New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-03
The Nathan Murder.

The statement, recently made by Irving
the New York thief, at San Francisco, that
he was one of the party who murdered
Nathan, though discredited by the New
Workers, has reopened the unanswered cues
ton, who was the murderer. Dr. j. C.
johnson, No. 81 Henry street, Brooklyn,
comes forward with the following remark
able story:
On the morning of the Nathan murder a
man drove in coach to my house. He was
q professional gambler, but had begun to
associate with professional thieves, with
whom he was a great tavorite. On enter
ing my office he asked for my services, say
ing on my examining a scalp wound "Oh,
Doc, got this on lark. One of the boys
struck me-" After l had dressed the wound
he drove away. Between two and three
o'clock in the morning few days later ne
again called. Iexpostulated with him on
awakening me at such an early hour. He
replied: doctor, what neeG you care when
you are paidl" He desired me to again dress
the wound. When about to 90 he threw down
q one hundred dollar note on the table. |
took it up and said: II have no change
"Who asked you for change? When
want change | will ask you for it.' That
=. was the last / saw Of him until November
Is, 1871. was asked to visit patient,
but was not told who he was. When /
reached the house indicated | recognized
the person as the one whose head | had
dressed and who had given me the 500
note. He was in bed sutferingtfrom intiam-
alton of the lungs.
When he saw me he said: Doctor ]
amt got much money now, but if you will
get me out of this will pay you"
On one of my visits l was requested to
stop all night. did SO; and that night,
while talking to me, he said doc, do you
remember the day called On you to have
a wound dressed Well, had been en-
gagged in burglary"-and then turning to
his wife he said: Isis, give the d2ctor my
headache stick She drew from under
meath the bed a large bludgeon, saying as
she handed it to me, This is curling iron.
My husband wanted me to look gay, dress
fashionably, and wear curls. He got this
iron made for me. You see" she said, as /
looked at it, that it is little rusty |
looked at what seemed to be rust, and
found it to be human blood and hair.
When questioned him about the wound
/ had dressed ne said, II would not have
got it if my pals had not gone back on me,
and bad been paying attention to their
business. We were busy. | was at the
safe when got blow on the head with
chair, which nearly knocked me senseless
We had to defend ourselves and follow
it up
felt that he was the principal in the
murder, which was then the topic WITH all
people. While he was speaking concerning
his funeral. which he desired TO be accord |
ing to the Masonic ritual, as he said that he |
was member of lodge in England. l |
asked him if he had any friends. Yes |
he replied, II have some in New Orleans. ] |
to them, but l suppose THAT |
thew were afraid to send a reulyr
The fellow was in want and dying. In a |
second conversation | asked him to make a |
confession, "for,' said /, II know that you
have valuable information which should be
made known, that you are dying" He !
looked at me sternly, and said: Doctor it
is We'll for you that am dying"
On my telling him that Philip Farley was
coming over to see him, he seemed greatly |
and said: Let him come; he will
get no information from me-
You remember when Forester was ar
rested that girl said that she saw man
strike something against the iron fence.
exbibting the bludgeonl, and
she person who had it up his coat sleeve
las gone before his God. He died about
he first week in December. Before he |
,asped his last he said: II never intended
% take life, because when life was taken
he whole community was aroused, obut
shen only property was taken few only
bought of it,"
The doctor refused to disclose the name
# his patient. He resided in New York,
tut had moved to Brooklyn few months
revious to Nathans murder. He lived in
,ood style. He and his wife were of re-
pectable families He him self was a fine
ooking man, well proporuoned and hand
ONE.