The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-03


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| Murder.
But five full days have elapsed since the
most atrocious and appalling murder that has
ever horrifed New York was committed in
the very heart Of one of our most populous
city neighborhoods, and already we see in
sidious and determined efforts made to mystify
the public mind and browbest public opinion.
Precisely In this spell of social influence lies
the secret Of public insecurity. II any indi-
vidual can, upon this pretext or the other, be
held absolutely sacred from the most search
Ing inquiry in murder case then what Is
called detective" business In New York is
simply sickening imposture that insults the
common sense Of every thinking man. There
are beings capable OF counting upon precisely
this kind ofimpunity. ''No one would believe
1t possible for me to have done this
Decd" has been the language Of
| criminal after criminal to himself, as the Ella
borate records Of Great Britain France and
Germany show. The famous volumes of the
Causes Celebres" present several cases anala-
| gous to this Nathan horror; but French JUS
tice Is no respecter Of persons; 1t instantly
fastens the seals of the State upon all papers,
implements, articles and depositaries in the
house Of assassination; II holds every inmate
and every associate Herewith connected under
the most rigid surveillance, day and night; it
takes each man and woman apart, in silence
ud In hair
and possible collision; 1t questions again,
again and again, sometimes reiterating the
very same inquiry over and over, at different
and at unexpected times; it confronts, COM
pares and scrutinizes it accepts all sane
material and rejects nothing; its touch has
Of The elephants trunk, which can alternately
toss aside hundred weights and pick up cam
brio needle. Then, along with this width of
range combined with minute intensity, deli
cate science, culture and educated informa-
ton are brought TO bear in their most attrac-
tive as well as in their sternest FORMS The
hand is of iron, but the glove is of velvet the
contact Is artistic, but the grasp upon the
throat Of the felon is memorable and deadly.
Let our readers recall the processes of de-
lection In the Traupmann murder case which
Mortified all France. What interchangeable ac-
tivity, what keen foresight, what patience,
persistence and yet what rapidly of move
ment what breadth OF view and yet what
microscopic mlnuteness Of scrutiny; no testi-
mony WAS rejected; no theories were POM
pously scofed at by inflated ignorance no de-
cent agencies were sighted; no influence, one
way or the other, was tolerated for the twin
king Of an eye; all things were taken in and
sifted. the chaf only was thrown away after
winnowing, and il but one grain Of fact re-
NAMED it was held precious. And the result (?
The soil of all Europe seemed alive under the
feet of the murderer the very stars watched
him at night; the whistle of the locomotive
when he tried to fly denounced him with
voice like the shrieks of his victims; the sea
alone yawned ready to receive him at Havre
in his utter despair he sprang into its pillows
and--found himself in tue clutch Of the law
He was tried, he confessed and was executed.
This is ability, and this is detection.
The police of New York and of the United
States have now conspicuous and an irreyo-
cable opportunity before them. This is their
Waterloo, and they will notify discharge their
duty. We verify believe that to real skill and
science, armed with adequate authority, the
solution of this so-cailed mystery is at the door.
The individual or set OF individuals who may
attempt in the slightest degree to clog their
progress or TO throw either golden or common
dust in their way must be regarded as hostile
to society. The sum Of twenty-five thou
sand dollars is large, but il is not enough
for the expenses OF this search. II is a
mere triaing exponent Of the Overwhelm-
ing Importance of the detection and punish
left strong enough to outbid the cry of justice.
That would be to leave the threats Of every
banker aud merchant or of any other possessor
of a home and means exposed to the knife Of
the midnight assassin. A state or nation a
commercial board or q mercantile body, would
better spend million in ferreting out all the
mysteries of this crime than in half of the pur-
poses to which they do apply their money. It
is a case Of the ''public in danger. and public
paid officers must now, once for ALL do their
duty, and their whole duty, or themselves be
utterly undOne.
MOVEMENTS OF Our POLITICAL PARTIES.
Republicans and democrats, here and there,
throughout the country, are moving in their
nominations for the next Congress, and in the
declaration of their principles, which are all