The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-18
Is BENJAMIN HUNTER TIE GUILTY NAN
A REM arkable Chain OF Circurn-
stantial Evidence.
THE CASE FOR THE DEFENCE.
sPuuAprLPziA, Feb. II, 1878.


beside the murdered mans body? Was It the work
OF another man. in q At of unfounded jeaIousy-tne
butcher Day. whose initials also f. W. D., and
near the house Of whose divorced wife the dead
man was foundP Or again, was the bloody deed COM
mitted by Benjamn huntef. the friend and business
partner Of Armstrong, who had assigned to him the
insurance policies the murdered mans ifef The
recital in brief the occurrences suggesting these
three widely different and distinct solutions OF the
mysterious crime was gwen In the HERALD OF the
LIST inst. the remarkable chain OF events that
seemed at first to lead to tho impica-
ton of Davis and Demaris; the discovery Of
second clew, which apparently limited at Day, aud,
finally the sudden accumulation OF q number OF ctr
eumstances that combined to point steadily and un-
mistaKsby toward Benjamin Hunter, have all been
alluded to In these columns. II remains only to tell
VI one or two important discoveries that have been
brought light within the past few days and state
'he present position of the Investigation
CONTRADICTORY cLEws.
Unfortunately, these discoveries do not solve the
mystery; they but deepen and complfcate it, and
only confirm the opinion heretofore expressed that
Armstrong murder is OF the most curious
Illustrations OF the contradictions OF circumstantia
and presum ptive evidence record One chain of in
cidents involve the two men first arrested 40
tightly that the public inclined to regard them
already convicted until the cold dispassonste inquiry
II the law showed the missing links, and Demaris
md DAVIS were released nominal bail, and the by
pothesis OF their guilt Abandoned for the present at
least The second clew has ended IN like result and
the accidental circumstances that affected Mr.. Day.
so the authorities say, that he has honorably
dismissed, without an iota of proof against him.
THE CASE AGAINST HUNTER.
Not 70 with Benjamin Hunter, the intimate and
business associate Of the murdered man. Ominous
OF suspicion is resting over him as he lies in tho
Camden Jail awaiting his trial. as the principal 10 the
are now based upon the following grounds, 10 sum
them up n CONDENSED iorm:-
He poss essed poo,es on Inc I'VE o. arm
taken out early in December last by Hunter himself
who nged the prelinnaries for Armstrong and
ierred 20 Hunter 70 secure len Tor debt Of about
$500. These policies $4,000 each in the
Powders aprk and 5000 in the Manhasiau were
zach issued by the respective companies on
holding a risk on Armsrong's life. None of the
companies would have taken debtor risks had Its
officers known that Hunter had Armstrong insured
elsewhere to the amount he was One quarters
premium had been paid in advance by Hunter with
each company. Another would have been due early
In March If Armstrong had lived Hunter declared to
the Prof ecuior OF tue Pleas In Camden, IN his ex-
animation, the night OF his arrest. -
~ h ad 1t (he lie insurance policy transferred to
me in september or October In the Manhattan ana az.
Mutual He iArmstrong) had $4,000 on his life
trans ierrea about date IL was transferred
to me. He me about SILL 600 altogether. He had
them 1.-THE lie insurance policesl before got Thorn"
there is abundance OF evidence to show that tho
policies were no. issued unit, until l peoemDe,:
hands a. all. but directly into Hunters, and
that, by Hunters admission, subsequently,
$1,000 Again. Hunter asserts that did not procure
tse insurance. but Armstrong. This Is disproved BY
Arms,ronS Insured. and suggesting sly trick for de.
ceiving the Insurance. companies examiners II will
also be seen that the date OF this note written BY mis-
hand, bellies Hunters assertion that the policies
were transferredt to him IN september or October.
TlL-TALE NOTE
The note was as fouows:-
Please call at the Manhattan Life Insurance obce No.
o cali SpSn
Tor s oS~s me S ~ 70 both III Of sm
to-day and will cali upon them TO- morrow Eespectiuy
STo Joms NJ. ARMSTRONG, Esq, 7I0 sansom street
BLeave OIL your truss for fear they would decline to
Hunter admits that he had known Armstrong had
been ruptured tor years Another point uniavorable
ter Is allegation that Armstrong did know that
the amount held by Hunter on his lie was SO much as
500 0OO somewhat disproportlonate 10 the debt. Arm
strong was rather deaf naturally little dull In
apprehension, and when he was told by the superin-
tcndent the Prov that the amount asked Tor IN
thai company 10000 he said with surprise:-
'hr. Hunter does not need any such amount US tha
my ue-tnat Is more than IS needed"
JOURNEY.
Another feature of the case that Is looked upon as
equally damaging Hunter is ,he part he played in
the events preceding Armstrong; visit to Canuen IN
consciously to meet his death. The prisoner has de-
the first that he suggested anything TO Arm
slrong about going Jersey that he knew about the
business matters ealing MN tnere, or that he was
OF ms intending gong there at all on tho
night oil the murder
II knew nothing about his going TO Camden" he
says. Il wouldn't have gone with him. lett him
to collect his own debts. | wouldn't ike 10 20
strange place at night to man have not heard
good OF referring the alleged bad charac
Ter Of Davis Now the re are two persons wpo swear
positively tina. HuDter Armstrong; ofbce the
day OF the murder and said to HIM
'You go over tonight at seven O'Clock and I'll go
la addition to this there is the silent but convincing
testimony OF The last words OF the murdered man IN
the he sent home To his wife 10 tell ncr he would
not be home TO tcu:-
will not be home much before niue o'clock P. NJ. am
going eysr 10 camdsm again Nth Mr. iuner business
Frrk will not be nome to supper lie Is gong dawn to
Frank IL Armstrongs's son, IA bright intelligent
young man of twenty, whose interesting and impor-
ianl statement VIII be gwen hereafter HIS iatner
told BIN when they went TO dinner together, that
Hunter had advised HIM TO 20 over to Camden that
night insist on settlement with DAVIS, uDd that he
was gong, and Hunter was TO accompany him.
The other witness tins point is Mr.
Carey. OF the workman IN Armstrong; print
Ing establishment. who heard n part OF Hunters
generation IL IS d.nleult 10 believe Hunters de-
Aas OF all knowledge OF tue Camden visit the lace
u this strong testimony to the contrary.
HUNTER IN cAMDgx
OF course ~ follows IRON Hunters denial OF all
knowledge OF Armstrong; inlendco VISIT over the
ferry That should also deny having been IN Cam
den himself that night This no does most positively,
Md adds
"
Tnis Is met ny the testimony OF Joshua Ngtson, n
police oihcer OF Camden, who identifies the prisoner
~ man VINO approached MIN at the terry house
Jersey side cisnt and ton on Wednesday night,
he 23d (the nIght OF the murdcrl, aud asked what
zme the boat went out He seemed anxious to
ross TO Phiadcpnia inn aticnt at tue delay.
sYUu had a couk on, ne said, when confronted with
HE accused, ''and you didnt have that hal on. 1t
Eas not 20 shiny"
..rnis is4hc only hat have" said the prisoner A
hat brought the prisoners house was alterwarf
put on his head, the police officer declared u to
been like ne saw on the intai Night Tho
lawyers OF the accused say hat IL was ms cons nat
tLlt was found at the house, out Detective ioders
story to your correspondent seems to rel ute this
''When hunter occ AIRED that he had only the one
bat" saId he the HERALD representative, II went
10 his house, saw Ills we, aud said, 'Mr Hunter
would ike TO have his other hat, aud she gave me
pGe" 1t does OF seem likely that ne WIS gwen the
hat OF the son, who Is boy.
SINGULAR
An additional point 10 urged against Hunter is q