Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-10-02
The Nathan Murder.
How 1rving,s Confession was Made

How Irving's Confession was Made.
The San Francisco Urenicte-two
days before the confession Of Irving
was telegraphed to the East-contains
the following account of his delivery to
the police:
"Neasl5 a week ago man calling
himself Alexander Brown went to the
shipping Office of Captain G.. Naunton,
on Battery street. and asked to be
shipped On an English vessel. He said
that he had friends in Liverpool whom
he wished to Zee, and professed to be
thorough sailor. Captain Naunton e1-
amined the man as to his qualifications,
and having satisfied himself as 10 the
applicants ability concluded to do what
he Goa. d for him. The captain did not
notice anything extraordinary in the
bearing or conduct Of the man. He
seemed exactly what he professed him.
self, O sailor. There were marks OF
care we'll defined on his face, which
showed that he had been accustomed TO
rough life; but other than these there
was nothing to indicate that the appli-
can't was different from the ordinary
men of his assumed class.
"The British ship Coulnakyle was
lying in the stream waiting for her
crew. Captain John Japp, her COM
mander, was afriend of Captain Naun-
ton, and upon his recommendation con-
sented to take the man as one OF his
crew. He was accordingly shipped and
paid the usual advance, $50. The fol.
lowing day he was sent to the ship, and
entered upon the discharge of his du-
ties. He proved to be thorough
sailor, and for the first few days was
very popular with his companions, and
Captain Japp congratulated himself in
having gained a valuable acquisition to
his crew. When Brown first boarded
the ship he was one of the iolliest of
the crew. His work was done with
will, and he entered heartily into all
the simple sports with which the sailor
whiles away the weary hours when Of
duty.
"But about four days ago great
change passed over him. He became
moody and glum. He no more joined
the sailors in their meetings in the fore
castle. Something seemed to be con-
tinually wearing upon his mind. He
paced the deck excitedly, occasionally
muttering to himself, and his compan-
ions exchanged dubious glances as he
passed them. Many times he approach
ed the officers as if anxious TO speak to
them, but he would suddenly restrain
himself as with an effort, and return to
his solitary musings. He never ne
elected his work, but he did not enter
into it with that heartiness which had
characterized him when he first boarded
the ship. The sailors began to whisper
among themselves that something was
wrong with Lrown, and with the super
stitious fears of their class began grad
ually to avoid the stricken man.
"At length the crisis came. On Mon
day Captain Japp went ashore to clear
his ship at the Custom House, intend
ing to sail that afternoon. He had
scarcely left the ship when Brown ap-
preached the second mate and asked to
speak with him in the cabin. The Off
Ger was naturally surprised at this
strange request, but supposing that
Brown wanted to make known some
some grievance of the men he led the
way to the cabin, the sailor following
closely. AS soon as the door was shut
Brown began crying and groaning like
child. He seemed in perfect agony,
and amid broken sobs he told story
which fairly froze the blood of the
hardy old tar. He said he did not want
to 60 to sea, for he had made up his
mind that to elude justice longer was in
vain. He belonged to the gallows, and
the gallows must have him. Six years
ago he and two other men had killed
man in New York. Since then he had
escaped from the police and led wild,
criminal life. He related many ex-
ploits which he had performed in San
Francisco, and ended by imploring the
mate to deliver him over to justice, as
his burdened conscience was too much
for him to bear.
"To this terrible story the officer
listened in amazement. 1t was some
time before he could realize that he was
in the presence of self-accused MUIR
derer. Then the idea seized him that
Brown was mad. But sane or insane,
he had but one duty. He ordered the
unfortunate man in irons and reported
the facts to Captain Japp, who soon re-
turned with his clearance papers, jubi-
liant with the thought that the Coul-
nakyle would sail that night. The
captain Immediately returned to the
city and consulted with the British
Consul. That gentleman directed him
to inform the police, and refused him
the consular port discharge papers until
the case was fully investigated. The
police were notified, and Brown was
brought from the ship and taken to
Chief Crowley's room. Then Captain
Lees at once recognized him as burg
lar who had escaped from him fifteen
years ago, on board of one of the Pa
cific Mail steamers. All the afternoon
the prisoner was engaged in making his
confession, which was reduced to wri-
ting by Captain Lees. He tells very
straight story, but rs his statements
implicate men high in the esteem of the
public, it will not be published until
the facts are authenticated.
"Brown is a stout man, with a round
head, seemingly about forty years old.
He is quite intelligent and speaks fu..
emily, evincing no fear of the result OF
his terrible self-accusation.. The pupils
of his ewes are peculiar, covering near