New-York tribune., 1888-03-25
THE NATHAN MURDER.
THE TRUE STORY TOLD AT LAST.

The friends Of tho late John Jourdan, ex-suporin-
tendent OF Police, exceedingly indignant ct some
of the statements made in exsupcrintendent wallings
book of Recollections' without charging It d.
rcctly Mr. wallIng males the broad nsinuation that
Jourdan had a guilty knowledge of the Nathan muir
der and that his DEATH which occurred few months
after that fearful crmo was committed. was caused
ty mental excitement and nervousness He gives
long Of the murder and of the subssQuent un'
successful efforts to hunt down AMI punish is per
peraors and concludes by leaving grave DOUBTS upon
the name OF WASH Nathan and by declaring that
the murder remains tho greatest mystery Of tho ago.
This Is all very extraordinary to come from Supenn'
tendent waling II is true that the public goncr'
ally does not know who murdered Benjamin Nathan,
and doubt II the facts shall relate, which have
never been in print before, are known to more than
q round dozen of mon In New-York but certainly
supposed that Superintendent walng was ono Of tho
dozen. The fact that he isn't simply shows how
zealousy that sstutc detective. Inspector Byrnes,
keeps his own counsel
The Nathan murder occurred In July, 1870. few
weeks before George Ellis, burglar, was arrested
by Sergeant McCullagh now the captain OF the sixth
Precinct McCullagh was a great favorte OF Cornmo-
dore Vanderbilt and had especial charge OF tho Grand
Central Depot. lie charged Ellis with some sort OF
petty burglary. At this time Ellis under SEN
tence In Pennsylvania for twenty years He bad es-
capped, and when McCuliagh captured him requiston
papers got out for bis return to that State and
officers sent here to arrest him and take him
there In case he acquitted Of the charge pending
IL deemed best by his counsel to let him take tho
shorter sentence and accordingly he was hustled of
to Sing Sing. where he was in confinement whom tho
Nathan murder was accomplished
Three days after the murder he wrote letter to
Jourdan stating that he knew who had committed tho
crime, and declaring that to show he know he could
pick out the dog" with which Nathan was struck.
Judge cardozo was brother-inlaw Of the murdered
man and Jourdan took the lcttcr to him. Ho issued
a requisition for Ellis and the convict brought
down from Sing Sing lie promised to pick out tho
dog" and to tell all he knew II Jourdan would use
his influence to for the burglar pardon. Jour
dan promised Then he collected about hfty " dogs
new old, bloodstaned and battered and among them
he placed the iron bar, besmeacd with blood, which
found by Fred Nathan the morning after the mur
der at the front door of his fathers house Ellis
gave a glance at the array before him and laid bis
finger on that Identical "dog." "This Is the one,'
he said
Then he told his tale He said that Billy For
roster, "Johnny" Irving and himself had arranged
Kelly tho OF tho housekeeper. to let them into
the house. Elliss arrest by Sergeant McCullaSh had
prevented his participation In tho Job but Of course
Forester and Irving had gone on with 1t. Jourdan
made desperate efforts to capture these rascals, but
neither of them could be found high or low. Tho
and worry undoubtedly did much to hasten the end
He died before either was caught.
Finally Irving heard Of n California, whence he
sent o called confession. But Irving was not
the murderer, and bis confession simply served he
meant that II should, to protect him, wblo It imp-
Gated no one else Nearly two years after tho crime
Forester was found In Florida 1t is singular that In
his account of the affair Mr Wsling makes no men.
ton whatever Of Forester. He was brought on to
New-York At that time he was wearing mustacbo
and goatee. The only evidence against him was that
Of an honest, sincere servant girl who saw him como
out of the house carly the morning Nathan's body
was found Forester put among a crowd Of men,
and she was asked TO Identify tho one she saw.
Il should say" she replied. that that was tho
man. But cannot swear to II, for the man saw
had beard at ALL
The Identification being incomplete, he was allowed
to and promptly taken Joliet Prison, whcro
he was wanted TO servo unexpired sentence, and
where, think, he died 1t is known, however, that
he confessed his guilt to his counsel. and Of the
Nathans suspect "Washs These facts are all In the
possession Of Inspector Byrnes, to whom they de<
ccnded as legacy, and one would suppose that Mr.
Walling could not be ignorant OF them.