The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-13
PRICE TWO CENTS.
lIUNTER'STRIALF0R MURDER
MS LAWrER,s TRYING TO BREIK THR
JORCE or GR1H1M'S STORY.
Ex-secretnry Robeson's Fruitiess Effort to
Puzzle the Wtness-Picturing the Death
Blows for the Jury-rhe Humored Defence

IN-NeCrctnrv HObtsOns tuOrt 10
Puzzle the Wuness-PicturinR the Death
Blows for the Jury-rhe Humored Defence
CAMDEN, June 12.-The counsel who are
defending Benjamin Hunter from tho charge
OF numbering John NJ. Armstrong in Camden
last January. spont much Of the time at to-days
session Of the court in trying TO break the forco
OF the testimony Of the accomplice. Thomas
Graham. givon yesterday. That testimony it
corroborated. would send Benjamin Hunter to
the gaows. 1t showed how, long ago. he had
conceived the murder OF Armstrong: how he
had cautiously bribed Graham. O wcak-willed.
whskey-loving huckstcr. to consent 10
strike the blow: how he had planned
TO have Armstrong's dead body found
noar tho door Of ono Davis. n Camden man who
owed Armstrong money, and whose initial let
tors were stamped upon the hammer with which
Armstrong was killed. and which was found by
his side. 1t showed how Hunter led Armstrong
to his DEATH walking arm In arm with him upa
lonely street in Camden. and knowing that tha
hired assassin was steahily following behind;
and II showed how. on the given signal. Gra-
ham struck one blow with the hammer. and.
conscience smtten. when he heard the wounded
man say, God spare my life!" ran away leav-
ing Hunter to bend over his PROSTATE friend
and finish the murder.
Hunters counsel knew what tho effect OF
elOIJ anu HlS VI Nollnk "
had been upon tho vast throng in the court
room. To this throng it seemed like truth-toll-
ing. and there was danger that the jury's inn
preston might be the same.
Hunter himself asked for whiskoy last even-
Ing. for the first time since his confinement
Whether Graham's story was the result Of
conspiracy against Hunters life. which the
counsel for Hunter claim. or tho truth. Hunter
evidently knew that it had been told against
him. His face was sallow as he came into coud
this morning. but his manner was as self
restrained as ever. His counsel had determined
TO make another effort to extort from Graham
some inconsistent statement. That coolly-told
story Of the cOld-blooded murder thoy felt must
1s T. SyS ae wbHessSs baS Ssp own
lected to make the attempt, but he saw. when
Graham took the stand. that the chances were
against success, Tho young man showed no
moro sign Of trepidaton than Hunter. Mr..
liObeson does not bully a witness. His ques-
tons are put with the utmost courtesy. and he
awaits an answer as il about 10 receive favor.
But for all that, h. aims for the goal Of cross.
eNaminers- VeNution or excitement OF the wit.
ness; and consequent loss 10y the witness OF
prudcnc" and rccolicctiOn-hut ntter three hours
Of unt!ring work ~ this kind he succeeded only
once IN gciiing Graham angry,
Yesterday Gghum had tsstined that Hunter
gave him I've dpllars at one Ofthe early interviews
about the prQposcd murder oi Armstrong; TX.
Secretary kobeson suggested. after cautiously
hulzins around the point. that Graham might
have borrowed that five dollars of Hunter No
the money was a gift. Graham insisted. This
question, and another in relation to an applica-
ton by Graham to Hunter Tor work. were the
first shndowy hints Of the line tho defence pro.
pose To take 10 upset Graham's story. TheI
| Will try to prove consnlracy by Graham and
bulldog grip Counsellor Robeson held on to
this feebie;mlnded witness, but was able to
method Of attack known to cross-examinen
excepting bullying; he, was even familiar. but
had pluttcd and procured Armstrong; death.
Then Mr. kobcs9n wanted an exact iliustratiop
| Armstrong. aud he handed Graham tho
| hammer 10 picture il all out.
Graham soi2ed tho instrument In his right
hand and raised IT, Secretary Robeson standing
| close 10 MIN, with exposed forehead and EYED
| that looked over his gnld-bowed spectaclcs as II
awaiting the blow. There was nothing very
| graphic about il. Graham held the hammer
| Just ~ any one would who was about 10 strike
| blow; But as this was tho identical hammer
| that killed Armstrong and tho worry man who
| struck him the first blow, the picture was sug-
gestiyo, even 10 Counsellor kobeson. and the
! Iury thereby got a forclhle impression OF thai
| murdcrous meeting. What Mr.. Robeson's pur.
| pose was - lar n the defence Of Hunter wM
| Jury was not very clear to Prosecutor jenkins
| who looked at the pantomine with astonishment,
breaking down tic story Of Graham, like a
| skilled lawyer. eN-secrrtary loheson allowed
mono OF his disappointment t. show itscf on hs
| norld tnce. he even pnssed liitlc side Joke
| with Prosecutor jenkins; but as his show Oi
| lylllty was made very evident to cvery ono
| th'rn wore some who thought that 1t occurred
lust at that time in ord' 90 have eject upon the
| solemn booking Iurym a. as II TO show thciu
! that all that Grahum had said was Of very
Graham was a, length allowed to go and then
! Prosecutor jenkins began the work Of cor.
celebrating the confession. lie called New
| Jersey cnHrcua p"diier To- the stand. who told
noWE hg hnl Inund armstrong BlnE ON the slde;
! Jan. ~ Tine fur cap that Armstrong wore lay
| b side his wounded head. and under the cap
| there WIS a hltchot, th" same one now in the
court room. John Julicr. another witness told
ap9Ht mo sane sloiy thaL the charcoal
| that he had carried the wounded man
| tothc drug store. The cross examination which
S~uii7pisr noiutSon Iiauo M Id tn'sa w. Witnesses
Il goye anote int Of the line of the;lefenco
for he was laticular TO ask il tho blood was
murlcrrl for some time Lcioro he was found.
| aud he hinird of an cypress wagon that WAS
hovcripg in tho vicinity iut lituc encourage
the man was murdered elsowhcre ana carried
| To- that place. because both witnesses swore Int
| the b1ot Was not cong alci. aud Prosecutor
jenkins put tho driver of TIE mysterious rx-
press waEon on the stand after these two Wit
| neSses Quitrd II. THIS cNIrgseman. David Bar
ton. sad tint he NRs delivering bundles in the
street ehoui the tlmo Of tho murder.
Z. ..Ica llddrll testified that he found the
ha,nmer some Two OF tHrce ieet away from tho
Then Prosecutor ,nl,ins put pr Howell. the
phys, ,'gn who a,'nied Armstrong on tho
stand. The Doctor said that he found a wounds
cd man "a a drug store, 10 which he had been
fa,ri, ID" man WHs IN conalose state. and
had four wounds on the hnad two on the loft
temple, one on the top Of the head. and one IN
the bnck of IT, Tho tHmplr wounds were NOR
tai. lie further described how Armstrong was
removed 10 his home in Philadelphia. and said
that the removal did not weaken the wounded
unn.
This closcd tho testimony for the day and
Prosecutor Jenkins appeared greatly satisfied
W th tho prusr SIS maI". There romans for
him TO show Way Hunter conceived aud Carried
ont this plot nudto prove thetruth of Graham g
moro llupliiaut siut"nrnts al least Of SO many
of them thai AL must Dee beloved. Mr.. jenkins
Is his qwl general. ont, picket. and army.
lHrN d,Gdl .oi tho prunr utlOn Of Hunter hd
has prepare himself HIS only advising coun.
sci arc his books and his common sense
and, tgrri9r', he knows Just whht he IL
about. lie has hcard, too, oi many OF tho ci-
forts TINT Tho dcfcnco are making, and h0
knows that John e. Iiunter tho rich brother II
the accused man, IS spending money liko Wutor
10 save HIM from the gullpWS. The shndnwY
outlines oi a defence which is expected to bronx
down Grahqm's story were perceived in tho
trial yesterday,
Hunters old Aoduaintannos have como and
written 10 his counsel by the -'plr, asking 10
say word for him, Mon who haye known
him from boyhood. through all his busi-
ness life. say that mnp cannot turn
Of life. Tho prqSo,u'i4n viii be dcnod
TO show a spcck on Hunters good name brior0
this murder was 'lur-ei 10 i'm. His private