Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-09-19

high as latitude 80 degrees north; or,
in very unfavorable cases, latitude Is
degrees north; SO that if an expedition
in that region should unfortunately be
beset with ice, it would, in all proba-
bility, get clear after a 10 degrees
drift.
NATHAN'S ASSASSINATION
A Bloody Shirt in tkc Hands OF a
Chicago DctccIiVe-The Plausi-
biIity of IrvinS's StOry-NeNV and
interesting Views.
Correspondence of The Y. N. Sun.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10.
Your correspondent yesterday met
Col. VIM. p. Wood, late Chief of the
Secret Service Division of the Treas
ury Department, who, while in that
position, was q terror to counterfeiters.
There is no man in America more in
timately acquainted with the mode of
life, the habits, the history, and the
peculiarities of the criminal classes than
he. That man is Bill Wood. But this
useful man is no longer in the employ
of the Government. lie refused to be
the tool of Ben Butler, Boutwell, and
others, and was forced to resign.
l had heard that Col. Wood knew
something about the Nathan murder,
or had theory as to who did the job,
and therefore l asked him if he had
noticed in the newspapers John L. Irv
ing's story.
IRVING KNOWS SOMETHING.
Col Wood-Yes, [ have. If he is
not crazy he is telling the truth.
Correspondent--I he was crazy
could he tell story that would SO
closely resemble the truth as to make
you partially believe in him?
Col Wood-Hc mrght in his sane
moments have heard some facts from
his associates concerning the murder
which lie relates in his rawlings. But
be he sane or crazy he knows some
thing about the job.
Corresponds nt-Had you anything
to do with the case?
Col. Wood-No; not directly. I was
consulted about it. l have my own
notions about it.
Correspondent-W consulted You?
Col. Wood-Well, i have no objec-
ton to tell you the story. Sam Felker,
Chicago detective who had done some
work for me and whom [ had taught
several things, came to me and told me
he thought he had a clue to the Nathan
murder He had found in New York,
in an uptown house where a certain
gang frequently congregated, bloody
shirt. He showed me the shirt and [
at once knew where it came from. 1t
was a Philadelphia shirt-a peculiar
make-what they call an old old-fash-
toned shirt; the collar and wristbands
attached-a peculiar cut and make.
1n try
makes and sells that kind of shirt
1t was extra large, and required n big
man to fill it. The bosom was splat-
tered with blood. [ saw at once how
that had been done. The man who
man Nathan while his pals were crack
ing the safe. The noise startled the
old man, and he started up, when the
fellow who was watching him put the
crank on him-that is, he threw his
left arm around the old man neck and
attempted to smother his cries, but the
old mans struggle making good deal
of noise, one of the fellows at the safe
ran in and dealt the old man deadly
blow with tho dog, which fixed him,
and splattered his blood on the shirt
of the man who held him. That is the
way the killing was done, certain. l
Am just as positive about it us if l saw
the whole thing with my own eyes.
THE SHIRT GIVEN TO JUDGE CARDOZo.
CCrrespondent-W this shirt found
shortly after the murder?
Col. Wood-Not long after.
Correspondent became of it ?
What was done with it !?
Col. Wood-The shirt was taken to
Judge Cardozo, but before it was given
into his possession / cut triangular
piece out of it that might always be
able to identify it. That piece l have
yet. Sam Felker wanted me to take
hold and work the job mp, but | de-
clined. I had my hands full of other
things, and thought also there was
no great anxiety on the part of some
people to have the mystery solved by
the capture and conviction of the muir.
derers.
Correspondent-Do you believe II
wings party did the job?
Col Wood do.
Correspondent-Do you know r.
ving-his antecedents and his gang?
Col. Wood know all about them
He has named some of the men who
were concerned in the murder. Dan
Kelley was one. I don't know whethe
Irving himself participated in the
job, but it is certain that he knows
about it-who did it and
how it was done. I have no doubt he
will be able to produce the memoran-
dunn book, and perhaps some of the |
swag.
Correspondent-But what became of
that bloody shirt? Has CardozO got |
it yet?
Col. Wood-No Sam Felker has it.
Sam was compelled to throw it up. |
He couldn't handle it. There were
men to deal with thai were too much
for him.
CorrespOndent-Do you think Billy |
Forester had anything to do with the
murder?
Col. Wood-When they had him in
New York they could not find suffi-
cient evidence to hold him.
Correspondent may or may
not be true but 1 want your opinion
Col. WoOd-I am not in the habit
Of giving my opinion to NJ wspaper
men or of having anything to co with
such roosters but I will tell !yot
something. When Forester was ar
rested in Washington and taken to
New York, his bagga sc was checked to
Barney Aaron. Just before that there
was an
ATTEMPT TO CRACK BANK
in jersey City, and Diego Frank was
Dne of the parties. They were all
caught, and Diego Franks lawyer was
paid by Barney Aaron.
Correspondent-Do you mean Bar
he,
Col. Wood do. He is thief by !