The New York herald., 1874-07-11
THE NATHAN SHIRT.
More About the Mystery-The Matte
Yet Unsettled - Detectives on tn

More About the Mystery-The Matter
Yet Unsettled - Detectives on the
Trail.
The mystery connected with the bloody shirt
discovered at the Nathan mansion so recently was
not explained TO the satisfaction OF the police or
the public yesterday, some OF the newspapers 10
the contrary Notwithstanding. There were any
number of individuals who volunteered their
opinions as to its IDENTITY; but, with solitary ex-
ception, there was not one who came forward ana
said OF his own personal knowledge that the mys-
terous garment-as II has certainly proved itseiI
to be-was the particular one worn by the de-
ceased Nathan the night Of his assassination.
Strangely it seems that just at this particular
time when a correct revelation Of the mystery IS
so much desired by all parties, the very persons
who are supposed to possess that information are
absent from the city. No matter what may be the
final result OF the investigation which mas been
instituted by the police authorities to discover the
identity OF the shirt and the part 1t bore in con-
nection with the
MURDER OF MR.. NATHAN,
and no matter how disposed individuals may be TO
sneer at the possibility OF clew being obtained in
connection Herewith, one thing is assured, the
police are still in doubt, and are making vigorous
efforts to obtain the truth and to solve Whatever
mystery there may remain yet unsolved to the
satisfaction of everybody. At Police Headquar-
rers yesterday many called out OF curiosity to see
the article, and among the number was son OF
the murdered Mr.. Nathan,
MR. HARMON NATHAN
who saw Superintendent Malsel, and during q
brief interview, informed that official OF what
knowledge he possessed with regard TO the gar
ment. Mr.. Nathan's story is briefly told. He said
that the reports published in the newspapers had
attracted his attention and that OF his connec-
(havlng been sojOurnlng for time IN the country
and to dlspel some doubts that seemed to exist
very generally with regard to the shirt IN ques-
tion. He went to explain that AT the IN
quest The Coroner had ordered the shirt to
be removed from his fathers person; 1t was
afterwards thrown under an iron safe in his
fathers room, where it remained untouched until
recently. When asked when he saw the SHIRT last
Mr.. Nathan said 1t must have been about year
ago, and he supposed II was removed subsequently
and thrown into the closet where 1t was discov-
ered Mr. Nathan also Identified the handwriting
on the shirt as thai OF MS mothers.
The police have as yet been unable TO trace the
place. % Mr.. Nathan's statement that Il Was under
the iron safe Is one story. ana there are several
other stories afoat as to where the garment was
hidden. The latest story Is that several weeks ago
some workmen found II secreted behind the dumb
waiter on the premises and then threw 1T into the
before the Courts, failed to make known their dis
covery. Ex-Coroner Rollins has informed the
was shirt on the body Of the murdered man, put
does not remember its having been thrown away.
DR.. Beach, who was prominently idenufed with
the inquest and Levi ]. Isaacs, the undertaken,
who are the only two men, IT Is surmised, who
can positively testify as to the existence
of the Identical shirt and explain whether
it was taken on Mr.. Nathan's body after death or
not are still out OF the city, and II Is not known
Gated py letter to one or both or the parties.
The story OF Mr.. Nathan mas by no means disposed
OF the necessity of the investigation, with view
OF tracing the history OF the SHIRT II there is any
secret to be unravelled or clew 10 be obtained
Just now the detectives are bent on finding 1t out.
Headquarters, Captain Irving, with detectives Far
ley, sampson ana Bennett, paid a visit to the
NATHAN MANSION
and thoroughly inspected the premises. They
passed through and viewed the stable or barn
where the bloody shirt was picked up last Wednes-
day, and freely discussed past circumstances and
old theories connected with the crime. There was
thing, at least, upon which all the detectives
were agreed, and that was, how in the name of
common sense the shirt or the murdered Mr..
Nathan II II his co ud have lam on the premises
for Years and no one find it. None OF them seemed
to have distinct recollection that the shirt now
held at Police Headquarters was the same as worn
by the deceased Mr.: Nathan, and yet they could
not say It was not. Detectives Farley and Bennett
both declared they had searched the mansion, the
premises-everyLning and everywnere-ior weeks
after the murder and did not come across this shirt.
Some one present suggested that the shirt in
question was the one worn Dy Mr. Nathan's assas-
SIN, and that It must have been secreted on the
premises after the murder, and that the murderer
! effected his escape by the bacK entrance The
theory that the murderer entered and made his
exit by the back way was accepted by Detectives
Irving, Farley and Sampson but Detective Bennett
took different view He tried to demons trate to
the satisfaction OF his associates that the mur.
front on Twenty-thi street. and made his escape
the same way. He pointed out mark on the
! wall which he SAID was an Impression made by the
! foot OF
THE MURDERER.
The detectives stopped some time on the premises,
but went away without feeling satisfied one way
; or the other. AS Detective Farley remarked,
/ they are compelled to trace the history OF the
bloody shirt up to the night OF the murder, and
until then they will not feel satisfied. He had some
hopes, however signt that the garment might yet
anord a cew to the murderer Of Mr.. Nathan. In
the meantime the public as well as the police
await the return OF the parties who can satlsfac-
torily explain the identity of the shirt.
Mr. Maunsell b. Fields Explanation OF
the Bloody Shirt.
TO THE EDITORS OF THE EVENING POST
1t may he recollected by the public that wa;
foreman OF the jury called by Coroner Rollins fol
the inquest upon the body Of Mr.. Benjamin Nathan
When first saw the corpse on the 10th Of July
1870, it was clad IN a long nightgown which was
saturated with blood especially at the lower eX
tremity. Under this nightgown there was a fan
mel waist. Later in the afternoon OF the same day
which was the succeeding the night OF the
murder, saw the body IN ice coffin, and IT was
then divested OF all clothing.
Having occasion to visit the house at some time
during the ensuing September, found the bloody
nlghtgown rolled ~ bundle under the iron SAFE
in the ''onice,' or front nall room Of the secont
story In which Mr.. Nathan vas murdered. Ny at
tention was first called to 1t by the f9tid odo
which 1t emitted. 1t would have been a matter o
surprise TO me to md 1t there had 1t not been iol
the amazing carelessness Of the police about The
whole conduct OF the case. As Mr.. Frederick
Nathan's bloody shirt was permitted TO be sent Il
the wash 1t Is less sur rising that Mr.. Benjamin
Nathan's shirt was left upon the premises.
That this was the shirt found the other day il
the stable / entertain no doubt whatever. 0
course do not know, and 1t ID not very importan
to conjecture, who removed IL to where 1t was re
Gently discovered. MAUNSELL b. FIELD.
SECOND DIsTRIcI COURT, NEW YORK, July 10.