The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-03
spERrE or Tnn PRHss.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topios-co implied Every
DAY for the Evening Telegraph
THE NATHAN MURDER.

from the y. y sun.
We have for some time been aware that the
well-kuown lawyer Count Joannes was
engaged in minute and patient Investigation
of the evidence respecting the murder of MIR.
Nathan, for the purpose OF detecting the
murderers and bringing them to justice. His
investigations are not yet complete, and the
whole of the proofs be deems necessary to
prepare the case for trial are not yet collected.
But he has gone far enough to make it, in
his Judgment, advisable to publish the main
portion of his discoveries; and this he has
done in the very interesting letter which
appeared in our columns on Saturday
The main facts stated in that letter are,
that in the course of his Investigations he
became convinced that certain person, now
in the custody of the Commissioners of Chari-
ties and Correction, knew who committed
the murder; that he approached him upon
the subject: and that he finally drew from
him an avowal that such was the fact. This
man not only knew the murderer, bat had
actually been concerned with him several
months before the murder in obtaining in
formation and preparing plans of the interior
of Mr.. Nathans house, in order that they
might enter and rob it.
The burglary was not attempted at that
time, and the witness was arrested and i'm
prisoned for some other otfense. While he
was in prison his old associate got access to
him, and borrowed from him the suit of
clothes in which the crime was committed
and the iron dog or 'rung" which served as
the instrument Of death.
One fact respecting this iron tool was first
revealed by this witness, namely, that it had
been cut off SO that it could be more conve-
niently carried. On examination this proves
to be so.
After the murder the witness was again
visited by the assassin, who admitted to him
~ A-ll
that the last words of the murdered gentle
man we're, Harmon, is that you?" supposing
it to be one Of his sons who had come into
his bedroom and wakened him from the
slumber into which he had fallen.
Armed with this evidence, and with the
various aliases of the assassin, the investiga-
tor next seeks to find him. He discovers
him by learning of the arrest for larceny of
man bearing one of these aliases. He visits
him, and finds that his appearance cores
ponds to the description that had been given.
The arrested thief is ft-handed like the
murderer. Like the murderer, he has had
his right hand mutiated, so that it shows
but four fingers the number marked in blood
upon the wall of Mr.. Nathan's bedroom
Like the murderer, he is cross-eyed. He gives
several aliases which the murderer was in the
habit of using. His features, carefully
sketched, are identified by the witness as
those Of the murderer. His history, care
fully investigated, shows that he is man to
commit such crime, and corresponds per-
fectly with the account given of him by the
witness
No steps have yet been taken to confront
the alleged murderer with the witness who
disclosed to Count Joannes the fact of his
guilt. But that will soon co.ne. A few col
lateral circumstances are now being explored
in order that the chain of evidence may be
complete and incontrovertible. Then the
accused-now in prison for grand larceny
will be indicted, arraigned, tried, and, if the
facts are clear as they now seem, convicted.
The case, of which we have here given the
strong one. In this % opinion W. we ~ nav n . prove row
to be mistaken: but it certainly is one of the
most remarkable and interesting ooncatena-
tions of circumstances and suggestions that
we have ever examined. At any rate the con.
clusion of the affair, and let us hope the de-
cision of justice, cannot now be much Longer
DELAYED.