The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-30
The Murderer of Nathan Declared
To BE Dead.
Ex-Chief Campbell on the History
of Irving.
His Career as an Incendiary
i'm jersey.
THE MYSTERY DARK AS EVER.

The strange story Of the Nathan murder comes
up once more TO public thought and discussion
with all its tragic interest as fearfuy enthralnng
Is ever. The least tri1e seems to be capable OF
stirring up this siumberng and dreadful mystery,
until it thrills and thrills again through the street
and Preside gossip OF the whole country. Little
doubt seems to prevail but that this wretched thief
Irving, who is now in the jail Of San Francisco,
knows, deep down in his SOUL that in the confession
which he has made he lies; but the eager discus
sion his statements have aroused only goes to show
how sensitive the public mind Is concerning TINS
most impenetrabe tragedy
In the columns that follow good deal OF new
and curious information will be found, but nothing
tangible showing by whom the murder was CON-
mitted The warm defence which the three gen.
tlemen whose names appear in the san Francisco
despatch enter on behalf OF MI. washington Ma
than is deserving OF attention. The singular cor
respondence between the Chief OF Police in San
Francisco and the CHEF of Police here is well
worth reading. 1t will be observed that Chief
Matses letter declining to take free gift of the
thief Irving from the Police Department
OF San Francisco is dated July II. Therein
he states that he is already aware OF the various
lodges Irving has been practising, and that his
latest-the pretence of knowing all about the
Nathan murder--is ruse to get free travelling
across the Continent and free board and lodging
here. "He knows nothing about the MURDER re-
marks Mr.. Matsell, and this, it would appear, IS
the universal belief
It Is over three years stree the terrible deed was
committed, and we seem to be no nearer solution
Of whom the murderer was than we were then. OF
course the acts OF the tragedy are fresh in every.
body's memory-how old Mr.. Nathan was found
tying on the door OF his dressing room one morn
Ing, his head beaten to Jelly by some rude blunt,
instrument = how the surroundings indi-
Gated that the old man declined to
yield his lie without an effort at self
preservation; how the awful news spread over the
city and stirred up the most profound feeling Of
anxious horror; how the housekeeper and her boy
were suspected and held under surveillance for
long time subsequently, and howthe restless current
Of suspicion n the public mind coded around the
sons Of the murdered man. All these things are as
of yesterday, deep seated and alive is the feeling
that pervades the peoples thoughts on this
strangely shrouded deed OF blood. The time, 1t Is
to be hoped, is near OF hand when some light viii
be let in upon the mystery, but If Masell's meas
urement of the man he correct there is little OF
truth to be expected from the pretended revela-
lions Of the thief Irving.
The Confession Laughed at at Police
Headquarters.
~ fOuCe deduQu1rIeTS tic rIduCisCO
despatch created no little merriment among the
''od hands,n and some of the new ones too, as
irvng's little game was well known TO them weeks
ago. His claim to relationship with the author Of
che sketch Bookn provoked hearty laugh from
snspector'Walling who knew the impostor twenty
years ago, when he used to while away the tedious
hours In the-to him-congenial occupation Of
Foboing neighboring dove cotes and hen roosts.
'Related to Washington Irvtng,r said the veteran
Inspector, 'Tguess ne Ia WHY, have known his
mother at least twenty-five years. She used TO
keep q boarding house at No. ZIG Third avenue.
md many is the time she has boosted
to me OF having been born In Scotland.
and reJsiced in the knowledge that her "auld NOM.
was true born Scotchman. As have said. Irving
began his career Of crime by appropriatina the
ncighbors' pigeons and fowls. AS he grew older he
TOOK KINDLY TO PoCKETPICKINe
and used 10 run with gang OF Bowsry car thieves
Az near as ] can remember he married in the
Eighteenth ward, some seventeen or eighteen
years ago. and his statement about having wife
and daughter, the latter fifteen years Of age, Is
about the only true thing he says. About nine
years ago he was arrested by Detective Lyons, OF
the Tenth ward, on charge OF burglary, for which
he got Eve or six years In Sing Sing. While
serving bis ume there he wrote a letter
70 the District Attorney, stating that be
could give ful information concerning the