National Republican., 1873-03-12
BILLY PORREsTER.
How lie II Engaged In the Joliet Prison
Ills Explanation Of the Fnilnre to DE-
cover the Nathan Murderer lie II

How lie II Engaged In the Joliet Prison
Ills Explanation Of the Fnilnre to DI--
cover the Nathan Nurdcrcr-Whnt lie II
Ready TO DiyulRc.
our readers Will remember the arrest Of Billy
FORESTER In this city last summer, and his subsc.
Iucnt removal to New York, where h0 was held
for the murder Of Nathan, on hitch charge he
was discharged. He was then removed to Joliet
prison, ILL.,, to serve out two uneN pired sentences
for burglares committed In that state, he hav-
ing escaped from the prison somc time before.
\ re porter Of the Chicago Tnicr-OccdH has paid a
visit TO the Joliet prison. aud gives the following
account Of m interview with this celebrated
cracksman:
Forester has been assigned To place Oi
"hOnOr and trust" and buses himself IN assUTt-
ing the cigars. Ills experienced eye selects the
! Conchas, the PaTtagas AMI the poor "penny
Stock" which he packs away In their respective
! receptacles. When your correspondent ap-
preached him he accelerated his motions and
made the cgars ny with unwOnted rapillty.
wheeled around on his heel and confronted the
/ stranger. The striped suit, the close cropped
| hair and clean shaved face Impressed the OBJ
server as looking little like the Forester who u
few months ago was the guest Of Detective
I pinkeTt0n.
Reporter. II this WIN. Forester: I'm II rur.
| resentatiVc Of the press, and have called to see
! how prison life agrees with you.
! FORESTER, in the blandcst tOnes.) Nh, In
Z nlCastu 10 sec you. III uOlNg admirably.
/ Il. see that you have been unable as yet Il
/ make your escape. What seems to be the trOu.
hle1 You've got out from most every prison In
! the country.
=. Well, the fact Is this prison Is more con.
loundedly guarded now than ever before. My
last escape from this penitentiary was easy, but
I'm AFRAID to try u on this time. It would be at
! the peril Of cold lead. No, I've no hope OF es.
cape; and more than that, I've no desire TO try H.
I'm satisfied TO remain through my sentence
I've no desire to violate the rules OF the prison,
! a MI m al N tn mn tn lhnUI 4 mn In1an .
place myself In position TO be punished and
/ lose "g0Od time" My sentence Is thirteen
years. want TO get out ~ early as possible.
| you not?
=. Yes and now that have the opportunity
| wish you would call upon Captain Hickey, OF
! Chicago, and request him TO produce the two
men whom he knows, that can prove that I'm
years.
Il. Then you are guilty Of the other burglary
7. oh, certainly. am free 10 confess that ]
| perpetrated the burglary at Lake View, for
which was sentenced eight years. don't want
| TO be made 10 suffer for what I'm not guilty Of.
Hickey promised me to ind these parties and
! I'm anxious that he should do so, as do not
want " remain here after the expiration OF my
! eight years sentence. hope he has not forgot
ten his promises. II you viii see him shall be
| greatly Obliged to you.
TlIE NATHAN MURDER.
| X. Have you any pnvate Information about
the Nathan murder, for which you were indicted
aud tried In New York?
! =. hear from my wife occasionally, but I've
! learned nothing particular.
| X. DO you know who committed the dee I:
J.. Know perhaps little too mucn for my
own convenience. Not that had d hand In II,
but because the parties who are implicated have
done everything they could 10 "put up Job on
| me" aud get mt out OF the way, lest I should
| peach on them; I've too much honor for that
| but they DID their best to secure my conviction
| They put up woman who swOTe to 4 lie, aud SC
overdI1 II that she vitiated her testimony, and
was acquitted.
r. Could you name the Nathan murderers?
| =, would never do that, but Ill tell you what
am willing TO do. II the right parties from
| New York Will visit me here, aud glys me ample
evidence that they are not In the interest OF the
kelso ring, Will put them on the track In such
q way that the apprehension OF the murderer
can be easily effected. know the whole plot,
and Know that certain New York Officials are
implicated In such way as 10 make II necessary
that none but detectives OF KelsO's choice shah
be put on the case. They have now spent seye'
raj thousands OF dollars, aud are no nearer the
solution OF the mystery than at the beginning
VIII no longer be a mystery.
X DO you expect pardon from the Governor
on the strength Of your promised developments
| i. Not at all. OF course should accept a par.
don, but I've no disposition to base my develop.
meuts on that ground. I'm willing TO serve out
honorable vocation than before when get out,
II does not pay to be thief. I'm getting along
In years and do not care to run any risks OF pen.
ltentlaTy for life. II IL dear-bOught aud short.
| lived pleasure 10 handle other peoples money
and goods. I've handled hOu5ands Of dollars,
but my earnings have almost all gone TO yOrG.
clOus detectives.
Tue HusIa$ CAsE.-The committee having
| ChafQO--fT f1ln rngn nj IInatnn ra