The New York herald., 1871-01-08
THE NATHAN MURDER.
statement OF the Accused at
the TOnlbs.
NE Way Count Joannes Acts the Detective
Interesting Details from Hughes he
States How the Rumor was Set
Abroad = The Account Cor
roborated by Names
and Addresses.
"what, l murder Mr.. Nathan ~

N tns CITY tnat Inc DAY nau at engtn arrived Wnen
tse murderer OF the late Mr.. BENJAMIN Nathan was
taken and would receive just punishment, and that
ne be handed over TO the police and arralgned
~ once for that most terrible crime before the
Ahcrized tribunal OF New York. AS a matter OF
course the intelligence created great sensation.
~ naturally would, from the positive and emphatic
manner In which II was placed before the public.
On Friday evening last person, whose name was
not gwen, left the following letter at the HERALD
ONCE
man In the Tombs City Prison, who sves name of
James Hughes bess you reporter his cell, he
wants to give some Information syour paper.
In accordance with this Information a HERALD re-
porter visited the To.nbs City Prison yesterday
morning with the purpose OF ascertaining what in
Selligence the OF the note in question mad to
Destow. After the usual formalty OF entering the
prison had been overcome by the courteous Judge
Dowling, who gave pass word that acted ike the
magic wand OF the fairy who transformed Cinderella,
the bottle washer, into an Arabian princess, the
COURTYARD OF THE PRISON WAS CROSSED,
and ascending sc 7eral flights or iron steps, con-
strucied IN manner well calculated for breaking
the neck OF any unruly prisoner who might happen
10 turn aside In his upward or downward path, the
gallery in which James Hughes lodgings were located
was reached. After consulting slate, which was
hung at arms length away from balustrade, over
square well fifty feet deep, between the sides OF
the division In the prison, it was ascertaned that
The object OF our search in cell No. "a, away in
the southwest corner OF the gallery. Peeping
through the hurdle shaped door 1t soon became
apparent that human being was
INSIDE THAT DREADED BARRIER,
and, after few loud eXhortauons, this beng came
forward, and putting his face against the inside OF
the bars. so that the nose protruded the outside,
he inquired .what was up.n After he was assured
that the reporter was ''up with reference to a
munication, he said, .Yes / want TO say COED
deal. Would you believe 1t that count Joannes has
been eIdeayoring TO nx me
FOR THE MCRDER OF MR.. NATHANr
REPoRTER-What is your name and businesss
HuoHEs-My name is James Hughes, and am
boatman doing my business usually at Coenties
slip. Dir. Caleb ana Captain Wharf both know me
wen.
REPORTER-Win you state how, when and where
you were charged with numbering Mr. Nathan9
HuGHEs-Wel, IN begin al the beg ming. When
] was arrested on the 9th OF December last on the
charge OF larceny for the amount OF fifty dollars
was taken by an officer TO police headquarters, in
Mulberry street. While was there-I hai only been
''run in'' about ten minutes and was Just asking
for some articles had TO be taken TO friend, when
Detective Tieman came into the room and said
gentleman wanted TO see me Immediately. asked
tins gentleman uhe deectiye) to bring the visitor
.
RUSHED IN GAsPSG FOR BREATH,
as though he had been 'dein' the round at Jerome
Park and said he had something highly impor-
liant, and at the same time something that
cerned myself, TO speak about. don't know how
iooked but felt pretty bad to see an old baldheaded
gent OF this class so concerned about M Interests.
Aiter i had waited until ne had 'pufed and blownn
somewhat after the grainpus order, says, Says !,
He said, "Don you know mes l an the Count
9oannes." No says |, now should know yer;
you amt none Of nly relations are yer?"
NEVER SEE SUCH PoMPoSIrY
as this man Distributed (eXAibltedl. He began to
ask my name, and said ny name was Hughes; and
wnen ne went 10 ask me aoout a lot OF other things
said, II say, Civ your authority for all this, Old
nn." He replied, Authority, sir; remember ;nat l
have null authority; am an attorney practising IN
the supreme Courts OF New York, and it is to
your interest to answer me, expect iraak reply TO
REPoEIER-what questions did he put to yoas
HUGHEs-be asked me If nad ever been on the
Island. said, .les guess BIN there olce.n lie
Howe, and said | did remember such man, whom
met IN the hospital on the Island. Well" SAID
my gentleman and he stood rubbing MS hands.
After tnis he left me and was sent here Qhe
Tombsl but aid not see MN again until the Monday
following The 18th December. Then he had me
brought out or my cell ana took me 10 small room,
near the prison entrance, pushed me iuto chair.
took seat close 10y me, and tie frst thing he SAID
was,
a.Now YOUNG FELLOW, yoU HAD BETTER OWN Up.n
''What do yea mean ~ asked
son. said lie, you must not act the green with
-Wltn me, II you please.'
al never done nothin'," said, "and what do you
.cring me here for:
.For the murder Of MI. Nathan;
: al murder Mr Nathan never saw or knew Mr..
Nathan"
.Now,n said he. a have great respect for the
Nathan family, and am Instructed by d committee
formed OF gentlemen belonging 10 high families In
ans eiiy want IL 10 see Tue Sasnan murderer nv
xbe man out have no doubt the reward
viii be onered to them. believe you know some
thug about tnis matter; In fact l have gathered
Z la
ycnough TO make you tfemb!e. Confess" sad he,
! DID NOT STRIKE TIE BLOW WITH THE DOG
Gut only acted an accomplice, nave DOUBT the
ttrHgency Of the law wiz be relaxed and you may
How were you standing when the blow was
HncAf Were you holding up the head or simply
cl AZ Of the blood? DID you place those
Tw % BLOODY FINGERs or YOURS AGAINST TIE WALLS
wi vie they were covered with Dlood%'
ktere Hughes stopped aud showed his right hand,
the thninb anu Two nrst fingers or which were lying
nat against the PAIN ol the hand. perfectly sum- The
TesG w. ne SAD, OF iiicuon burn "a cuiton factory
som.s years ago.
hU IEEs-Inen the Count asked me TO let him
look al my hand and when lie saw could only
move the TWO fingers he Was '.all gomez at He
ainosa danced with glee. | was astonsned. He
said IuLnsi tell linn what | knew about The watch
and jewelry, and asked continually il Howe had not
him KNEW roihlng OF all THIS lie aid, ..oh, you'll
come 70 drecty II yon get your breath" He sad,
Nov dhlD you assist In the mCrder OF r Nathan
CONFESS IT AND BE- DONE WITH II.
] will do Iny best TO defend Jon, My friends are
anxious fOq l0e to appear as counsel IN the General
Sessions. ant ! cannot do better than start with
your case. As have been practising heret fore
haye mol takeI np case for less than soo. out in
your case am Wiling 10 accept Iity doiars.n
kEPoRTER-Neli. hughes, wnat next transpred
HuGHfS-WeL, he dropped me for few minutes,
UE, didn't give Lne much Of 2 rest. He next SAID,
LDoaif you thinR the TWO lngers on the wall IN hir.
Nalans house correspond TO yOar two fingers ?i' !
rey,led cosld confess nothing about IT, did not
bekeve there WAS more than one person who 1ncw
anyi. ing about ii. IL he we're q Catholic he would
cCnfess II TO lis priest. but II he were Protestant
he would never confess 4 all. Count Joaanes next
told LII
E0w He HANDLED TIE BLocDY SHIRTS
and wesi ing apparel oI lSr. Nathan after he was
mnrieyeA, and that some evidence was pretty
stroup IN a quarter. and tie Count looked
sIyly and 4 ercely at me- HJf + no nse COMING The
green with me-, said he; "I am TOO Old IN the tooth
ior that + Was employed Is a aeiective III Pails
during tile u ry part o. the reign OF iDe Emperor