National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-06-27

to appear MS q widow and obtain her legal
share OF the property. A part Of this theory
was that In the above mentioned marriage
Eckel personated Burdell. The ceremony
was performed at night, the parties having
called for that purpose on a Clergyman who
had never seen them before. Mrs. Cum
bingham was indicted and tried for the
crime, but the district attorney Oakley
HALL was SO occupied by politics that he
did not give the case proper attention, and
the result was acquittal. The publiV, how
ever believed the woman guilty, aud con
sidered Eckel an accessory. Another
theory was that Burdell, who frcquentod
gaming houses and other places OF bad re-
sort, had been followed homo by some
enemy and murdered as they both entered
the room. This idea, however, is highly
improbable, but whatever be the theories
the tragedy has taken its place among the
bloody mysteries Of this city, and Is one Of
those remarkable instances which refute the
old maxim that ''murder will out.n
Dr. Lutener who once was prominent
character In Broadway, was one day found
dead IN his oflice--the victim Of pistol
shot. The crime had been committed in
the forenoon, and, although the Broadway
crowd was then In motion, no one heard
the report. The murderer had passed
quietly out Of the office, and the tragedy
became one Of the New York mysteries
The penetration of the police failed to dis
cover even the beginning Of a clew, but IL is
supposed to have been the deed Of wo-
man. The doctor was noted for his amours,
and we all know how often such violations
Of morals end In bloodshed and death.
Another strange case was that of Corliss,
who was called to the door of the hotel
where he was stopped and shot dead. The
deed was done at night, and this, too, was
supposed to have been the deed of some
woman, who Immediately glided off and
was lost IN the darkness. New York also
has dark record of other murders whose
history is enshrouded In mystery. One Of
the strangest of these was the discovery of
several packages done up In strong brown
paper and securely tied with cord which
were floating In the river Being opened
they were found to contain portions Of a
corpse, which had been cut up in this man
ner In order to get rid of 1t. The victim
had no doubt been robbed and murdered in
some resort of vice, and the authors Of the
crime were never discovered.
The next scene In this dark record opens
In aristocTatlc circles. On the morning of
July 90, 1870, Benjamin Nathan was found
murdered in his own house. He was He
brew banker of large wealth and of an
unusual degree Of responsibility. His life
had been exemplary and he was a promi-
nent member Of Temple Emmanuel, the
richest and most aristocratic synagogue in
America He was widower with several
sous, one Of whom bore very bad reputa-
ton. The unfortunate man was killed by
blow on the skull, and the instrument Of
death was an iron "dog, " such as is used
by ship carpenters. The "dogn was found
ON the premises, but 1t afforded no clew.
Rewards were offered by the mayor, by the
family, and by the board of brokers (of
which the deceased was amember), amount
Ia. IN ali 30 lie
sum ever offered for the discovery OF n
murderer, but It failed of its object. Sew
eral arrests were made and In one instance
prisoner was brought from San Francisco,
but all were discharged The following
facts, however, are too important TO be
overlooked One of the murdered mans
sons was evidently fearful that he would
be dlsinherited for his dissipation. No will
was ever found and dead men
do not make make any. The death of the
old man gave each Of tho children very
large sum, Superintendent Of Police Jour
| dan went into office poor. The Nathan
tragedy occurred during his administration,
| and he died after few years of service,
| leaving an estate estimated at 100000
How natural the inquiry "Where did he
get ltr'
| II need hardly be said that crowds are at
| traeted to the spot which will long hold O
| painful distinction, The victim was buried
IRON an undertaker's shop-for the family
is too poor to obtain the use Of q church.
and, as they lived sup stairs,n they had nc
place for the service. The police have So
cured the druggists pestlo and knife Will
| which the deed was done, and, though
they have arrested the only man against
whom suspicion might be raised, they ad
nit that there is no real ground for holding
him, II Is simply because something of the