New-York tribune., 1877-08-04
PORTER'S STORY DIsCREDITFD.
wAIIING AND KELso DECLARE n UNWORTHY Oh
pElIEF.

wALIING AND KELso DECLARE r UNWORTHY OF
BELIEF.
AT least two criminals have come forward
each year for the last five or six and insisted that
they we're guilty Of the Nathan murder Tic lnycstga-
tion at the time by the superintendent Of Police.
John Jourdan. and subsequently by James j. Kelso,
was pretty thorough and complete. Assistance was
gwen in the investigation by Judge of tue
Supreme Court who relative OF the murdered man,
but 40 positive dehIe information could be reached.
boy named Kelly, who was found to be unatic, was
connected in way with the matter and was con-
signed to the Insane Asylum at Poughkeepsie. At
rious times in OF the prisons in all parts OF the
country various men confessed that they murdered
Nathan but nothing has ever been positively proved
against them. The story from Baltimore has moro
sembancc OF being correct than anything which has
lately furnished to the newspapers bat even this
has evidence indicating that II is Incorrect The inter.
views given below with persons IN the pursuit
Of the murderers of Nathan probably show what value
is 10 be attached to the story from Baltimore.
Superintendent Walng stated TO TRIBUNE reporter
that number Of years ago there was person IN TINS
city named James T. Porter, who IN some way con-
nected with the United States Secret Service Hc was
t., slim man. with slight monstache, and haunted the
Central Department and police stations " IL this Is the
same person the under arrest at balt-
more" said Superintendent Waliing. at only naakos
his story the improbable. H. was noted white
here fo ms petty swindng pr0pensies, ana obtained
money wherever II bic, under all Sorts Of false
pretences. think he IN NewYors at the time OF
tue Nathan murder, and hc knew about than
child unborn. He never mentioned or suspected,
probably has made up this story from his rceocc
lions OF tho circumstances o the crime Ot has nanniac-
tured il out the published accounts. His story LACKS
probability IN other respects He charges that john Ia
Vlug iOuCd with Forester aud Guuulou m the crime,
aui tirat i lid named Kelly aided Atiu. Now 1 know
tnat IrIls nad uothp, whatever To DO wiih tc Nalan
murder, and Am quite positive taat be knows nothing
IT, Whenever criminal . oroug; TO bay IA ttc
the Nathan murder. Or some other equally notorious
trans ortation to the East When Forester arrested
IN CaiforuIa. He told very plausible story about ms
know edge of the Nathan murder, and We Iad Ian
brought az great expense We famed % cyi-
dcnce to connect nm Wi'h t4e crime OF 10 secure any
Important clcw TO rs cflctftIofs Wac convinced tuat
Forester haf something 10 80 with n, n Be not "A
principal but the evidence ie short, aud We convicted
nm % another e.'"ie dhe sent hln 10 oihs eihS.
Nr Wauns slsD stated that Porter al ways yely
knowing .Slo" ana Nas ever ready |" volunteer III
skill, but In reality amounted % nothing A 10 his
serted knowledge 81 tAe Nathan nuracr r. Nalug cR-
ment. - published by telegraph, " all bosA."
James j. kcso laughed AT tc stasgnent Of Porter and
pronounced hunhug. lie stated tLat &c d.c not c
sire to ,aa tins siec he mad retired from pOuoe
duty, and had net been connected With tho ioroe Tor
many years. III b great shame" he said
that this matter has 10 be dragged before
enough by the tragic end OF their iataer. without having
the wounds opened aresD, whenever CRIMINAL se,ks
10 avoid Incarceration for lis crimes by promises Of
revealing The name OF ,the o.1nan's murderer No
IN criminal annals was better worked mp than The
skill whatever called from one
end VI The county 10 The other snd the iuyesti CATION
went far II possibly could. The elsS was operated
complete system, but from the nrst met with
numb -rless hiudrances. OF course / have my oyu
theory OF the crime how IL planned aud have sus.
pcions To who was the perpeirator, bat evidence
neibg lacking IL is not proper that should theLl
IL may be ascerainei some day who did 1t. bGt think
IL quite Improbable"
=" Perhaps some person ON his deatnbed may confess
the crime" suggested the reporter.
" That would amount to nothing" responded Mr.
Kelso as have no confidence whatever in such confes
sions OF crime. cham OF circumstances may Vet ba
woven around the criminal criminals guilty OF tina
atioeious murder, bat " sScins scarcely prVbaois-