The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-15
AN ASSASSIN'S BOLD SCHEME.
FIRST SECURING HEdpY TNSUR iNCES
ON ms VTCTfM'S LIFE,


Thou Uiri-g IN Accomp,icc to Bent ont HI.
Erains-The Tcstimony OF Three Insur-
ance Officers Against Bcnianin Hunter.
CAMDEN, Juno ll.-This morning the mo
tive that led Benjamin Hunter to murder John
NJ Armstrong. tho Prosecutor attempted to
show by introducing tho insurance officials
from the different companies in which Arm
s,rong's life was insured. 1t is said that the
Armstrong murder has suggested to many in
suranco men the danger and temptation thcro
is to creditors to insure heavily the lives Of their
debtors. The story these insurance agents told
OF Hunters anxiety to get Armstrong; life in
sured. the heavy premiums he paid. and the
misrepresentation he made bore heavily against
the prisoner. There has been no portion OF the
I testimony that has seemed to 80 greatly affect
/ Hunter rs this. He looked at these business
men rs they took the stand. one after another.
| keeny and moved his person In n manner that
showed his intention of attracting their notice.
| Tho manager Of the Provi1cnt Life Company
| OF Philadelphia. porty gentleman with keen
eye and a smooth manner, said that Hunter had
| applied to his company for an insurance on the
| lifo OF Armstrong In December Of last year. and
had told such n plausible story that tho com.
! pnny was ready to take the risk Hunter had
said that he had been sucked deeper into bust
| ness relations with Armstrong than he Ind in
| tended to be, and that that was not the worst Of
| II. He had sunk 81, 900 In Armstrong; business
as special partner but feared he might be held
responsible for all Armstrong; debts in case lie
| failed. At all events. he thought he ought TO
protect himself in cnse Armstrong died. for his
| business would not bring In anything at clos
| ing ont of the estate. and So he would put tho
insurance on the life OF Armstrong aud pay the
| premiums. Hunter named $4,000 as the
| amount he thought ought to be placed on Arm
| strongs life, and the company then wrote
| the policy. II was nm endowment policy, ana II
| Armstrong and Hunter lived until Armstrong
| was 20. Hunter WAS to get the money. and he
was to get it before, II Armstrong died. The
"A ta To
". nj Hunters choice. He would not have 80
large an amount to pay as no would II h. pad
| and as Armstrong died within the quarter. that
payment held the policy. If It were not vtiated.
ton They assert that it would have been re-
| narkahle for a business man Ike Hunter 10
half yearly un less he had IN his mind. Mt the
| time he made the payment. the plan Of the muir
der all laid out. which included Armstrong;
| death within the first quarter
The witness spoke oi tho surprise that Arm
strong showed when H. found tnat Hunter had
dcsired policy of 10000 on hs life.
Why" were Armstrong; words. that II
altogether too much. Hunter doesn't need
Tho witness further said that (, WIS n matter
| OF such surprise TO him that the creditor Hul-
ter. had come: Voluntarily To- apply for policy
| on the life Of the debtor. that somo inquiries
were made about Hunter. Ii was found that he
was well connected and in good business re-
| murder. tn" witness said his company had no
| suspicion 81 Hunter. but made IN" usual In
| VIlTlfN hfLflIf DdNlIk tlf I0ltNN. lNHA l'y
found that HUNTER was under suspicion.
Councillor Thompson examined this witness
| with considerable acorhIty. AMI he got q iitilo
nearer the jury'-o that they might hear every
| one ~ his questions.
Didn't your company contribute toward this
| prosecution 2"
| Not II cent"
Didn't you promise ?"
Then Mr. Thompson looked very storm. and
said slowly. but with very meaning accent
Was there. not meoiing At which 5000
| WAS demanded "A revelation Of This murder -
| Here was the result Of some OF the detective
work Of The defence and they rely greatly on
panies We're going TO pny something to some
body who was in turn 10 throw the murder on
The witness was obliged 70 admit tina, the
company had received n letter ofaring 10 dis
| Close the story OF the murder for 1000.
Was not Ben Franklin. chief ~ Pnkcrton's
agency In Philadelphia. the detective who was
employed In the ma,ter?' asked Counsellor
= i" believe the Mutual Life Company Of New
Didn't the President OF your company sny
u your presence and in the presence OF one
Hodges that he was going 20 hang IIunter"
simply -nii that the President was present NJ
no interview that he know Of.
= Al agent Of n. Manlatien Life In-.-rnce
Hun'.g- app.i-aior - them in December last
| Tor policy on Armstron's life This agent
| said that he was most fayorahy impressed with
| Hunter during the business. and policy ~
$4,000 was readily written on Armstrong life
VIM. II. Lambert tho agent OF the Mutual Life
| ~ New York. said that Hunter came to HIM in
! December. and asked him FOR policy ON tho
life VI u debtor of his. John M-Arulstrong He
/ wanted $4,000. and. what was uuhsuM. asked
T. have the premiums PAID quarterly. saying
| that he should pay them himself Armstrong
was aceeutcd and Hunter paid the first pre-
,,copnsellor THOMPSON proposed to get from
Mr. Lambert all about those secret negotiations
with one II Plnkeron's detectives. and he tried
no suhtety ia getting the Information, but be-
Did You attend a meeting nj Detective
| Franklin's office in refcrenc" To- this mgtterf'
"Wen yes replied Mr.. Lambert. but there
| that offered 10 save the insurance companies
II the writer received 5000
:, mid you 60 into the companies p
but the company was not " the same opinion"
The District Attorney then asked what was
finally done in the matter. and. after OhJeO ti0n
10y the defence the witness was allowed to say
that 4 wa. dropped.
feet, " What. do you mean 10 say that the com
pany did aot continue TO employ detectives in
:" dom know Whether thoy did or not"
This ended the insurance testimony for the
time being, and counsel on both sides were a
little heated when II was oyer. Thcn Charles
! IOrillirr Armstrong; brother. took the stand
Mr.. Lorllller IS n very dramatic witness. His
language is only small part Of his testimony
lie lmpresses what he tays with his eyes. his
arms. body. and feet. He said that he went to
Hunters house on tho morning aiter the muir
with Mr.. Armstrong.
mo. did not Hunter replied and added
Oh. Mr. Loriicr, what burden that nun has
been 10 mel | wish had never known or seen
him., wasn't at Camden. can show where
wae.
Il told him" continued the witness. that no
couldn't do such a thing. just thon his wife
came in, and / spoke of the note ~ had sent
Armstrong. maSlng an appointment 10 20 TO
Camden with him."
on, papa. papa. Mrs. Hunter cried when
she heard this,
go It's lie. | was not with him Hunter sald.
and then added to his wife. see how 1t Is.
! Armstrong; wife was afraid to have him go 10
Camden alone, for she WINS afraid of Davis. So
he told her that | was going with him. That o
the way II was. ~
Mrs Even corrnh0rated some Of Graham =
statements about his meeting Hunter and then.
rs the prosecution could not produce a witness
they wanted. the case was adJoured until to-