The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-03
ARMSTRONG's ASSASSINATION.


MURDER-HUNTER's INSURANCE ON ARM
sTRoNa's LHE.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 2. 1875
The long promised investigation in the Armstrou
murder took place this morning and was held II
the Common Pleas Court room. The room was crowde
10 its utmost capacity The Mayor, Chief o
Police, and nearly all the city officials wer
In attendance y. w. Davis. the man IRIS
arrested took the matter unconcernedly, leaning oil
the railing, glanc.ng around. making comments, an'
u times whispering to his counsel, while Deman
sat in of tho jury chairs. talking with r'end'
At nteen minutes past eleven Hunter brought in
and placed In the dock. Tho examination was con-
Quoted by District Attorney jenkins. assisted by
Mayor AyreG
The first witness called wns David Barton, an ex
pressman, who testified that he lives at No. 62s
Spruce street, Camden, n. j.; is an express
man In tho employ Of Adams Express Company; he
left Philadelphia shortly after TX O'Clock on Wednes
day evening" January 23 In tho ferryboat; he do
Itvcred some goods at No. SIC Vino street, after stop
ping NJ the ONCE for fifteen or twenty minutes and
inence No. 81 Berks street; left an empty case;
stayed minutes there and went 10 MT husseiPs NO.
SIG Vine street; left box and WIS herh niteen or
twenty minutes IL was cloudy, c7ld night; saw two
men going toward Sixth street at the tme they were
near Russels. some cellars tn ut were aug out
saw no Other persons went uto Russcll's house for
fifteen or twanty minutes and then out aud went
around To other places; saw Jour men carrying IN
man at ne drug store Filth and Elm streets; It was
about seven O'Clock, as witness could Judge.
Crossexamined-Did not soc Hunter there; would
iot the Two nor describe their appearance;
hey were the samesside OF tho street, and were
men oil about my size tive feet ten inches) and
ptouter did not notice their clothing; was alone with
tho wagon aud had no other person IN II; came
over IRON Philadelphia without any company
not nearer than seven or ten houses to the two
men; the cellars near whore they were are toward
Sixth street, on Vine street, started from No. 10 Mar.
ket street to go over 10 Camden
Tho second witness was boy named Charles
Tucker, aged fifteen years, living ut NO. Oh vine
street. He testified that be goes to Mrs Davis school,
and on the evening OF the assault was down IN the
cellar fixing wise with his brother and IRON thence
went TO the water closet and heard some one on Fifth
street calling "drunken mani" or something, but
could not tell; Lew, my brother. said there was
noise OF Ratchet thrown near tho cellar window,
ana AZ eight O'Clock went around to the store and
beard of the assault Tor the first time; the noise was
heard alter supper; hoard NO 'scufng outside, but
witness was making noise himself at the lime
THE Posr-MoRTEM.
DR.. Ii. G. Chapman, OF Philadelphia, testified TO his
examination OF the body OF Armstrong NJ his res
dence. North Seventeenth street, this city. He gave
exact anatomical description OF the location OF the
wounds and thor extent, and the probable manner in
which the deceased came to his untimely ond. tie
dweft strongly upon tho fact mat the wounds must
have been inflicted In eapd SUCCESSION for the skull
was completely mashed aud there were no marks ON
the body 10 indicate struggle, ana no aorasions on
the hands as II from falling
BODY.
John W. Julien testified that he lives at No. sos
Vine street, with Mr.. Fidell, and found the body
lying on the pavement on the evening OF January
%; went up TO the body and found u that OF a
man, breathing heavily; went in and got Mr. Fidell,
who came out and helped 10 carry the body TO drug
store; an express wagon was near the spot; The
Ratchet was picked up, ana afterward MI Fidell
pickcd up the hammer
Cross-examined-It was about quarter TO seven
O'Clock when the body was found II was about tive
or ten minutes when We reached the drug
store; Mr. BraddocI, who was attending the store,
pulled out his watch said, at is i've or ten min
utes 10 seven ~ can't recoect exactly which; was
breathing heavily and could not speak; Mr. Fidell,
Mr. Boxer and myself carried tho wounded man
around; blood dropped all the way from the place
was found TO tho drugstore
Charles Fide testified that he recollects the
ing of the assault, and shortly before seven O'Clock
found tho body on the pavement and the
press wagon, and thought mat the body might have
beon thrown from The wagon: when Inc body was
taken the drug store he called the attention OF Mr.
Braddock 10 the time. at the same time saying lit
may be OF importance TO know tho time" ana Mr..
Braddock looked at his watch aud said 1t was ten
inmates 10 SEVEN
Cross.examined-Took supper that evening after
six O'Clock; called druggists attention TO the time;
took about three minutes carry the body IRON the
place where found 10 the drug Store found no one IN
wagon was gone when got back from the dru store
THE NOTE TO MRS ARMSTRONG.
Stephen W. Carey, living at No 1,sl7 Twelfth
vtree testified that he the sealed and
liverod 1t AZ the residence OF Armstrong.
Cross-examined-Saw Armstrong botween ten and
twelve O'Clock that morning; Armstrong, Hunter,
Armstrong; son, and myself were present the time
Armstrong was IN the Office when Hunter came IN;
Hunter SAID You 20 there at seven O'Clock and
was written; saw Armstrong last a lew minutes
alter SIX O'Clock that evening and witness lett Arm
strong nj the mead OF the stairs; heard OF sale of
goods OF Philip Armstrong brother OF the deceased
which was to have como of on Thursday morning.
Re-examined-Am acquainted with MIR. Arm
strong's writing, and tho note there shown Is In his
handwriting.
THE SONS TESTIMONY.
Frank Armstrong, a son oil the IN rdered man, tcs-
siBed that the day which the assault was made
he had several conversations with his father.
Al ihis point counsel Tor the accused (Mr. Hunter)
N m tha An tn
between himself and his father in tho absence of the
accused. Tho prosecuting attorney proposed TO show
by the evidence OF the son where the parties wore
going
Frank then proceeded to say that his father had
raid lat halfpast twelve 10 hapast oclock) that
Davis had bank account and that no anu Hunter
would 10 over to Camden; the note written ia tile
afternoon and gave TO Carey to carry TO witness
mother; on the evening OF the at Mr..
Joseph Savin's, Snyder avenue, having Como homc
with him; when fist heard OF the assault put on
coat and hat, went to Fourth and Reed streets,
saw mother, brother and other members OF the
family, and then ran TO Market street wharf, got
n cab and went over TO Camden; drove to
the drug store ~ Fifth aud Elm street. aud got homo
about quarter to one O'Clock, accompanied by DR..
Howard OF Camden; sent for Dr. Thomas Thir-
teenth and Arch streets; saw Mr. Hunter few MIN
utes alter five O'Clock Thursday morning, January
"a al his house, MI Hunter to door and let
me IN, and asked, 'what Is the mattery" l SAID,
'Come back and will tell you all :" went into The
dining room and told hun; he said IL was notso
that any engagement had been made to go
over to Camden; told Hunter that the man
bank had proved treacherous, and he said perha APPS
so, and then commenced to talk about business
tcrs mat hurt Witness feelings SAID not 10 say any,
Thing about certain papers no had Endorsed, as he
could stand IL; did not SEQ Mr.. Hunter again that
morning, but went TO Camden Friday and give
prosecuting attorney the note sent to the house.
Cross-examined-Am twenty years old February 10,
1878; Hunter, between nno and eleven O'Clock said
10 witness that II would not look well for nm nd wit
ness ather TO 60 out together father last ten
minutes TO six Hunter did not return after he lett
The morning,
THE POLICIES ARMsrRoSG's LIFE.
Mr.. ". H. Lambert one OF The agents OF the Mutual
Liie Insurance Company OF Now York, testified that
his Office Is ut the northwest corner OF Tenth and
Chestnut, and Is OF the firm OF Vanuxem. Bates &
Lambert; saw Mr. Hunter last in December, ut the
Office Of the company; he had called ut toe Office
Bsk questions in regard to insurance, and particu-
larry tho rate party forty foriyone years of
age stating that he had idea OF nsuring the lie OF
apariy, and mentioned $40 600 or $4,000 endowment
plan; next saw a gentleman lew DAYS ,afierward at
the Office who said no wished to be insured, and
mentioned Mr. Hunters name; the next day Mr.. Hun
ter called TO see If the matter had been completed,
and when informed that tho amount hac not been
named aud examinsuop made that was Necessary,