New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-09-15
JOHN CoNNoRs INTERVIEWED.
Tells What He Knows About FORESTER
FOrre.ter in New Orleans.

No. 66 Girod street, for the purpose of pro
during his version of the statements made
in the New York Herald, published in this
paper yesterday morning, concerning the
arrest Of the notorious Billy Forester. Fail
ing to find him at home, we were informed
that he was at work fencing in two squares
of his ground quarter of mile above
the Jackson railroad depot, in the suburbs.
Finding him hard at work, coat off,
and perspiration rolling off his sun
Drowned forehead we made known our
errand. He was unwilling to cease his
labors just then, but promised to give US
detailed statement about dark.
The following is what he had to say, and
the reader will find it quite interesting. Of
course we do not voueh for the truth or
falsity of the assertions:
About the last of May, 1870, man call
ing himself Alexander Marshal, with his
wife, came to my house to board: Marshal
represented himself as a life insurance
agent from New York, and said he was at
tending to that business in New Orleans.
After he had been in my house about two
weeks he was arrested by the New Orleans
detectives as a fugitive from the Illinois
Penitentiary There being no positive
proof of that, he was released on $4,000
bonds. After he got few squares from
the Recorders Court, Superintendent Bad
ger re-arrested him and had him committed
to the Parish Prison to await requisitiOn
without bail. MarshaPs, or FOrrester's,
lawyer got writ without the police know
ing anything about it and had Forester
taken into the Fifth District Court, Judge
beaumont, and he was discharged. Cab,
1NS, off JTp i'm
outside the courtroom. He got into the
cab and drove down to the first station on
the Jackson railroad, took the cars, ana
went to Eicksburg. His wife remained at
my house, and heard from Forester once
or twice every week. He was in South
ern State, dressed as a laborer. when the
Nathan murder was committed. He al
his ideas of the matter, stating that the
''dOg" that was left behind in Nathan's
house was only left to cover up the real
| tracks; that no professional thief had any
use for such an instrument in any shape or
form In December, 1870, Forester came
to this city from Vicksburg to see his
wife. He only intended to stay
few DAYS. His wife took carriage,
and met him mile outside of the city, and
he got room somewhere in the suburbs
where, did not know, nor did | want to
know. Forester was only in the city two
days when John Egan, q United States
detective, came to my house and whispered
to me that he had full pardon from the
Governor of Illinois for Billy Forester, and
he wanted to see Billy to give it to him;
that he loved Billy like brother, and that
he had been to a great deal of trouble aud
expense, but that was nothing if he could
only have the pleasure of putting the pardon
in Billy's hands. l remarked, "You are
a good friend to Billy, and he will
never forget.yo for your kindness" Egan
then commenced to pump me about For
roster l told him that l could not say
where he was. Egan told me that he (For
rester) was in the city; that he had left
Eicksburg two days previous and had come
to New Orleans; that thief named Grit
fin, alias the Michigan Kid, told him so,
and that he had Griffin with him to point
Forester out; that he (Egan) did not know
him, but had good description of him.
Egan made several attempts to make me-
drunk in order to pump me. [ got dis
gusted with the man, and put him down as
the ranlzest of flats. In order to get clear
of him one night when he had me i'll car
riage with his arm around my neck, loving
me as much as be did Forester, | said to
him, 'Give me $4,000 and l will give you
Forester" He grasped my hand and said
it should be paid to me. l said to him.
Your pardon business is a hoax He
said yes. He then told me he wanted
Forester for the Nathan murder l
said Forester had nothing to do
with that. He said: ON the odds;
that there were $4,000 reward for the
murderer of Mr.. Nathan, all told, and all
that had to be done was to put it on to For.
roster; no trouble in doing that if they
once had him in New York" Egan telto
graphed to New York for Phil Farley to
come on with $4,000. The next night l told
Egan to come to my house. F0rrester's
wife had been to my house, and told her
to tell Forester to be at my house next
night. He came in the back door at
eight o'clock. l told him what Egan
charged him with. He said that was
a hoax, that all they wanted was to
send him back to Illinois; that Pinkerton
was at the head of the whole scheme. In
little while Egan came to my house; |
talked to him about the big reward, and
how the blood money would be divided,
and how many honest men would get an
honest penny out of 1t. Forester 1raS behind
The partition, listening to ere1y 1cord. l knew
he was there, but 1 was surprised to see
him walk in the front door and step up to
the counter, where Egan was standing, and
call for a drink Forester was dressed as
sailor. Egan paid no attention to him.
| belieVasit is well for Egan and his family
that he did not. Forester lett the city the
next day, as the New Orleans detectives
found out he was here and what he was
wanted for, and they started on his trail.
couple Of days afterWard Phil Farley
and Radfnrd came on with the reqiis ltIon
and $4,000. They came straight to my
house, and told me Of their plans; that they
did not want the New Orleans detectives
to know their business in New Orleans be-
cause if. the New Orleans detectives, who
all knew Forester arrested him first they
would be entitled to the reward, and would
be sure to claim every cent OF 1t. l told
them all right that they must wait few
days; that Forester had gone out of the
CITY, and would be back shortly | was
waited on every day by Farley and R d
ford, and taken to the lake, given fancy
champagne suppers, ice cream, mince pies
and pound cake. Nothing too nice for Mr..
Connors. Farley in particular tell in love
with me. He said his mothers name was
Connors. and asked me what part OF Ireland
I was from. He said his mother was from
the same place as mine, and we must be re-
lations. Matters went on this way for seven
or eight days. | was not used to such high
living, and was afraid l would catch the
govt: besides. Farley q Co. were getting
long Finally, concluded to shake them
off, and | told them Forester was in the
city They all said. "Put us on to him and
we will give you the money" | said, mo,
/ must have the money first" That they
would not consent to. The next thing was
to find man to hold the money. No one
thew could name would suit me, and | knew
they would not give me the money first,
and the matter would end in chat, which
the whole programme was composed of
Phil Farley, RadfOrd and Egan could stand
the chat no longer, so, like three suckers,
they slid back to New York on their ears.
Il 6l