New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-08
THE NATHAN MURDERER.
Forester Traced 10 Scotland.
fE~o,,a +ha Navc York Times $50

From the New York Times.
1t is now over year since Mr.. Benjamin
Nathan was cruelty murdered in his own
house and the recollection of the dire event
has well nigh faded from the minds of New
Workers. so often and terribly satiated with
tales of human suffering. But the silent
watchers of .wrongdoers and never firing
searchers for them, have never left the trail
of the man who was suspected OF having
perpetrated the foul Decd From the mo-
fnent suspicion first hit upon him, until the
present, the man has been followed with
unrelentilg zeal. Ia sarl
Our readers no doubt remember well the
first time that tie name of William For
roster was given to them in these columns.
Copies of his photograph were sent broad
cast throughout !. the Union, Canada and
MANY of the countries of the Old World.
He hid himself out West during last fall,
moving from place to place rapidly, to
avoid the sleuth-hounds of the law, who
were ever close upon his trail. From town
TO village. and from village to town, he
went, until, like Eugene Sues Wandering
Jew, :" the sun scarce shone twice upon.
him in the same province He had many
other crimes to answer for, beside the Ma
than murder. Allen Pinkerton wanted
him. to serve out an unexpired term of
thirteen years imprisonment in Illinois,
and for a murder he had committed before.
The dread o.. confinement for so long term
of years was enough to keep him moving
ever. At last Pinkerton's detectives in the
North, West and South, aided by the regu-
lar scouts of outraged justice, got between
him and the mountains, plains and other
approaches to that haven where outlaws
find oblivion-the far West-and gradually
closed in around him.. The Atlantic coast,
except in the neighborh5od of the Gulf,
was likewise narrowly watched, and his
case seemed hopeless.
At last, about seven months ago, almost
exhausted and in the depths of AFFECT
despair, Forester reached Galveston in dis
guise, the detectives right on his heels. No
time was to be lost. Delay would be fatal.
A bold dash alone could save him, and this
he made. Leaving his hiding place, he.
Skinned on board a vessel short of hands,
and bound to Great Britain. She sailed
from the harbor just in time to elude the
officers of Mr.. PinkertOn, and the hunted
man made good his escape. For some time
after the trail was lost in the waters of the
deem, until, by one of those secret agencies
only known to the professional thief-taker,
it was clearly ascertained that the abscond-
ed Forester was in Scotland. Here he had
been born, and his parents still resided ON
the old farm, long deserted by the criminal
To its vicinity, he was believed TO have
gone with what feelings or hope can hardly
be imagined
Pinkerton followed determined to bring
him back. His departure was announced
about six months ago, when it was said
that Mr.. Alien Pinkerton, chief of the de-
tective bureau bearing his name, had gone
to seek health among the heather upon his
native hills in Scotland. The health he
sought was that of justice, which would
have been greatly benefited by the capture
of the notorious Forester. But he has re-
turned, after his long search, unsuccessful.
He arrived here. about three weeks ago, and
is at present in Chicago. l
Being in possession of'the foregoing facts,
the Times dispatched a reporter to the New 4
York branch of this bureau, and he had an
interview with III. w. Davies, the superin-
tendent. That gentleman very courteously
.conversed on the topic, and corroboratea
the statement. Healso said, after mention
ing the return from Europe of Nh. Pinker-
ton whom, by the way, he had not seen
since, that Forester is yet in Scotland, hid
ing from the agents who are on the alert to
seize him. This bureau, continued he, is in
direct communication with the police, and
authorities on the other side of the ocean,
and although the fugitive may, for time,
elude their vigilance, in the end he must be
caught. Mr.. Pinkerton, he said, laid his
plans carefully for the capture, but they
have thus far been without result. The
man. However, is shut up within the area of
Britain-a much smaller field to operate in
that the North American Continent is. The
understanding between Pinkerton's people
and the New York police is that if the
former catch Forester, the latter will have
him tried upon the Nathan murder charge.
If he be acquitted OF this crime, the police
viii turn him over to Pinkerton, who will
send him back to serve out his thirteen
wears in the prison 5-.lt ttss ! III
s.This.n said Mr.. Davies, sis what For
roster hates to do, and to avoid (which he
would take any chances. If he were to be
in this room with us now, know the mans
character SO well, that | believe he would
attempt TO get out, even though / leyeled
revolver at. his head. He would prefer
death to imprisonment. When he is run
down. take my word for it, he viii fight.
hard.r
Being asked whether Forrester's mistress
in New Orleans did no { know something of
his whereabouts, the superintendent replied
that she did not. She was ONLY apprised of
his well-being from time to time by third
party. However, as i before observed,
there is not the slightest doubt in my m ind
but that Billy will fallsinto our hands, if
he but live little longer. All our arrange
ments have been perfected by our chief in
Scotland, where our man now is
The Cincinnati E,,quirer's special Wash
ington dispatch Of the third says:
The story published here to-day that VIII
liam Forester, the alleged murderer of |
Nathan, is now In Scotland, his native |
country, is made out of whole cloth. |
rave It from the best detective authority |
hat Forester was in New Orleans on the |
,ixteenth of July, and has since lett for |
Sew Mexico, and u.s. there now, Letters
ave been received regularly by his wife
md friends He does not desire 70 be cap
tired. foritheI reason that hesowoes thirteen |
cars SERVICE IN the Jotiet prison. he
sdmetlt hey Will remit that thirteen years
q win surrender, and standtrial for the
Nathan murder. In case they don't remit