New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-08-11
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST H. 1875
The Nathan Murder.

Tho Nathan Murder.
In the course OF the investigation Of the
legislative committee into the conduct Of
the Metropolitan Police of New York i,
stumbled on a witness that has again
stirred up all the unknown things of the
Nathan murder of July %, ls7e Since the
Saturday morning when the mangled re.
mains Of the wealthy, kind hearted and
unfortunate old man we're found on the
floor Of his room among the disordered
furniture, torn and scattered papers and
the terrible ''dOg" that did the deed, all
clotted with his blood, no certain clue to
the identity Of his assassin has been dis
! covered. Three !unatics OF designing 2
scoundrels have pretended to have con-
fessed tha: they did the work, but all their
stories conflict in some way with known
facts. The last Of these three was Suwar-
| row Bitzki, who, on August l9, 1874. stated
! ho had committed the murder. and among
other things that he had played at St
Petersburg with John Wilkes Boo.h in
1863, three years after his death by Boston
Corbett's bullet. He said that Booth had
escaped death by fleeing to Europe as .
negro bootblack with JEFF Davis.
The committee found Sydney II. Conklin,
an ex policeman. had startling story to
tell. August %, 1870, hs arrested . sup
posed burglar named Michael Ryan. who
had with him valise containing tools aud
a duster that didn't fit him with the mark
OF bloody hand on it. the second finger
missing. On the examination of RYAN
Conk!in got severely snubbed by Super.
intendant Kelso, Chief Jordan and Captain
Davis. Then COnklin got Nathan murder
on the brain and developed theory that
Washington Nathan had tried Ry an to kill
his father because he wouldn't sigp q $500
check. This brought him in contact with
Judge McQusde and Judge Csvdozc, who
treated him worse than his superiors. Then
he saw Washington aad Frederick Nathan,
tho later giving him the encouragement by
thanking God there was lone man on the
New York police who wants to do his
duty" This Conklin took to mean himself,
and as he was ordered back to his beat, did
his duty till he was dismissed four years
later, and then, like Tilton. cleansed the
stuffed bosom of tha. perilous stuff that
weighed so upon his heart.
The Herald thereupon interviews every
body. Frederick Nathan pronounces the
story fabricat ton, and that he never had
any dealings with Conklin. and that the
papers could publish what they chose.
Especially he said the insinuation against
his brother were untrue.
Inspector Dilkes, whom Conklin said he
Sal shot at because he wouldn't "bluff',
him, said Conklin wasn't there, and put no
faith in the story.
Sergeant Delamarter fecollected all about
Ryan. and that he was discharged On leav-
ing his photograph, when it was shown he
had no connection with any burglary. He |
had never heard Of his being connected !
with tho Nathan murder.
Superintendent Wallipg did not think |
much Of Conklin's statement. but allowed /
it to be ''evidence," though he would not
arrest . dog on it. He believed in the |
honesty of Kelso and Jordan.
All this was published in the New York |
Herald Of July 81, and the next Saturday |
The Chicago Times printed long interview !
with Billy Forester at Joliet. He enters !
into the old detail of his life from two |
months before the murder to the time Of !
his arrest. OF course he had nothing to do |
with it, being in New Orleans as the time.
Then Judge Bowling receives few hard |
names for discharging him after he said he |
knew he was the murderer, and after him
Kelso. Jordan. Cardozo. McCord and others. I
This is Forrester's opinion about the mur- I
lerer:
Forrester-l can only give you my theory,
and think it has been upheld by the logic
If events. Do you know anything about
thieves, or ''guns," 40 we call them. and
their waysl
Reporter-Not very much, but sufficient
% understand your explanations.
FOrrester-Well, there are different
,lasses of them. Ono class comprises what
ire known as ''day workers." another class
What are called 'evening workers" aud the
bird class takes in the 'night workers, ".or
he heavy men Of the profession. The
evening worker" generally does his bus-
Tess when the community is at tea. Such
N one visited the Nathan mansion some six
weeks previous to the MURDER and gained |
ccess to the second story by means Of the
'olch. When he entered the room he ob
erved safe standing there, and at once
oncluded that that was NO place for his
lyle of work" He left Immediately, and
vent to we'll known 'putter-up Of ,bs,"
0 W hom he related what he had seen. That
Individual at once formed the opinion that, |
8 Nathan was very wealthy man, and as
pln A~t N%l.c e
heir own money rather than trust it to
ank vaults. the safe in question must con-
ain considerable amount in bonds, money
nd other valuable property. He selected
is "gang" to "blOW" it. but first he let two !
three prominent police officials in with
le Job" know from experience whereof
speak, because nothing of consequence |
IN be worked unless some Of the tirst-class |
coppers" "stand in" with it. A wet and
nd the result is well enough known now.
Reporter-Then you believe that there
70 men on the police force in New York
no can point to the murderer
FOrrester-l am as certain Of it as that l 9
and here this moment. Mind you, l do =
't say that they knew anything of the
urder prior to its occurrence, but they
ere I'm with the job to rob. and now they 6
n not give away their pals. Besides it
as not the first time they got their |
Vhack" frcm the same and other meo. =
He then proceeds to announce that he /
Is made efforts to obtain his pardon for I
Q commendable purpose of bringing l
lllty parties to vengeance, or justice, as i
calls it. Of the Conklin- -Rya an story he
VS.: o
l do not place much faith in it, There s
ver was first class thief of my acqnaint- 8
ce named Ryan, and if Conklin ia to be s.
l;.vo1 o. oil - !. h. r - w | Y