The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-07

day ne was taken from the ship Coulnakyle Irving
as he now calls himself. has been carefully guarded
| BY the detectives who are "working up, the case.
His story was considered sufficiently important to
warrant investigation. IT. he states, Irving was
| accessory to the murder Of Mr. Nathan (Which the
whole detective force OF New York has been unable
to expainl, his retention would be OF the utmost
| importance. But the question OF his sanity
was raised, and before proceeding further
| the oficers deemed 1t advisable to have the
self-accused examined by the Commissioners
TN Lunacy. Accordingly Irving was yesterday
brought before Drs. Stillman and Henry He acted
like demented person; but certain OF his tricks
led the medical gentlemen to think he might be
| playing part, and they subjected him to very
| rigid examination. Although his answers to the
| questions propounded were at first somewhat in
| coherent they became more connected as the ex-
animation progressed, and he told his story quite
plainly. He has the appearance Of sailor, and
was dressed like one. His face is clean shaved
and has nothing about 1t, good or bad, to attract
special attention. so as the eyes concerned
they are quiet and restlul, and there was nothing
in his manner that suggested insanity. When he
was first questioned he was not inclined to be very
communicative, but his reticence was nothing
more than might be expected in the case OF every
person similarly placed. His replies were more
monOsy Liable than incoherent, ana gave no evi-
dence that he was insane. Alter while he became
comparatively composed, and then In reply to
the examiners, he gave an explicit history OF his
crimes
For some time past he said ne had been residing
at Forest Hill in this State, and was once possessed
lost this money in gambling. His name Is not
Brown, but John T. Irving, and he is thirty-six
name Of John Thompson, but his real name could
be easily ascertained, for he has family in New
York city. living at No. 100 East Thrtleth street.
corner OF Madison avenue. His family consists OF
his wife and three children, and his mother lives
near them. At this point Of the examination DIR.
Stillman said TO him, 81 intend writing to your
wife, informing her OF your situation" This state
ment threw him into parOxysm OF grief, and ne
soDbed convulsively for some time. al am ruined,n
he exclaimed. When he had become more com
posed, and when asked In what respect he replied,
| ''My name.n After this he became more com
mun1catlve, and spoke not only intelligenty, but
| like person who had been fairly educated. He
denied that he had murdered any person, but con.
| of Benjamin Nathan, Of New York. Nathan, he
said, was murdered at the instgation OF nis son,
| and afraid that his father would dsilherit him.
The prisoner appeared quite familiar with Nathan's
When asked If It was his wish to have his mother.
who resides inNew York, informed as to his sltua-
tion he placed his hand over his heart and sobbed
violently, trembling at the same time. Phe eXami-
nation having been concluded, Irving was taken
back to the prison. The doctors declared that they
were not prepared to give any decision as to his
IRvING's STATEMENT.
In the evening one OF the CAL reporters visited
Irving in cell No. 2 and soon entered into CONVEX
.sWell, SIR" said Irving opening the conversation
| as the reporter entered the cell and announced
himself II glad to you" for it's very lonely
in here and it does one good to have some one
| come"
''This is nice little place all to YOURSELF" re-
| marked the reporter.
have come down here to see me about this matter.
| Now, ia like to know what they meant to-day by
taking me before the Lunacy commissioners.
don't look like crazy man, do lY'
81 can't say that you do, SAID the reporter.
'1t's funny, anyhow that should be examined
before those Commissioners, Tor amt any more
crazy than you are"
DIRECT ACCUSATION.
Nathan with having you oG
to put his father out oil the way Is that soP asked
eyes that is So" replied Irving
"What induced you to make the confession ?"
asked the reporter.
on the 18th OF last June and came here on the 18TH
or 10th OF the same month on the overland train,
to se ahe OF
there that had been engaged in q burglary in q
jewelry store in Brooklyn, \. Y, and told MIN
larry in cleveland, ohio. You see wanted to get
back to New York before said nything about this
Nathan matter. Matt telegraphed on to New York
and in short time ne got back an answer which
| said, There Is not enough to hold Irving for the
burglary Well thought that VAST, was strange as
and then was shot in the back OF the neck and
the ball passed through my back and came out
pital, where remained seventeen days. and then
was taken to the Kings County Jail and remained
know about this you can ask Captain Lees, for
when he was IN New York ne came over to pay me
broken os e ne
ANOTHER DODGE FOR FREE PASSAGE
Then thought I'd try another lay, so wrote to
Chief Crowley here about SIX months ago IN regard
to this burglary. and he sent back letter OF in
quiry in these words;-"Is he blk ~ That was
county, and worked for q while Then came back
to sacramento, going on loot most OF the time.
was n so nmned on hoard Of her
and came down here. When ! got here was
strapped, and thought to myself vs. don't know
'Have you been sailor ?" asked the reporter,
'No,' said Irving smiling II never was before
behind mast before got on this vessel, nor did
know one rope from another; but l thought ia
ship anyhow, SO l went into place on Pacific
street, and told the man there to ship me- and that
l wanted to go soon. In little while he came
English ship that would sail on the following day,
SO said, That suits me- and he took me round to
name as John Mason. BY the way wonder where ere
'Brown Il good ny name,' " remarked an OIL
Eyes Hs' SO is Mason.b answered Irving. "wen,
after got into the office / taken to the Eng
the ship There were half Dozen men there, and
he looked at them and did not like them, 80 he
came to me and asked II was seaman. i told
him was He then wanted to know II was an
able or an ordinary seaman. Told him an
able seaman. Then he wanted to know
| when l had been to sea. / told him that
| came here as an able seaman on the Davy
Crockett, captain Burgess, five years ago. knew
that that ship had been here at that time, for
was here myself just five years ago, this month.
He wanted to know what had been doing since.
! told him that since then had been on the Ger
mania, O coal vessel that runs to Bellingham Bay
| He then wanted to know how much wanted, and
| told him $50 advance and $25 a month. He said
| he could not pay that, but would take me as an
| what could do alter got on board. hesltated
| for time but finally concluded to go. was
| taken to shop, where they gave me an OUTFIT, and
said to myself, 81 guess this won't do for you, r.
| wing" and thought that something might happen
| by which might get my neck in the halter, so
| concluded to make clean breast OF the whole
| thing, and went and told the mate, who put me in
| irons went on board at O'Clock and was put in
irons hall an hour afterward and at O'Clock was
brought up here.