Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-08-12
Of he n jam N Nathan,
New York Millionaire.
From the Now York Times, July

FROM the NOW lines, July oU.
A murder more atrocious and more shock
ing thar any recent crime, was committed
during the early hours of yesterday morning,
in the prncely mansion OF Mr.. Benjamin
Nathan, who fell under the hand of the as
sassiu, at No. II Twenty.third street.
Mr.. Benjamin Nathan was one of the
most prominent, wealthy, public spirited,
and best beloved of our Jewish citizens.
Years ago he amassed an immense fortune
in Wall street. and for some time past he
has been practically out Of business. In
his home he was lavish to excess, surround
ing himself and family with every comfort
and luxury money could procure. but he
did no. spend his substance upon himself
exclusively. No man was more unsefish,
more generous in charity than he, and none
worked more indefatigably in all good
works. His purse and time were equally
at the service of the needy, and organized
charities had the be- eft Of both, and also
of his administrative ability. He was al
most the creator of the Mount Sinai h9spi-
tai, and TO his management as lis president
was largely due The great service which that
excellent Institution has rendered humanity.
Ia his lime, in many ways, he has given
away this and other tleemnsynary insti,u-
tons, large fortune, estimated at $780,
900 Ana bis charity was all absorbing,
for 1t Was not confined to his own faith or
race, but reached and lightened the loads
of men OF all creeds and lineage. Upright
in all his business relations, steadfast in
his friendships, kindly in his ways, Benja-
min Nathan, who was native OF New
York city, yesterday morning had reached
the mature age Of sc years and monlhs
almost without an enemy. lie was yet IN
the very prime of life, a man Of large size,
full habit, imposing appearance, with no
sign Of age upon him save a tlnge OF gray
in hi, hair and bushy whiskers and with
his physical and mental powers unimpair-
ed.
THE SCENE OF TIE TRAGEDY.
Life was, undoubtedly, pleasant to him.
His home showed how keel4ly he enjoyed
material existence. The house, No. II,
West Twenty third street, is one of the most
elegant and spacious of the private r.siden-
tes OF the city. II IS situated a Jew doors
west of Fifth avenue, is directly opposite
the Fifth avenue ho.el, is tlanked by houses
Of its own class, and is one OF the best neigh
borhoods IL the metropolis. 1t is "a four sto
ry, high stoop, brown-stone house. In the
basement are the kitchen and laundrles,
and en- the first hool the parlor, dining
room, buffers pantres and spacious balls !;
the second-hoor, on which the murder was
committed, was peculiar in its arrangement.
The large front apartment, with two win
dows opening on Iwenty-thiId street, III a
reception room, and a door in the west wall
opens into a small ballroom, fitted up as
an office. Back Of it, nearest the main hall,
is a long dark passage-way with massive
black walnut clothes presses, reaching from
the floor TO the ceiling. AT The other end
ai tie hall is u bathroom. The two com
parineuts occupy ope-hait the width OF the
reception room, and the other half is occu-
pi by two dressing rooms. furnished with
marble busins. Next beyond is large bed
room, and on the side. with comnunica-
ting door, a hall room. ike that in front.
the floors above are divided into sleeping
rooms, with clio hes presses in the ordinary
way, and DO not need further description.
TO such man in such home the mid
night assassin came to perpetrate one OF the
most horrible crimes on record. For soCe
weeks Mr.. Nathan had been staying at Nor
ristown, n. j.. wi his wife and some other
members OF his family. But bis fate and
fiiai piety brought him 10 the city on Thurs
day afternoon | is a custom OF the jew
lsh faith for the son to offer prayers in the
synagogue for the repose OF the soul OF a de
ceased parent upon each anniversary OF The
death. Yesterday was the anniversary OF
his mothers death, and it was Tor the pur-
pose OF Offering these prayers III the syna
gugue IN Nineteenth street, near Firth ave
nue., that Mr.. Nathan came to the city
Thursday afternoon. He was to stay but
one night, and the bed rooms being IN dis
order in consequence OF the absence OF the
family, lie bad Il bed to be made up for him
in the reception room. which was cone by
placing tour mattresses on the floor, one
above the other. The bed was made by
placing the head to the west wall of the
room and about midway between the door
the hall room. used as a private Office, in
which is small Herring safe, an escrtoire
some chairs, paintings, and various other
articles Of ornament.
The hour at which Mr.. Nathan retired to
rest is not positively known, but it was be-
fore midnight, and he was asleep before
1920 o'clock. When he retired, he dvest-
ed himself Of all his clothing, putting on a
night shirt reaching nearly to his feet, and
placed his lohing on n chair ear the man
TEL on The east side of the room. H shirt
had IN The bosom three diamond studs, of
! I carat . ch. In his vest pocket was a
l. ,,otnl, Iu a IA :
IN Ike, No. 7.42l, aud a stem winder. to
which was attached heavy gold link chain,
with two seals, one of winch was mono
gram composed of the letters b. n. In the
pockets Of his pantaloons were the keys OF
his safe and his pocket book containing val
uable papers and probably some money, but
how much is not known.
THE MIDNIGHT HOUR.
At II O'Clock, or moment or two after
that hour, Frederick Nathan, one of his
sons, returned, and on his way up to shis
room Gu the third floor stopped at the re-
cepuon room door, which WAS unlocked, and
went in He found lis father IN bed but
awake, for wnen Frederick asked if MS
brother had come home, Mr.. Nathan an
swcred in the negative. Frederick then
kissing his father, bade him good night, and
with IA CHEEKY return OF his benson rom his
fathers lips lingering in his ears he went
on up stairs to bed. A few moments later,
and precisely 1920 o'clock, II. M, Wash
ington Nathan. the other son, returned. lie,
too, stopped, found the door untastened,
went in, found his father peacefully on his
impromptu bed and spoke to him, but get
TING 40 answer he saw that the old gentle
man was asleep, and without awakening
HIM went out and to his bed room on the
third hlor and immediately retired.
At this point positive testimony stops.
The house was wrapped in sleep, but in all
the vast mansion were only five persons be-
sides the assassin, who must have been
lurkirr somewhere about it for hours, await
ing his opportunity, which was about to
come In the reception room, in the posi-
ton described, was the aged proprietor; in
the large bedroom, occupying the rear OF
the same floor, Ann ke y, the housekeeper,
AS Sleeping, with all the communicating
doors set ajar lnr the sake of air; on the
third floor one Of the sons occupied room
Immediately over the reception room, aud
the other son occupied the corresponding
room al the rear of the same floor, and on
the fourth floor slept Wm. Kelly, son of
Mrs. Ann Kelly, the housekeeper, who was
employed in the house as a servant.
THE DEED DONE.
a.