Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-08-09

OGSts
Escape of tie Assassin and Robbet.
a terrible tragedy took place before day
light Friday morning, in the premises, No. II
West Twenty-third ST., directly opposite the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, in one of the most pub
lie places in the city, the victim being the
head of the household, the well>known broker,
Benjamin Nathan. The circumstances con-
nected with the affair, notwithstanding the eff
forts of the police thus far, are still developed
in mystery. On Thursday Mr.. Nathan, in
stead of joining his wife and the younger
members of his family at their country seat
at Morristown, N. j., proceeded to their house
in West Twenty-third-st. A temporary bed,
consisting Of three mattresses and other cloth
ing, had been made up in the reception room
on the second floor. Soon after IL P. NJ,
Mr.. Nathan, who was man of very regular
habits, retired to bed. His elder son, Fred
erick, who, with a younger brother, WASH
ington, occupied rooms on the third floor, re-
turned home about liz p. NJ, calling at his
fathers room, and asked him if Washington
had returned from call On some friends, hav.
ing left home early in the evening for that
purpose. Mr.. Nathan replied in the negative,
and Frederick then babe him good night, and
went to his room on the floor above. The
other son, Washington, came in between IL
and 1, aud, as was his custom, called at his
fathers room to bid him good night. He
called to his father, aud receiving no response,
believed his parent to be asleep, and not wish
ing to awaken him, went to his own room on
the floor above, adjoining that of his brother,
and retired. The only person in the house
besides Mr.. Nathan and his sons were Mrs.
Ann Kelley, the housekeeper, an elderly lady,
and her son William man of 25 years. Mrs.
Kelley slept on the rear of the second floor
and her son on the fourth floor.
Yesterday was the anniversary of The death
of Mr.. Benjamine Nathan's mother, and ac-
cording to the precepts Of the Jewish faith,
Mr.. Nathan and his sons intended in the
morning to visit the Nineteenth ST., Syna>
gogue and commemorate the event by offering
up prayers for the repose of her SOUL ltwas
for this purpose that Mr.. Nathan remained in
town, instead of joining his wife and family at
Morristown Shortly before 6 A. NJ, Wash
ington Nathan descended to his fathers room
to awaken him, thinking he had oversight
himself, and to remind him that it was time
to go to the Synagogue. On crossing the
threshold of the room, the son was Mortified
to see his father lying on the floor in pool
of blood, and with all the evidence of fear
full struggle around him. The son examined
his father, found him to be dead, and then
gave an alarm, arousing the other members
of the household. He was soon joined by his
brother, and together they left the house.
Seeking Officer ohm Mangum of the Twenty
ninth Precinct short distance away, they
called to him, and he Immediately ran to them.
On being told that murder had been COM
mitted, the officer gave an alarm rap, called
to his aid another officer, and they began
search of the house. Just inside the front
door, in the hallway, Officer Mangum found
ship, carpenters "dog," an iron instrument
about 10 inches in length, half hammer, half
pick With this instrument, which could be
used either az a hammer for MASKING lock,
or a jimmy to pry open drawer, ter
rible blow could be dealt any one who should
attempt to interfere with the person welding
it, This weapon had been dropped, undoubt-
edly, by the murderer in his flight Officer
Mangum examined it closely, and found spots
of blood on it. These were found to be quito
dry, showing that the attack on Mr.. Nathan
had been made with it several hours pre-
viously. Washington Nathan then recollect-
ed that when he came down stairs to give the
alarm, he found tho front hall door unfas-
tened, although closed. Nevertheless, the
house was thoroughly searched from garnet
to basement, but the murderers could not be
found.
Strangely enough, although Mrs. Kelly
slept on the same floor as the murdered man,
and the most OF the doors were open, she
heard nothing of the ARRAY, although it was
evident that a desperate struggle had taken
place.
On visiting the room where Mr. Nathan
lay, the officers found him lying just outside
the door leading from the main room into a
smaller office. lie had on nothing but an
under-shirt and night-shrt. Both these
garments were saturated with blood. The
body also lay in a pool of blood, and the walls
on either side of the doorway leading into the
Office were marked and despatched with blood.
The carpet, also, was soaked with blood
Evidently a desperate struggle had taken
place before Mr.. Nathan was overpowered and
slain.
In one corner of the Office mentioned was
a small safe. This had been opened with
key obtained from the pantaloons pocket Of
the deceased. A tin box lay on the floor
The papers which it had contained we're
strewn over the floor, also all the rest of
the contents of the safe. The clothing of
Mr.. Nathan lay on the chairs where he had
placed them the previous night. An exami-
nation of them showed that Mr.. Nathan's
watch and diamond studs had been stolen
1t was evident that the deceased had been
awakened by the noise made by the thief in
rummagiDg the safe, aud, sprpging from bed,
had seized him. The thief, with the "dog"
mentioned, had dealt him a number of blows
on the hand and head, the latter crushing in
the skull-N y Tribune.
FARMS FOR RENT.-The attention Of far
mcrs wishing to rent is called to the adver
tisements of Mcssrs. John B. Packet and