The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-08-15
The Nathan tanrder-A Ridiculous
-. - Episode. -; 6


case, eighteen months ago, several persons,
against whom there was not q little of EVIL
dence, were arrested for suspected compii-
city in the assassination, and it has now
been proved that the Nathan case is not to
close without similar exhibitions of stupid
ity on the partof the police. An arrest has
at last been made in the affair, but its only
effect has been to relieve woeful tragedy
by \ farcical interlude. Very many people
in this city know Thomas Dunphy, 4 Law
yer. ut No. Warren street, called among
his host Of friends Tom Dunphy, and greet
ed as s' hale fellow well met, under al
most any circumstances. Dunphy has
achieved the notoriety of being arrested as
the murderer of Benjamin Nathan. 49,
On Tuesday evening he was visiting some
acquaintance in Brooklyn, and singularly
enough he seems tohave been known in the
house as Mr.. Gilbert. [He lived with a
Mrs. Gilbert as her husband.] The reason
for this singular miSconception on the part
of persons with whom he was on calling
terms does not appear, but whatever may
have been the cause, the fact added greatly
to poor Toms subsequent embarrassments.
Naturally enough, the conversation turned
to the Nathan murder, and Dunphy, who
had read up the case thoroughly, employed
his legal acumen in dealing with the facts to
such alarming purpose that he soon con-
vinced at least one of his hearers that such
an acquaintance with the manner and pur-
pose of the crime could be shown by no
person but the unknown criminal himself.
Learned and eloquent Tom Dunphy show
ed precisely how the murderer got into the
house, and stated with marvellous minute
ness every act Of the assassin, until having
secured his retreat, he dropped the ''dog''
at the front door and passed out INTO
the lonely street. All this the un-
fortunate Dunphy, for the sake of precise
ness and dramatic effect, had related III
the first person. 4 Mortified young woman,
who in the next room overheard it all, and
with blood curdled by the tiendsh malienity
of the assassin who could thus dilatc upon
his horrible deed, slipped out into the
street to call the police. officer Murphy
! of the Fourth Precinct. was soon found,
and to him she made the startling announce
ment that she not only knew who mur-
| dered Mr.. Nathan, but knew whero he was
| at that moment he was q villain nalned
Gilbert, and was then in the house. Muir.
ply was nothing 10th to earn the great re-
wards awaiting the capturer of the assassin,
and the young woman plotting him on
tile way, he marched into the room
and dumbfounded poor Dunphy by seizine
him by the coat collar us Gilbert,
| the murderer of Mr.. Nathan. Dunphy
tried to laugh, but seeing that the officer
was in earnest he endcavored to explain,
saving his name was Dunphy, and that he
was telling of what he had read in the news.
papers. But the officer declared this was
.:too thn," and in spite Of the prayers and
struggles Of his prisoner carried him OIL IL
police headquarters, and into the presence
Of Chief OF Police Campbell. That iunc.
tionarv listened to the story Of the young
woman and the explanation Of Dunpily
and was then positively certain that he had
in his hands the great criminal of the age
The prisoner had two names, which
was in itself suspicious circumstance
but he had also confessed his crime, and
had Il hang-dog look that confirmed
his story. Therefore he held on will
determined grip to the desperate villain, in
spite OF protcstations, and after keeping
| him in prison from O'Clock i'll the alter,
noon until n little after midnight, forwarded
him, per officer Murphy, to Superintendent
Jourdan. to he dealt with according TO law
| Murphy went first to the Central Police
building. No. $50 Mulberry street, but
Jollr,lan had long been gone, and Murphy,
after waiting a long time. finally, ut O'Clock
| in the morning, collared Dunphy and
| bore him off to the residence OF Supcrin'
tendent Jourdan, at No. 19S Prince
StfpGl. J1t laIS luC Dtlis Dut lllClC HaS
no response. Holding the now terrified and
exhausted Dunphy, whose only crime was
his power rs narrator, resoiutely with
one hand, the determined Murphy jerked
violently at the bell, until he pulled oil the
handle. Then he fell to kicking, and soon
broke out a pannel Of the door. A head
was then thrust out of an upper window,
and frightened lady asked what was
wanted. It appeared that nearly all Of his
noise had been heard, but it was such i
dreadful din that the inmates supposed il
| waSa party Of drunken rutfians who wanted
to get some one out on bail, and Superin-
| tendent Jourdan not having yet return.
ed home, his family were afraid to
make any response. So much of this
explanation being given to Murphy as.suf:
| feed to make him understand that the SUI
perintendent was not at home, that indie,
| fatigable officer returned with his trophy to
the Central police building, where he wait
ed patiently, with Dunphy, constantly in
| hand, until Jourdan went to his office at
o'clock in the morning. A few words were
then sufficient to ring down the curtain or
farce which Dunphy had signally failed tc
enjoy aud that gentleman being at last dis
charged, went his way, vowing that he vii
never again tell story as well as he can.