The New York herald., 1871-01-17
THE NATHAN MURDER.
A Speculative Chicago Detective Tries Neat
Little Game, but Don't Quits Succeed-Dis-
couraging Antecsdsnt History and En-
couraging Future Prospects Of the
Arrest OF the Real Murderer.

The six months which it Is now very nearly since
the Nathan murder have not diminished the public
interest as to the discovery OF the murderer. All
the peculiar circumstances hedging about the case
have served to stimulate this interest 1t is certain
that no murder has ever been committed
III this city upon which so much detective
skill and energy have been spent to dis
cover the perpetrat0r OF the crime and
In no case with such assured unsatisfactory results
But 1t Is unnecessary to dwell upon this point or the
clues that have been vany sought out and as vainly
followed up to lift the veil Of secrecy casting its over.
shadowing and lmpenetrable pan over this dread
ful homicide. Unheeding the various false arrests
and unreliable rumors and stories that have been
set anoat in reference 10 1t, we come down to
The last scene
or this strange, eventfu history
or, In moro plainly prosac words. to the narrative
about the Chicago detective, Mr. W. p. Fecker and
his wonderful alleged discoveries in connection
with this mysterious murder This
CHICAGO DETECTIVES STORY
Is quickly told. He claimed TO be able to produce
the watch and chain OF the murdered man. to be able
to indicate the assassin to be able to lay his hands
upon him. He did not do this. and perhaps
the $4,000 reward promised for his capture would
not have become his II he had. Mr. Felcker has now
shaken the metropolitan dust from his pedal cover
ings and has gone back to Chicago. He doubtless
thought he would let no New York detectives get
the best OF him. People OF Chicago know thing or
two and he shared in this general knowledge Of the
people OF the Garden City. Anybody can see that
this Is
A PRETTY NARRATIVE
and greatly redoundng TO the credit OF the Chicago
detective. To bring the astardy author OF this
terrible murder within the clutches OF the law has
with him consideration. To serve the ends OF
justice might not with him be brothers right
But there is nothing like sitting story thoroughly
With this view HERALD reporter called yesterday
on Judge Cardozo and the
SITTING PROCESS
was easily and speedily accomplished.
Il viii tell you all about it,n said the Judge i'm his
usual prompt and pleasant way. as soon as the OBJ
Ject Of the visit was made known.
II was at Long Branch with my family, when the
murder was committed. AS soon as the sad news
reached me came TO New York. Judge Downing had
known long ana intimately. also knew Superinten-
dent Jourdan and Detective Kelso. The matter Of
discovering the murderer was at once placed in
their hands. No man has been more Jealous, from
that time to this in trying to discover the murderer
shan Judge Downg. superintendent Jourdan gave
his soul and energies to the work almost to the day
OF his death. Detective kelso, as he was then, was
OF the detective force. and his energies end
have not relaxed since becoming superintendent.
The Mayor, also, has been most assiduous In labor
Ing TO The same end"
aWell. what about Feckers discoveries 9- we
asked, interrupting thus preliminary narrative,
which going into detail, but which it Is unne.
ccssary 10 reirerate here the facts are generally
KNOWN.
"He Is
as am now thoroughly convinced. He came to my
house ana showed two blood-bespattered pieces OF
cotton which, he said, was cut from the shirt OF the
murderer
"Did he show the studs Mr.. Nathan wore or
locket taken from the vest ?.
Neither He claimed, however, to know where
,he watch and chain are, but am satisfied now he
knows nothing about them. told him II he would
produce them he should have the reward offered lor
them"
..Did he come aloDefr
Judge Bowling and Mr.. KeIso came with him,
He had talked 10 them about Knowing much
about the murder and who was the murderer that
they thought they had better bring him TO me.'
"Did they have much confidence in him -
Very little; but In the possibility OF his knowing
something we thought It best not to leave stone
unturned."
what was said about the reward ~
''Ihat was the burden OF Feckler's talk. could
scarcely get him to talk OF anything else. He SAID he
WANTED ALL THE REWARD
If he got the murderer. He did not want the New
York detectives to come in and claim ashare."
.'What did Mr. kelso say to thlsY'
He Feckler he should have 1t all If he got the
murderer; and more than this. that he would assist
him personally and all the detectives If necessary,
and they wouldn't any OF them claim o cent ave
working for the ends Of justice not for money
SAID Mr.. kelso. 4 am working for money said
Feckler. Il Will give $1,000 from my own pocket
IL you discover the murderer said Judge Dowling
and added, 4 would have given $4,000 II he had
and Judge Dowling meant every word they said"
''What did Feckler say TO all this"
'sHe wanted
$1,000 TO PAY EXPENSES
he had already incurred and would incur. i gave him
acbeck for $500 and sent of two days after
This was TO try HIM. Judge Downing said ii he did
not fulfil his promises he would MAKE this country
too hot for him. THIS scared him. and ne afterwards
paid the $500 back. which, with the $1,000. were
sent to me by superintendent kelso.n
''And Is this the last you expect TO hear of Feck-
lery''
1.-The last In connection with the Nathan murder,
tails, but mainly touching facts already known to
the public In the above interview have only en-
bodied the main facts touching Feckler's role as
detective. Meantime 1t said that this Fockler has
q somewhat interesting
ANTECEDENT HISTORY
in connection with operations Of this kind After
serving an apprenticeship under william h. WI ood
in the OLD Capitol Prison, II Is alleged that he was
arrested at Chicago for beating woman out or
husband from State Prison. ana that he pretended to
the parents OF the Joyce Children murdered III Rox-
bury Mass, that he knew the murderer and could
eject his arrest, and upon this pretence obtained
quite sum OF money from them. Following ON the
end Of this comes
LIGHT FROM ANOTHER QUARTER.
Colonel Whitley says that the murderer or Mr.
Nathan is positively known. and that his arrest
within very short time Is almost certain. This
person Is now said to be under the strictest sur
velance, the proofs OF hs guilt are being gathered
together and us soon as they are complete that he
Will be arrested, his escape being hardly wlIhin the
bounds OF possibility.