The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-18
MRS. BENZ. NATHAN'S DEATH
RECALLING 4 MURDER WHOSE MYSTERY
HAS NOT BEEN FdTHOMED.


A WON nm whose Ancestors were Conspicuous
Patriots In the Revolutionary War
Known and beloved for her Charities.
Jewish society was panied yesterday by
the announcement OF tho death OF Mrs. Emily
q. Nathan. the widow Of Benjamin Nathan. the
rich banker. She died on Thursday night at
her homo. 6S9 Fifth avenue. after abrief illness.
Mrs. Nathan belonged to the Hendricks family.
one OF the oldest and most respected Jewish
families in New York. She was greatly es-
teemed for her charities. which she frequently
extended outside Of her own faith. She was a
leading patron in the Hebrew Orphan Asylum
and the Mount Sinai Hospital. as well as several
other benevolent institutions. Her sympathies
were always stirred by tales OF suffering and
want.
Mrs. Nathan was related by blood or marriage
TO most OF the conspicuous Jewish families In
the city. Her father. Harmon Hendricks.
favored the patriots in the war for indo-
pendence and literally supported their cause
with his money and influence Her husbands
grand internal ancestor WAS also known for
her good deeds in tho Revolutionary period.
Mrs Nathans death recalls the tragic ending
which startled New York moro than eight years
ggo. ll' was found murdered in his bcdcham-
dcucr. at IL West Twen,y-ihird street. on the
morning Of July 20 1870; lie had come to the
NN
NJ Morristown. New Jersey. ~ commemorate by
appropriate religious cercm9nies the ami
ancestral usage that he Ind practised FOR more
than a third ot y century. Tho anniyersary
occurred on the 3o;h Of July. and Mr. Nathan
city homa at 10 o'clock in the evening. and at
ahout 12ii O'Clock his son Frederick came in.
ana going to hia bedroom asked: Has Wash
| thls cl i'r brotherl com" in 2
Mr.. Nathan answered In tho negative. and his
| son then pissed up ~ his own room. Between
AZ slft 1 ~
| entered the house, aud on his way up stairs tQ
his bedroom lookci into his fathers room and
| and hls two sons the other inmates Of the
| house on that night were Ann Kelly. the house,
story with Mr. Nathan. and hor son. Daniel
| kry whose room WIS ON the upper story.
| At O'Clock in tho morning Washington
| Nathan vent TO his fathers apartment to rouse
| him. and on opening the door discovered his
| dead body lying on the floor in pool Of blood
! His skull was crushed. aud his face und body
| terribly mangled. The room and the library
| which adlOined horc evidences Of n hard
! struggle The safe Wns ri1ed and there WAS every
! tlc crime. The Stock Exchange offered siO0 900
| and the Mayor added reward of $4,000 for
| tho detection OF the assassin or assussins
| There were many theories as to the murder.
| bat il has remained ono Of the mysteries ~ the
| metropolis. In his Efforts to fathom IL Police
| Superintendent Jourdan was SO worried that ho
| died in a short timo Hiterward An iron dog. q
| ARG Implement usnd py 4e.hAhlcs. was i09nd
| IN Mr.. Nathan room. and II was supposed TO
| have been the instrument with which his life
| was taken.
| Mr. Nathan was descendant Of an old Portu-
| guese family WAC n.d to this country 10 escape
| the terrors Of the lrfqusition. lie was related
| by marriage 10 cX-Judge Cardozo and tho late
| DIR. LYONS the rabbi Of the synagogue az Fifth
| avenue and Nineteenth street.
Mr.. and Mrs. Nathan were married whom
| very young. She was admired FOR her gon-
| Ito disposition IA well ms her beauty. The
| Intelligence OF her husbands tragic death
| reached her nt Morristown. where she was
| solournin. for the summer. and since th' =.
| she has led "A secluded life. never mingling
| with others than immediate members
| of her household. She contracted cold in the
| early part Of the winter. which developed into
| pneumonia two weeks ago. For n week pre-
| ViOus To- her dea.h she was confined To her room,
and only very intimate Relatives were admitted
60 see her.
Mrs Nathan was born IN February. 1915
| Eight rhildren-iorr sons and four daughters
| lived with hcr. The cll est is married. Her
! daughters are all married One Of them II tho
wife Of Julius Noln. the importer. Mrs. Nathan
| b.Ju"ath- fortune 20 her children.
The house IN which the Nathan tragedy oe-
| currrd has been reconstructed. and the lower
| stories are used by express companies. The
| upper stories are let Into apartments to bachc-
| lor-. The house was without tenout for years
| previous 20 its ulterut ON. IL Is directly oppo-
! site the Filh Avenue llo'nL
The body of Mrs. Nathan is to boa buried on
| sunday moruiu. ut 10 O'Clock from her lat"
! Residence. Tho lutermrut Will be in the family
! bury 4L plot. Cypress HiIa.