The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-01
CANDENTS MURDER MYSTERY.
The Web Tightening About the Retired
Merchant, Hunter.
ANOTHER UNDERTOOK CASE.
An Important Arrest To Be
Made To-Day.


Tho killing Of John ~ Armstrong. tho music
printer OF this CITY, Camden last wednesday even
Ing is destined TO become OF the remarkable MUIR
ders of tho time IL has much OF tho romance OF crime
about 1t, and there is now strong reason to believe
thnt IL was NOT homicide brawlipg quarrel over
money transaction but a deliberate assassination,
the result of cunning and devsh plot II the case
wore noteworthy in other way It would be remark
able from the that three men have been suspected
and arrested three widely different and plausible
CLOVIS In many days, ana that low hours
work on tho two first theories convinc-
ting as they seemed, completely destroyed them
and siren thened and frightened Tho coils about tho
third prisoner Three days all Camden. tho quiet
little Jersey town opposite hcre, where the murder
occurrcd and all OF Philadelphia, whoro the CRIME
has attracted equal attention, believed that Davis was
tho murderer. Tho dying found near his
house: IL was known that the two men had had dis
pute upon business matter: 1t was certain that
Armstrong had gone Camden 10 Davis, 10 press
once more for the money owing TO him, and-the
mos: damning proof Of all-it was equally certain
that the bloody hammer with which tho murder was
committed had cut into handle the initials Of Davis
himself.
To-day Il Is plain that Davis and Demars--anoiher
spsnected mau-d,d not do this foul deed as IL yes.
terday seemed certain they did The pcrsevering
detective who IS investigating tho case has satisncd
himself that the hammer did not belong to Davis. ana
that he was at church when he crime was committed.
and science come TO the aid Innocence cy snow
ing through the microscope, that the Initials were
very freshly cut In very old handle. Otner cir
cumstances not necessary 10 recte herc, combine
10 show that neither Davis nor Demaris are
guilty, while MANY ht.io nr,aen 'n' p.r,snir
Hunter n retired merchant and patontoe, man OF
comfortable income as inc p,ns'pa A.
Yesterdays HERALD. Further particulars, not tnen
known, may be worth mentioning regarding tnis
man In view OF the fact that the Prosecutor or Inc
Pleas in Camden has publicly expressed himself as
satisaed that the guilty man has been secured-an
assertion so unusual IN this stage OF case Tor pubic
official as be only Jusunabe py very strong rea
THE CASE AGAINST HUNTER.
When the Prosecutor OF the Pleas In Camden
learned something of tho business relations existing
between Hunter and Armstrong, and that inc muir
dered man mad sent note 10 his family JUST before
ro,ny 10 his death aging that no would not DO home
10 tea AS no was going 10 Camden with ms irene Dr.
Hunter The Official very naturally sent Tor Mr. Hunier
TO come and tell what no knew. Hunter was
found at his house South Tenth street; In THIS CITY,
where mis- family 1--we in very comiortabo style on!
strangely declined TO go TO Camden, sayinR that
no was s'afraid" AS the New jersey ofnciai could
hot compel the presence OF witness from another
State without tho intervention OF the local authorities
he procured the services OF the Philadelphia pohce
and Chief Jones assigned Detective Samuel Yoder An
experienced and capable officer, 10 assist, with war
rant for Hunters arrest. Mr. Hunter was then pre-
vailed upon 10 60 TO Camden under the protection as
be supposed OF the detective not knowing that ms
-
that he really prisoner
HUNTERS INTEREST IN ARMsrRoNG's DEATH
When confronted with the Prosecutor Mr.. Hunter
protested with much earncstDess as he had TO the
detective while crossing tho ferry, that he had not
the murdered mans motto. declaring that he tHunter)
was 10 accompany HIM to Camden on the fatal nigut
Hunter could do nS,n1g but ms sa
Always known me as the biggest liar over met
You could believe nothing ne SAID" shortly alter he
spoke Of the large amounts OF money he had loaned
Armstrong and hs notes which no had taken therefor,
whercupon the observant detective asked him why
he had loaned him much money II he had no con.
Gdencc in him and knew HIM 10 be such iiarY
..Oh, WE'LL" was his only answer 81 always
was goodnatured sort Of "a fellow and ana
was very reserved and his questoners soon saw that
he keeping pack tho essential part Of his story
He said nothing about holding assigned insurance
policies upon the life Of tho murdered man until no
found that the authorities were aware OF the iact ana
then he tried deceive them Us TO the amount ne
held. He finally admitted that ne held policies for
$50 900 Tor DEBT OF about 1000, dsproportionate
collateral Of which no gave no satisfactory expana,
ton lie denied most positively that he had urged
and aided Armstrong to get out HIS lie
insurance policies or had advised him how to ds-
ceve the examining physicians as to his physi-
cal condition. Then the Prosecutor showed him
sheet OF paper SO folaed that only written name
was visible "Did you write tnat?' be asked
..Yes replied Hunter carelessiy; 'that's my sigma
ture every wei" SAID the Prosecutor, strengthen
ing out the folds IN the paper, NOW read what
II Is signed to.n Hunter did so and changed color
1t was a note written by him 10 Armstrong advising
him TO take off hts truss before he went before the
not know no was ruplured. Hunter, thus taken by
SURPRISE confessed that all he lad said ABOUT
the insurance policies was false The case now looked
very bad Tor Hunter, and he was told TO consider
himself prisoner on the charge OF murder Hunters
son had accompanied him to Camden, ana when the
father dismissed HIM before he was taken to cell no
was heard say, .ell everybody at home that nono
Of them are TO so 10 Armstrong; Iupcral." These
strange words Will also help 10 prejudice his case
HUNTERS QUESTIONABLE ALIgt
Hunter claimed, IN further conversation with tho
Prosecutor that on the night OF January 23 the even.
exft t.a nurdar hC xus nnf N
could prove he ut tho shop OF one Epp, maker
oil heaters and ranges, IN the northeastern part Of
Philadelphia aud that Epp could testify that this was
TO- AS an instant corroboration OF this Hunter turned
The leaves OF his diary, which was found on his
person when arrested he pointed TO this entry
january g. Called this evening at BOWER ana
Oxford streets "
Detective Yodor took up this matter and arrived at
results, neither OF which were rs satisfactory Tor
Mr. Hunter AS tho friends OF that gentleman could
wish. The first was that Peter Epp. the man referred
10 as a German the maker OF patent backlog boiler
invented by Hunter was an intimate friend OF Hun
ter, aud while apparently anxious 10 clear him, did
not toll very satisfactory story In the opinion OF
the officer ut was like pulling teeth to got any
thing out OF him." the detective said. IL was not
altogether satisfied" HIS story III substance
ing on Wednesday and was with him until about
scvep Nothing more definite than this could be got
out ol him.
The second result arrived by the detective DO
construed very unfsvorably to the accused. 1t was
this that the entry in the diary saying that on the
evening tho I'D Hunter ut Epp's place, is the
only memorandum Of that nature in the journal. In
tho whole book MI Yoder says he could not ind any
entry me informing mere call NJ place OF business
and Yet Mr.. Hunter must have made many such
visits. In view OF the importance OF Mr.. Hunters
whereabouts on this evcnng-a question on which
his lie may dependable truth or tasty OF this enuy
In his journal becomes OF tho utmost interest.
ANOTHER SUSPICIOUS MAN.
IL has Just been learned that the police arc TO make
another arrest tomorrow OF much importance. II Is
SAID that the man be arrested IS ono Frederick W.
Day, butcher, whose initials correspond with those
found upon tho hammer handle Day Is said 10 be
separated IRON his WIFE, who lives In Camden, only "A
icw dvors from whore the murdered man was iound.
Armstrong gave her music cssons ana Day is alleged
have jealous OF him and to have been actuatcd
by this to act as Hunters accomplish.
MISSING LADIES HEARD FROM