The New York herald., 1872-09-08
Says He Had Nothing to Do with It
and Can Prove an Alibi.
The "Put-Up Job" by New
York Detectives.
Washington Police Officials Highly
Elated Over the Reward.


WASHINGTON, Sept 7, 1872
Billy Forester, alias Billy Marshall, alias Billy or
Frank Campbel, alias Frank Harding, alias Frank
Howard, the suspected murderer Of Mr. Benjamin
Nathan. the New York banker, who was assassinated
in his own house in Twenty third street, Fifth
avenue, on the night Of July 10, 1870 arrested
in this city this morning. He acknowledges him.
self to be Forester, and he will be taken to New
York In day or two. It is stated the rewards
offered for this man amount to about sixteen thou
sand dollars outside OF the Nathan murder, which
he is suspected or After his arrest he telegraphed
to New Orleans for his baggage to be sent to Barney
Aaron, New York, and says he is lately from the
South At the interview had with him this even-l
ing he declined to talk upon the subject Of his
arrest, yet showed in his conversation much in
formation concerning the Nathan murder. He said.
he was prepared to prove that
WAS IN NEW YORK
at the time of the murder-a fact well known, no
believed, to the New York officials; but for some
reason they had "put up Job" on him, and offered
q large reward for his arrest. He realizes that he
is In a tight place; in fact he jOkngly remarked
that his quarters were rather too close; but on,
such warm day he did not know but what he was(
rs comfortable in Heath Prison. as the cell at Police
Headquarters Is called, as II he outside in the
sweltering Under his left eye is, apparently,
bruise, which he says Is only Inflammation caused
by his scratching mosquito bite. He was attired
in dark pants and a checked shirt when he greeted
your correspondent, and remarked that the
HERALD had said some very hard things against
him, which in the main were unjust, but that it,
had said what no other paper dare say, and that
was that his arrest was
CONNIvED AT By THE NEW YORK DETECTIVES
to cover up some Of their shortcomings He frankly
stated that he had read the HERALD every day
since his departure from New York, in order to get
the latest Information regarding the suspicions
cast against him. In reply to the remark that he
had come to bad city for safety he said he real
tied 1t now, but did not suppose when he
arrived here. eight days ago, he would be watched
suspected. He answers the description given
In the circular issued from the Office Of the Chief Of
Police in New York In February 1871, and, in fact,
does not deny that he is the veritable Billy For-
rester. The detectives here are elated over the
prospect OF getting the $500 reward offered
by the New York authorities The idea that
he had anything to do or knows
anything about the Nathan murder is considered
here in well-lnformed circles as absurd. He
assumed new alias for Washington going under
the name OF Lewis Kearns, and was taken into cus{
tody on the charge of being suspicious character.
Billy likes to talk about the cave In Indiana, where
the papers were found alleging to give an account
of confessions discovered which had been left there
by the Nathan murderers. When asked why he
took 50 much interest In a matter that he had
nothing to do WITH he replied, because some ignoI
ramus insists upon connecting his name with the
deed. "why," said Forester "the next thing they
will charge against me is that robbed the Balti1
more Bankn He has nothing to ''squeal" about al
present and maintains o dec0rous silencce.