4 more terrible ordeal for the murderer than, as in the Bible chapter, the mere washing of hands over the fresh, flowing blood of an would be a fool indeed if he had not thrown them into the river.” At first he dented, and repeated the denial, that he hed ever known or seen the deponent (pris oner), whose name I gave and his aliaa ; and yet they had been prisoners together for four months, and seeing each other daily, speaking and working together, and finally he confessed that he did know him. The imprisonment of the accused ceased in the middle of last June, and excepting two days in July (9th and-10th, in Philadelphia), he wasin New York city the whole of that fatal month, and August, and part of Sep tember. He being in a melancholy mind, I asked him if he believed that the assarsio would ever be discovered ? He replied, “Never! but by his death-bed confession, if a Protest- ant; if Roman Catholic, never, because the confession to the priest is sacred! No, never will ho be known, except in his dying mo. ments! And he killed in self-defence!” This Inst phraco is the compound word used by the accuser and the accused. I hore. with propose a new prelix. Felontous self- defence (I give this as a new law term) may create a murderor, whereas legal self-defence produces justifiable homicide. A burglar may not be an intentional murderer, for if so, he would be a premeditated assassin. Yet follow- ing out resistance to the death by his felonious self-defence, he becomes a murderer; for the death is but the continunnce of the original, though loss fatal, felony of burglary. And thus died Benjamin Nathan. He discovered the robbers ; and to prevent their public dis covery and recognition, they killed him in felonious selfdefence, and as the accused said he would, rather than be sent to Sing Sing State Prison, as sworn to by the ac. cuser. Another incident I have recently received, and of serious intelligence, viz.: that the above accused murderer was employed, so- Keited, and money paid to him to assassinate Gen. Cole at Syracuse, after the wronged husband's suspicions were aroused as to his wife's infidelity with her paramour. The plot was formed, and proof confessed and established, when, at the last moment, con- science converted him from being a premed- itated murderer ; yet that moral principle would not prevent a fatal and felonious self- defence A MURDERER’S TRRRIDLR ORD Malefactors and assassins have been brought to conscientious confession in many unexpected ways. As, for instance, the murderer who witnessed a tragedy on the stage and fell down senseless, and, upon recovery, confessed that he had killed and robbed @ traveller in a eimiar manner. A widow, also, from being present at a per. formance of “ Agamemnon,” confessed that, like Clytemnesira, she had, with her lover, killed her lusband. Both of these confessed Assassins were executed. A rascally lawyer in Switzerland, in order to gain the property of a young heiress, killed her, as ho believed ; but, by misteking the bedroom, the night being dark and stormy, he murdered another lad: He still believed, however, that he had killed his intended victim, who was prevailed upon to He, horrorstrickon, belioved it was her aveng: ing and accusing spirit, and “ presently con. fessed his malefaction, for murder, though it have no tongue, will speak with most mira culous organ,” assassin of the matron Countess was cxe cuted ; though he had intended to kill the maiden hetress, the felonious intent consti tuted the crime ef murder, and he, being su- perstitious, believed the apparent ghost, says the great poct. ‘Tho A learned an venerable clergyman of this city wrote to me, for my remombrance and action, the test-ordeal of the Bible (Deut. ch, xxi) as to tho guilt of any mom- ber of o family in the murder of ® relative, and it being unknown who had slain him. I have, however, unyoked yeung heifer, decapitated in o rough, unsown valley of virgin soil, It is this: The actual murdered body of Ben- jamin Nathan to be anoarthed, and viewed in all its gashed stabe —each a death to nature—and the accused murderer, who is fearfully superstitious, to be present at midnight, in a black-draporied chamber, dimly lighted, and compelled to place his hand upon the naked breast of the dead body, calling God to witness to his sworn innocence; or, like Ananias, to be strack dead for porjured falsehood! I should be willing to preside as Coroner at such an inquest; vor would I refuse apy witness, not even Satan himself; nor would I swear him upon the Old Testament of the Jew, nor upon the holy cross of the Christian, nor make a Quaker of him by “affirming,” but swear him truly upon his bope-abandoned book of crimes, with no pitying angel's toars to blot out the damning records of the departed year, now baried, blood. stained, in the engulfing tomb of Time— the twin-born with Creation—its cradle and its grave! Yet, above all crimos, and even decaying Death itself, arises as a North Star of Hope 'God’s eternal mandate to mankind ; Justitia! Esto perpetua/ Yours tray, Gzonow THE Count JoaANNES Crry oy New York, Dec, 81, 1870, No. 106 roy B, Spear, who & year ago figured prominently in (he frauds of the department of the New York Custom sppvinted agent to the Sioux and to-day drew some funds intended for thos @ India: Bie appointment ts charged te the E, tscopal Charch. emma PERSONAL INTELLIGENOS, pare The Boston Post | the place of Comm Honor, for opening strats lately conferred, Hon. Heery faribert of tub World, ia worth Veih's year, y for Hurider ‘The venerable Ca dinoy ‘Thompson, ex-Harbor Pester, yecelves Ped tae eal on, ight ab the Ho will give nF slong as Work Jaland, of the Metropolitan 4 the Thunderbolt, bail, bat his their ho 6 o'clock trip with nafety, that they will ran to-day, snow covers the track ip it tra ordinary uprisin Where ranean it nized as a fortnne-teller, called Leader st noon to-ds the local editor. tmanded a full retraction of an article that appeared in th the head of the offender. tion DIL fu monument on and Ho! amount of 620,000, ey FLASHES VROM THH OOBAN CABLES, Orleans 6% (0 8%, sign in person to alice tolprivave ite. of Spain Was wigealted on N. ¥., was burned yo: THE LAST STORM OF 1870. —_—— Dolay and Partial Saapension on wase- Disaster on Staten Inian A driving, almost blinding snow-storm set in early Inst evening, and threatened to cut off all com- manication between the City Heil und Harlem. ‘The Third, Sixth, and Kighth Avenue Railrond Compa- nies, determined to keep (heir ronds open, promptly put On extra horses and steam ploughs, and for time the #treots wero & scene of excitement. But at length the clouds broke away, and no far as the city was concerned the storm was eaded witiout any fertons detriment to travel. At 7 o'clock tho storm was at Its height im Brook lyn, ‘Tho snow fell in bilnding clonds, and the blest was cutting, On the heights, drifts of snow of two feet deep accnmuiated near the angles of walks whore opporite eddies met. ‘The majority of the I “doubled up, © Rail- ns of the lines: at Tum Son office this tix Inches of snow at Port d that it deenened every mile west of that Toe Erie trains wore two hours behind #on all the lines running ont of Hoboken hau four horses, Toey mai ry trips, Ferry Company do The 1a ve Staten postibuliy of ay atter 6 K era Who Were visitIng on the i but Buaily it War rosolved to ron a bont at 7 o'eloe! prnecnal to the boar the Middleton started ov ler A keep. ing anafe distance from shore, Kho was several times obliged toreverse her engines, and ne. Robin's Reef, in the gale and slect, sue ran near a schooner, But the piioc reversed his ongioe just in time, To add to the veril large cakes of tee floated ae with a sharp tide and tried thes rength with er. The boat, however, ihe soon made her re tho lat from the isixod for Conse gg! many persons from New to spena tho might away trom the night, York were oblige “ihe wtoxm ears to tenville made the palf-past but ery improbable ign toen inches of hollows through which Late last evening 9 report was roceived in St ton that two wooden buildings in Tottenvilie been blown down, and one warooled tn Rossville. $e TH® RIERNAL O17Y THREATENED. Rows, Dec. 30.—The Campagna di Roma, an extensive tract cf laud many miles in length and breadth, has boen inundated by the Moditerranean, ‘and the half of its extent covered by tho ses, The city of Rome is sitaxted pagna. Falls among the popolace, as one-hal! of the city is the centre of the Cam- \d the utmost alarm and consternation pre- voder Much damage lias been oceasioned by thie extre- of the ocean. Campagna bord a comparativoly level rie 0 a toland tt ri cal Editor Cinvevann, Deo, 80. the offlve of tho , and sought an interview with This was granted, and she de- Leader yesterday moroing, reflecting on hor r of doing business, The editor, who was the author of the article, re- fused to retract, and the woman drawing Mhorso- whip, appliod 1 with energy but with little effect to 1@ local staff, bowever, coming to tho assistance of their chief, edabled him to qjoct his assailant (rom the ofc 0.—On the night of the 16th, tod desperado” Was shot an Ark. by Jamoa M. Norwood. had threatened to kili Norwood and bis wile, time that he shot was trying to d's house with # pistol to bis hand ——_ NEW JERSEY, ican members of the ‘new Council of 5 Proaident 5 Gillen, City P. ©. Talman, a New York lawyer, was arrested m oo WASHINGTON NOTES. Mrs, Recretary Belknap ts to be buried from St. Jobn’s Churen to-morrow. Judge Lawrence, who is presarine the appropri. Public buildings. hae rejected ail proposi- new buildings 0 Washington, ‘of the death of Mra, Secretary lent and members of the Cabinet on Monday, — SPARKS FROM THE TELEORAPH, — ‘The ice in the Potomac at Washington {s from e (0 Beven incbes thick. Boston hi proprinted $75,000 for a soldiers’ ‘Common, has secured the Odd Fellows’ College Ving given real estate and money to the Napa, Cul, forme, plist ‘The Holland has arrived out, Consols closed at 91K to 91%. In Liverpool, uplands sold at 8} to 8X, and Gen. Prim bas ‘The squadrom (rou Ti would have reached Cartage: 7. ‘The Spanish Cortes, has adopted a resolution ox- pressive of horror at Che attempt to assassinate Gen. Prin, and pasted @ Yote of confidence tn the Govern: ed LOSSES BY FIRB, crates Bites Jermond’s grist mill, near Rhinebeck village, 8) Lowe $10,000, No. 64 Wall treet, occupied lawyers’ offices, ‘Was damaged to the amount of 62,500 yeaterd, The bridge on the Toledo, Wabash and Western yeflance, Obio, was burned yesterday, Sourtng and sawail tosur aching from 536 to 538 Clark fran poraea yesterday morning. L ‘$180,000. “There were forty tenants, 00 £0 61,000, and 11m ‘Tho frame block Ut Chicago, Tho chitdren of Mre. Lanigan, of 403 West Twenty- ini strvet. while playing with matches yesterday, luring the absonoe of the mother, set the ballaing on ta towt from $100 te 60 each, age {a botiding. #000, raing, Or of #imill Hear by, went on ue rou, but fell to the ground and was lastaauly killed stable in the rear of 113 Clinton # horse, worth &0, belonging (0 ‘aa barned to death. Frank Sipennee-cseeeanal JOITINGS ABOUT TOWN. —— ‘The James Adger snd City of Port-au Prin rived last night. Richard Oase, egod 8, was scalded to death yostor Gay at 22 Cherry abreet. James Murphy, aged 90, was fonad dead in bod yostorday at 2 Centre street. ‘The Boldiers' and Sailors’ Widows Fair cloves to-nient, Gross receipts, $1 Experiments were, made with the new dummy im the elevated rat Madar Bishop, Mi ind Orphans end Orphans “sy and Mme, this afternoon, ; Rrastus Brooks addressed the Hight- ed Library Association Last evening. ‘Fhe Commissioners of the now Court I i Rotice that no w. eriaitted on tte Dud Without thedr buthoris Robert ir a of Kast Sevontoonth atro {ell from the goof of & new butiding in Baxter 6 yesterday, aod was instantly kill Tairty:tmo shoe deate card doclariug, Uhat hereafter thelr shape aiall he o ali workunen, and that they will uot" recoguy Kolgbie of Bt. Crispta, ‘ ot rac danit te Last wintor, while Catharine Scullen was p hrough M: Iberry att oot @driok oil on her fr, ° waned by William Dolaw, br tho sbouider. AJ wig in the Court of Comiion yoatorday 009, Officer Pitcairn, ot the Mercer street police, heard biscot enon te ab De \ hostee have published » THE WAR ON FRANCE, Mont Avron Captured by the Prussians, THE ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE PRIM — Fail of Mont Avron—The Entire Fronch Force 730,000—Hourbakl's Corps to her victual Pari Loxpom, Dec. 80,—Advicos from Tours estimate the entire number of French troops at 750,000, Bourbaki's command ts charged especially with the duty of revictusiiing Paris, and bas already on hand & vast amount of live stock and provisions fo this purpose, At the proper moment this army will make a desperate effort to join Chauzy's forcor, and reunite the Army of the Loire, which will then, with groat enerry, push on Paris, Gen, Paladines's re verse is now charged to the moddling of politicians, Who persuaded Gambetta to interfere with his milk tary operations, NOW FOR PARis, Loxnon, Dec, 90.—Advices from Versailles state that the French troops surrendered Fort Avron te the Prussians yesterday afternoon. The fort waa immediately occupied by the Saxon troops, ‘Tle surrender of Fort Avron gives the Germans @ very decided advantage in position, bringing the range of their gane in closer proximity to Puri DESPATCH FROM KING WILLAM TO THR QU’ Bruix, Dee, 80.—The King bas sent the fob lowing telogram to Queen Augusta Vv 29.—The bombardment of Fort silenced the enemy's ence, Tt sy shelled, and Hy ‘hondy dislodged. russian lose was three mon, of Fort Avron has fled, @ Fri — OPERATIONS IN THE EAST. pieteatnenaitn The Pransi bende Eastern Dow Paris. Lanpute, Dee. 80. —Despatches from Versailles received here state that a general evacuation of the departments cast of Parts, which had peen occupied by the German troops, still continues, It fe though® that this is betog done tn order to concentrate the Prussian strength in and around Versailles, A despatch from Bosangon says that Gen, Prox kow bas issued an order confiniog the population te the right bank of the river Doubs, She ‘The Army of Loxpow, Dec. 80,.—Gen. Peltingeas has arrived at Havre from Bordeaux, to superintend the defence Of the city, He was received enthusiastically by doth troops and citizens, INVRSTMUNT OF TITE FORTRESS OF PERONY:, Lonvox, Dee. 90.—The Germans invested the fortress of Péroune, in the Department of tae Sommo, on Wednesday, after some sharp fighting. seapiiions North. The Army of the Loire, Loxpox, Dec. 80.—A Prussian despatch reports that Col, Bottenstein, commanding a detachment of 81x companies of foot, two squadrons of cavalry, and two guns, was surrounded by the French near Montoire. After ® desperate figt be cut his way out, losing only 100 of bis command, and taking 240 prisoners, ——— Recognition of the French Republic. Lonpow, Deo, 80.—Earl Granville received sn official despatch from the French Gevernment as Bordenox, ia which France declares its determines tion not to send a delegate to the Peare Conference to be held in London, unless whe British Goverm- mont shall firstélecoznize the Republic, A despatch of similar tenor has been sent to each of the other powers. ) REE ORE THE PLOT TU ASSASSINATE PRIM. Suapected Pernous—The A ~The Now King's Life in Danger. Mannip, Deo, 80.—Gen. Prim is rapidly prow kressing toward recovers from his wounds, Sevem of the eight balls imbedded ia bis shoulder have been extracted, aud bis condition ts comfortable Ho bas, however, suffered the loss of two fingers, Admiral Topote has assumed temporarily the functions of Gen, Prim as Minister of Foroign A® fairs and War, as well as the Presidency of tha Council, Seflor Ayala has been appointed Mintates of the Colon RUMORED RESIONATION OF Prin, It is stated in this city that Gen, Prim has ame nouneed an intention of resixning his official pombe Mon, It ts highly probable that tho recent develope ments connected with the Spanish throne compliow- tions may have influenced this step on his part, He intimates an intention to tender his resignation te King Amadeus in person, and plead bis dosire t return to private life, ANOTHER AccouNT, Mapnip, Dec. 29.—Intense excitemont prevatle@ throughout the city last night, owing to @ reports that Marshal Prim bad been assassinated on his way, to the Bureau of the Ministry of War. It was a first stated that the Marshat bad beon killed. Imm mense crowds of people ‘gathered on the streets ‘and the military was called out im strong force te keop order. ‘There were pany instances of exprew sions of satisfaction, and @ revolutionary somtimen® im the people was evinced. On inquiry, it appeared that the Marsbal was only wounded in the shouldes snd band from small smooth-bore gun, The wounds are not dangeronss Dut it Is thought that the laceration of @ finger wil roudor amputation necessary. ARREST OF SUSPECTED PERSONS. Shortly after the attomptod assassination, descents were made on three places known to the police as harborage for Republicans, and five arrests of par sopposed to be implicated were mad Singular fact that although scarcoly dusk at the time no arrest was mole, although at the corner of the umber of citizens and « considerable: , AN PXTENSIVE CONSPIRACY, ‘Torday, the inforwation obtained from the papers seized shows that the conspiracy was of an extem sive character, ‘The members were sworn to exter minate or assassinate all public enomios of the Ropndlic, Isis believed that the murder of Prim was opposed by some on the ground that nothing should be attempted until the arrival of the Duke e@ Aosta; but the advocates of immediate action pre vailed, Lote wero drawn for the solection of three Persons to undertake the killing of Prim. TUR ASSASSINS KNOWN, It ts said (he Minuwstry of War are in possession proof identifying the actual assassing, but bave nos yet sncceeded in making the errests, It is cortaie that the conspiracy ts of & most extenstve charsbter and the plots well laid, To-day there were some oxpressions of judignation at the attempted crime, but generally a sullen indifference is evinced by the masses of the population, NO KINO WANTED. activity {8 evident at the War OMce, despatched to Barcelona and ot ringent orders to the military Mandagie, ‘There are rumors of © wulon Of the Cariista and Republicans against the common ome my—foreign kings. AOSTA IN DANGER, ‘The Ministry contemplate changing the programme for the rouse by which the newly elected King will make his entry into Madrid. ‘This is to be done im view of the attempt om the Life of X’cim, and in order to baffle thy couspiratore should fursuer assaserame” Mons be desigued, To-dsy Gen. Sickles, United States Minister Madrid, nd representallves of other foreign Goverm sted Gen. Prim upon bis escape of bis would-be assassins pote The Confe Postponed, Loxnox, Dee, 80—Evening,.—The Conferenee of the Powers on the Kastern quostion has boen tm definitely postponed France thas refused @ take part in 18, and the absence of one of the sigaw taries of the Treaty of Paris would render (he mes® ing useless,