The New York herald., 1870-08-12
WILLIAM KELLY ON THE STAND.
A Rigorous CrOss-ExaminatiOn and
Its Result.
The Mystery of the Tragedy
Deeper Than Ever.
Mr.. Nathan's Watch-A Long Search for
II by the Detectives and the Re-
suit Disappointment.


cation yesterday forenoon long before the hour fixed
for the opening of the proceedings had arrived and
1t was lust as much as the policemen In charge
could do to keep back the hundreds who clamored
for admttance after every inch Of available
EtaDding room had been seized upon inside. TWAS
given out the previous day that young Kelly, the
son OF Mr.. Nathans housekeener, was to be exam
ned on the opening OF the court and this fact, no
doubt, had great deal to do with attracting the
immense crowd TO the court, as 1t was generally
believed, from the way the young mans name had
been so often referred to during the inquest, that
his evidence would reveal something startling The
Jury were all in their seats promptly at half-pasr
ten O'Clock, but the Coroner did NOT open the prO-
ceedings until eleven O'Clock, much to the disgust
Of the swelterng hundreds in the main part Of the
room, who were packed together, sitting and stand
ing as thickly as herrngs in barrel.
Samuel Williams, an elderly gentleman, was the
first witness who testified. He said he was a lawyer
by profession and was acquainted with Morris r.
Williams the mason with whom he had a conversa-
ton the afternoon Of
THE FUNERAL OF MIR. NATHAN.
He told the witness that he had attended the funeral
and in speaking Of having seen the dead body he
marked that the instrument with which the deed
was done shpbuilder's "dogn and to Illus
trate how effective blows from such weapon would
be he took up poker and raised 1t in striking
manner. He also told the witness that hehad seen
"dog" in the stable very similar to the that had
been used IN doing the murder He referred during
the conversation to Mrs. Kelly's son and remarked
that he was doing little or nothing In Mr.. Nathans
house. He was positive that Morris Il. Williams had
told him that he had recognized the "dosr' found
the morning OF the Tragedy the moment he saw 1t,
and that he said nothing whatever which seemed to
imply doubt that he bad seen the dogh before
ONE OF THOSE TWO GIRLS,
Miss Clara Dale an inmate of the house in East
Fourteenth street, already referred to In the evil
dence OF Washington Nathan day two ago, was
the next witness. She was very gayly attirod. in
costly dress OF green striped silk, embelshed with
all the usual paraphernalia OF panier nouDces
and trimmings. She wore light colored lavender
kid gloves and aunty round hat Of the latest
pattern was spread a green ven which hung down
over her face almost completely hiding it from view.
Beneath this she wore black masked battery''
which totally covered the upper portion Of the lace
Her evidence did not amount to much, and only
went TO corroborate the testimony OF Washington
Nathan to the time left the house in Fourteenth
street the night OF the murder she stated that she
had met him at about halfpast seven O'Clock and
again at nine O'Clock. and that he remained In her
company until ten minutes after twelve O'Clock.
The witness, alter giving her evidence, through the
courtesy OF the gentlemanly Coroner was saved the
trouble Of e!bowing her way through the crowd 10
return to her seat by carefully conducting her
through the enclosure reserved for the OFF cias, after
which she resumed her place among the audience.
The name of William Kelly was called soon after
this, and as he got up from his seat there arose
murmur among the audience and everybody got on
tip toe to get glimpse at him. He had occupied
seat near his mother from the opening of
the proceedings, and arose at when
his name was called and made his way
through the crowd directly to the stand. He is
a tall, very spare young man, with sharp features
and small eyes deeply sunken in his head. He was
neatly dressed He wore black frock coat Scotch
tweed pantaloons and dog" collar with shirt
Of Immaculate whiteness. When he took his seat
after being sworn he looked rather hurried and
moved his hands about in restless sort OF way, as il
he did not know exactly where to put them. He at
frstanswered the questionsput to him by the Coroner
In rather Bowerysh bravo sort OF syle and finally
lost his temper when he was asked as TO his birth
and who his father II is quite likely that
men out OF ten would have lost their tempers
under the same circumstances, as the questions
were certainly not OF character TO make
feel good natured. Indeed, there were many
sons in the court room who expressed themselves
very freely the subject and declared the questions
as to his father not only not pertinent TO the
but simply outrageous. 1t Is generally supposed
tnaJ LneTt is no legal OF 10
amnations in a coroners inquest but many people
believe that some regard should be had for wit
ness feelings, no matter who he is, providing
always that It is not necessary part or
the case to disregard them. Indeed, Kelly was
treated throughout by the jury and the other
ners as though
BE WAS REALLY THE URDERER
and was under arrest for the crime. The examlna-
tion Of the witness consumed nearly two hours and
was of the most rigorous character. The Coroner
was the first to take him in hand, and then he
delivered over to the tender merces of the District
Attorney, who, after exhausting his own stock of
questions, and nearly exhausting the witness him.
selr gave him up TO the jury, who made most OF the
opportunity, as win be seen by perusal Of the eyi-
dence as reported in full in another column. The
witness showed that he was not a very intelligent
sort of person and In many instances contradicted
himself but il was evident from the way he did 1t
that the cause was not desire to equivocate, but
the result Of the confusion OF mind into which he
thrown by the way he was pelted with ques
tions that purposey put to
THROW BIN OFF HIS GUARD
and puzzle him. In one instance, however, when
he could nave been confused portion of his
evidence as taken before superintendent Jourdan a
few days ago was read to him, and which was in
direct conflict with part OF his statements in
the court yesterday. 1t was in relation TO his
whereabouts on the afternoon preceding the night
Of the murder. lie swore yesterday that he met
that afternoon two young men, acquaintances OF
his, in Madison square, TO whom he spoke about the
music Of the band which was then playing In the
ParR--tbat he spoke Of that and nothing more. In
the evidence read 10 him ne WAS reported as having
SAID that while in the Park he met no person whom
he knew 10 whom he spoke a word, THIS being
questioned he denied having stated. One or tue
most astonishing statements he made was that he
never heard tell Of bounty Jumping did he
army and served Tor nearly year during the war.
Testimony of SamueI Williams.
samuel Williams sworn and examined:--l reside
st 222 West Twenty-ionrth street; am lawyer by
profession: on the day Of Mr.. Nathan's funeral, IN
the afternoon, Mr.. Williams was in my ofhce and
spoke OF the funeral; he spoke Of Mr.. Nathan as an
ACQUAINTANCE, and said that he had butt ms house
und worked Tor him for several years; he spoke oi
Mr Nathan as an estimabe man; he said that he