Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-08-06

WASHINGTON NATHAN ACCUSED OF IN
srIGATlNG MS FATHER's DEATn.

WASHINGTON NATHAN ACCUSED OF IN
srIGATlNG his FATHERS DEATH.
The investigation by the assembly COM
mtlee on crime in New York, Friday, de-
veloped a new story Of the noted Nathan
murder. Sidney II. Conkln, an ex-police
officer, testified that he was detailed TO
work up the case of the robbery of a Mr..
Lords house. He arrested the supposed
burglar, who was identified by servant.
In his valise was linen buster, on the
shoulder and back of which were the i'm
print in blood Of mans hand, with the
middle finger missing, On the way 10 the
police court, the prisoner said, "That dus-
ter will hang me-" Justice McQuade re-
manded him TO the station, where Conklin
threw upon the table paper in which was
a picture of Washington Nathan, calling
for help at the front door of his house, the
morning after his father was murdered.
The prisoner looked at it, and said it was a
shame that poor man must suffer for a
rich mans crime. BY Capt. Davis's order
Conklin took the prisoner TO the central
office. He gave the name of Michael Ryan.
Conklin told Capt. Kelso not TO show him
the duster, as it might furnish clue to adj
ditional evidence. Kelso replied that lie
was captain of that Office. He showed the
duster TO Ryan, who said he never saw it
before. Ryan's picture was then taken,
aud he was sent back to the station. On
advice of Justice McQuade, ConElin called
on Washington Nathan, who said that he
knew nothing about the buster, and didn't
want TO know anything about ii; that no.
body on the police force was smart enough
TO discover his fathers murderer. l told
him, said the witness, that Ryan had
loose tongue, aud might say loo much If he
began TO talk. He told me 10 keep the
case from the public, and 10 see him again.
Witness then called on Frederick Nathan
in Morristown. He was surprised to hear
what his brother had said, and asked
whether Washington had said anything
about John Ryan who worked for Mr..
Chapman in Pennsylvania. Soon after,
| Superintendent JourdIn told witness 10
drop the case, and threatened TO break him
| if he did not. The case Mas dropped. Conk-
| lin further said that in a consultation at
the police central office, Washington Ma
than pointed TO Ryan and said TO an officer,
"RGmove that man, l don't want 10 see
him." Ryan also wished to have Nathan
removed. Conklin also said that Freder-
| lex Nathan thought he had seen the buster
worn by his own waiter.
To question by Mr.. Townsend, Conk-
lin replied that he me: Judge Cardoza in
Justice McQuade's court. Judge Cardoza
told him he had a very clear case, and ask
ed him how he accounted for the unsigned
check which was found in Nathan's desk
told him, said witness, that, in my opin-
ion, Washington Nathan had drawn the
check, and when his father refused TO sign
it Ryan dealt him a blow. The judge then
said if he was looking for the murderer he
would take me (Conklin). Ryan was iden-
tilted by an old lady and gentleman, who,
on the day before the murder, rode behind
Benjamin Nathan froM MorIistown to
New York, and by servant, as a man
who called at Nathan's house the night be-
fore the murder, and said his brother was
working for Nathan in Morristown.
After Conkin resigned from the police,
he learned from Chapman that Michael
Ryan had worked in his saw mill in Penn
sylvania, that he Went away aud soon after
Ryan's di appearance he missed one of the
iron dogs that he used in his mill. Conk-
lin said that Inspector Dilks assisted him
when he was at work on this case. He
said that on the day that Inspector Dilks
was shot at through a window, he received
a letter saying that if he did not drop the
case he would be "laid out" He could
not tell what had become OF Ryan.