The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-01

Tbe Murder of Ben amin Natbaa.
The murder of Benjamin Nathan some time !,
between midnight of Thursday and an early
hour of Friday morning has created a sensa-
ton in New York that has not been eoualed
since the Burdell tragedy. Mr.. Nathan was a
prominent wall street broker, and member of
the firm of Nathan & Wright, on Water street.
a Hebrew gentleman of wealth, who was uni
versaily respected and admued for strict integ
rity, lars seeing enterprise and widespread be-
nevolence and kindness OF heart. He was
ABOUT 90 years of age, brother-in-law OF
Judge Cardozo, and related TO other prominent
citizens. The scene OF the murder was No. II
West Twenty-third street, not far from the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. The STANDARD gives The
following particulars of the awful tragedy:
Mr. Nathan was seen in the Fifth Avenue
Hotel on Thursday night as late as halt past
ten o'clock. He then repaired to his home lit
tie expecting the fate that awaited him. 1t ia
supposed that, after entering his room, he went
INTO the hall room adjoining, designated as the
library, and engaged himself with his accounts
Tor some time, as the remains of his work were
found upon his desk About twelve o'clock his
Oldest son, Frederick, came home, and on the
way to his room on the third floor he entered
che aparmer of his father. Mr.. Nathan was
undressing imself His son asked if his
brother he ome home, and Mr.. Nathan re-
plying he had not seen him, Frederick
babe l1 night aud went to his ROOM
She y r. the second son. Washington
CD 3lrle opening the street door with his
fs saF usual and after locking and bar
be BE che went up stairs. AS he passed
:. hei DOM he found the door ajar; he
.aiatoro .ned it, thinking his father might
tA A "a @.
" .2sei ng the room he found it dark, and
51shin his father to be asleep he retired,
'sa be IA, hit awake him. He closed the door
se, nila, out did net make the bolt catch.
r,1 Ell lsitive knowledge ends, and all that
90 piae between that hour when his son last
81 pii1 1tll he found him in the morning
'Naugca corpse must necessarily be only a
nas.ei speculation. Between these hours
"; tse tuggle occurred-one side fighting for
2 pm reedom, and the other for life, What
4 e9ck l'ie In this dread hour must forever re-
tlaiD Aystery; but it the indications that are
'0 a sent the scene, then it was indeed ter
Sits
y. THE DISCOVERY. "el
lay being the anniversary OF the death
I % H. tthan's mother, on which occasion it
. Is H19to lary with persons of the Jewish per-
sHa7i.p to observe certain religious ceremo-
: nies, ef h OF theSons were to rise early in the
m9ta9e and awake their father, who was to
Z M til them in their sacred observances.
a..As quarter before six o'clock, Washington,
ne INCEST son, descended to his fathers
t2.@ Z awake him. He entered the room, but
i-e, see ng his father in bed, thought he might
a. p dressing room or in the library, and
ross the bedroom in search of him. As he
q ssed he bed the
CHASTITY SIGHT .-f-
a9pee d before him. He saw his father living
~ the floor, in the doorway between the bed
room and the library, bathed in his own blood,
and dead. Mortified at the spectacle he called
for help, and his brother Immediately came to
his assistance. The housekeeper, Mrs Kelley,
who slept in the room adjoining Mr. Nathan's
bedroom, was quickly aroused and dispatched
to the Fifth Avenue Hotel for doctor. The
doctor soon arrived but his efforts were useless,
Mr. Nathan had been dead some hours. The
police were Immediately notified, and took pos
session of the premises. The news of the MUIR
der spread abroad, crowds began TO collect, but
all within was quiet AS the son ran down
| stairs to call an officer, he found between the
street door and the vestibule
- THE FATAL INSTRUMENT
with which the crime had been committed. 1t
was lying close to the street door. which the
escaping assassin had left open. The officer
on the beat had tried the house door at halt
| past four o'clock and found it firmly closed
Thus i. is presumed that the murder was COM
mitted almost at that time, as the body had
sensbly cooled when found. The weapon a
most formidable one, is tool used by ship car
penters and joners to hold fast heavy logs while
they work them. 1t is about fourteen inches
in length, and both ends are turned down at
sharp angle, and are .ground to an edge. 1t
weighs about ten ponnds.
THE SCENE
in the room where the murder took place al
most battles description. The BODY was living
in the door way, between the two rooms, the
headin the bedroom. The door, the adjacent
walls, and chairs and tables were bedaubed
and spattered with blood and all around were
the evidences of the terrible struggle that had
fob nj T,t ha iI,r,r Oh,
the seat of it covered with blood; papers were
scattered about in great confusion, the safe was
open, and its contents strewn about, and every
thing denoted the advent of burglars; a hasty
attack, aud hasty retreat The diamond shirt
studs had been removed from the shirt of the
deceased and the key Of the safe taken from
his trowsers' pocket without in any way soil
ing them with blood. The police presume
therefore, that it was after the burglars had
rified the bedroom, and while they were ell
gagged in turning out the safe, that the unfortu-
nate man heard them, and endeavorng to ar
rest them, met his DEATH The condition of
THE BODY
was terrible. On the forehead there was an
abrasion of the skin, which had been made be-
fore death, and was probably the first blow
gwen. On the posterior portion of the head
were four deep wounds, about an inch and
halt IN length, and each one penetrating to the
brain. Five similar wounds were on the right
side OF the head, each one sufficient to cause
DEATH Near the right eye were three pune
tured wounds, such as might have been made
with small dagger Two other deep wounds
were on the forehead close to the hair. In ad-
dition heavy blow had been given him with
blunt instrument across the right side of the
mead. The skull on that side was completely
crushed into small pieces, and the blow extend
ing towards the ear, split it in halt, and left it
banging to the head: During the struggle Mr.
Nathan had evidently graspcd his a5tagon st
with his right hand, aud in order to make him
release his hold, the ruiian beat him terribly.
The wrist was broken, as were most of his
fingers. The thumb appeared to have been cut
with knife, aud was. hanging to the hand by
the skin. The hands were clenched, the teeth
were set and the whole position of the body
had fought for his life.