Year: 1870

The Murder Of Benjamin Nathan


the wealthy Broker OF New York.


The following particulars are takei
from the New York papers:


! One of the most brutal cold-bloodeC
murders that has occurred IN this city
for long time past was perpetrated a
No. II West Twenty-third street, be
tween the hours OF half-past twelve
Thurday night and six o'clock Friday
morning, which is shrouded in deeper
mystery than the Rogers murder, the
victim being a well-known Broad street
broker, named Benjamin Nathan, a
brother-in-law of Judge CORDOBA


At twenty minutes past twelve Thurs
day night the murdered man repaired
TO his bedroom on the second floor
front, and nothing further was heard
from him until six o'clock Friday
morning, when one OF his sons, who
slept on the floor above his father, went
ipto his room to call him. and was hor-
nfied at beholding him, lying on the
door dead, his head being beaten in such
a manner as to be hardly recognizable,
while the floor and bedclothes, which
&ere besmeared with blood and brains,
! gave evidence that he had not parted
with his life in an easy manner, buthad
battled with his assailants until over
powered. On the floor near the muir
dered man lay a heavy dog, used hy
shipcarpenters, about fifteen inches in
length, with which his assailants had
pounded his head to jelly.


Upon a further investigation Of the
room it was discovered that the safe
had been blown open with powder, and
a set OF diamond studs and a gold
watch carried off, The watch was a
double cased stem winder, No. 142l,
made by ,Jurgenten.


For several days past gang OF gas
filters and plumbers have been engaged
around the house, and it is supposed
the assassins gained access TO the house
under the pretence of being employed
therein, and secreting himself, or them
selves, waited until the family had re-
tired, when they arose from their hid.
ing place and attacked Mr.. Nathan. 1t
is not known whether they blew the
safe open before they murdered him or
not


Adjoining the room occupied by Mr..
Nathan was that of one of the servants,
and on the third floor was that OF his
two sons-nonc OF who heard anything
Of the desperate struggle that deprived
the murdered man of his life and pro
perty. Mr.. Nathan, with portion OF
his family, had been spending the sum
mer at Elizabeth, y. j., and leaving
them Thursday afternoon, he came to
this city for the purpose OF Observing
the death of his father to-day, intend
ing to 90 to church Friday morning.
Upon the discovery of the murder, the
news spread like wildiire, and all the
morning the house, which is four
story brown front, has been beseiged 10y
the many friends of the murdered man,
wbe were anxious TO gain all the in
formation possiblein reference TO the
sad affair


As soon as Superintendent JOurlan
learned OF the murder he selected a
number Of his aids and proceeded to the
house, took possession, bidding the
police in charge not to admit any per
sons only members Of the family
and particularly cautioned the family
against giving any information To the
police.


No clue TO the perpetrators Of the
foul deed has a. vet been ascertained,
but the police are diligently at work
10 unravel the matter and arrest the
guilty party or parties but have not the
slightest encouragement from any per
son, AZ the whole affair is mystery
and known only to the perpetrators and
the murdered man.


At the Stock Exchange the news OF
Mr.. Nathan's death was received with
sadness by all who heard it, or were
acquainted with the unfortunate man.
AT special meeting reward Of So
WN was offered for the arrest Of the
murderer Mr.. Nathan was promi.
nent member of the Stock Exchange,
occupying temporary office with his
brother II. b. Mosen, in room IL, No.
3S Broad street, but has done no busi-
ness for several years past, being very
wealthy and in poor health.


There are several rumors afloat ~ to
the perpetrators Of the crime; one to
the effect that man was seen hy one
OF the boarders at the Fifth Ayanue
Hotel to leave the front door OF the
house nj five clock


Another is TO the effect two men
were seen to leave by the rear OF the
house at an early hour The house is
large four-story brown stone front,
situated directly opposite the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, and occupied exclusively
by Mr. Nathan and his family. The
safe was in the room adjoining the one
occupied by the murdered man, and it
is supposed he was awakened by the ex-
plosion Of the powder, and while on his
way to the room to ascertain the cause
of the unnatural noise was hit over the
head with the iron dog and knocked
senseless, after which he was an easy
victim.


Deputy Corner Beach held a post
mortem examination on the body of
Benjamin Nathan, and a Coroner 5
jury was empannelIed but the inquest
will not he proceeded with for a few
days vet.


No trace Of the assassin has been dis
covered