The New York herald., 1878-07-03
THE CAMDEN MURDER TRIAL.
CONCLUSION OF MR.. RoBEsoN's SPEECH FOR
THE Defence.

The Camden Court the scene OF intense
interest this morning General Robson resumed his
able argument on the prisoners behalf and he
eoualied his effort Of yesterday, which was pro-
nounced by all who had the opportunity Of hear
ing IL masterpiece OF special pleading. Ho
wrought from defence comparatively weak and
uncertain an effective argument Tor his client The
reason ing with the jury plain and forcibe, and at
times appealed strongly TO their feelings.
He commenced by taking up Graham's assertions
In regard his with Hunter resting upon
the point that there occasion in which Gra-
ham placed himself in municston with Hunter so
as TO make such n detailed arrangement possible
There appears that no interview was not pass
ing one. was this intricate plan detailed, arranged
and executed without consultation between the par
tiesYu yet" said Mr.. Robson, ''ii Grsham Is 10
be believed, II was SO done"
can the arrange ements he details in his testimony
are the few words that passed between Graham aud
Hunter, III which he said, You know Armstrong;
we he has got to be killed, and If you don't do Il
you are friend of mine 'All right, was answered,
and that was all Then Graham tells you here that hc
never read the news spapers after the murder-never
read what beng developed from day TO day.
Why II there was nothing else In his story, that one
statement alone would stamp upon his brow the in
dcibie mark OF liar reason thus from no conflict
ing statements but IRON the uttered hero by
Thomas Graham"
now THE CRIME PERpErRATHD.
Mr. Robson took up IN succession the evidence Of
the handing Of the hammer by Hunter TO
Graham; tho agreement between Hunter and
Armstrong to 20 to Camden that evening ;
how the ferry reached; pad his respects
10 the man who saw Graham in Camden running
after the car Iipersons saw Hunter and Armstrong
riaipg the car why could they not see
the perslstentiy running alter the cury
Graham says when they got up ON Vine street Mr.
Hunter turned up this alley reerrng to the pans),
aud as hc came he 'yos;' and that he (Gra
nam), when he got there, between the window and
Inc gate advanced upon Armstrong with u weapon In
EACH nand; that Armstrong stood facing him; that he
went up aud struck him blow on the right side
OF the head: that the thimble dew OIL the ham mer
slipped out OF his hand that he frightened aud
1eu that throw the hatchet behind HIM, and that
jumped into the cellars and ran away. ln his
clear confession he says Armstrong stood facing the
uiloy; That no struck him with a hummer; he didn't
cry out; 81 dropped the hammer and hatchet and he
ran away" He didnt hear him cry out Now levs see II
that Is John Armstrong was killed by the confused
wounds which could have been iu cted with the ham
mer or the hatcher. Using Mr. Leslie, Of the Ledger,
as the obo: u stricken MI R,beson, raising the ham
mer sa,d:-"He struck him once ON this side anu he
staggered he struck him on that sde, and then, as he
sank he struck MIN on the top oil the head. Docs
the lion from his victim when his teeth are at
his throaty No; his heart never sank. When the
done and his conscience was stirred then
II may have been tnat his heart sank. But do you
believe, IN the nature Of things, the hammer flew
out Of his hand, that ne ran away that Hunter
tnsn dsspal ched him2 He had stood with Armstrong
lace to lace. He Dsard the cry OF the victim 'God
spare my hiel" DID he leave him then hall huis6ed,
ham, he knew his lace, and is II 70 be thought he
lett nim thus 10 be recognized In the future
should the victim hveY In the tow seconds which
according TO Graham's story IT took him to turn,
throw hatchst away, Hunter had 10 search Tor II
aud ish work. Why, In these low SECONDS, with
Inc victim still alive, with help close, did he
cryS Why did he not fight or struggle with the agony
that could not hear tho cry that must have come
irom the mans lips; that must have drawn 10 MS SIDE
Fidell or tue expressmanf Then Hunter goes quietly
home without washing his hands, u ks to mis- wife aud
children calls Tor the paper 10 read tho events oil the
day quiet and uurufcd. Is this The act OF man who
hau cOm tied such n crime? believe the murderer
oi John NJ Armstrong stood In the alley. | believe
that GranEm stood In tho ailey shown in tho plan ;
that Armstrong laced the alley ana Graham came out
and struck MIN one, Two, three blows; this, be-
ieve told In his clear oEfession He came out Vt
tha alley he struck the anu as ho aid So this
cap came oil aud le before the halchet had
Already fallen, and when Mr.. Fide found The hatchct
II was unaer The cap. rhc blow was not gwen with
the hatcheL tor the blow was givcn alter the cap
oil winch covered tho hstchet. IL was not Tho hacnet
Graham threw away, ~ was the hammer with which
he struck blow Who gave tnose three piowsY
Thomas Graham Liar once, liar always; lalse IN one
particular false every particular And this TACT OF
as to how he tnrew the halchet away according
to hts own story. Were these blows made
with hatcuet? Where are the cuts III The head
or hatY When men strike with q haicnc they strke
with the Striking part and SO they do with the ham,
mer. Where inc cut in that hat where Is II on inc
head? What part did that hatcnet piavY have
spoken to you OF this story OF Grahsm-how strong
II seemed, pat no had 1t, how ne spoke It like u
schoolDoy Ho stood the test hcroicaiiy, but he
didn't know where the test came IN. You may have
the story pat your multiplication table but II
must stand the immutaole tess of corroboraton.
Where Is tnis corroboratIon? Is there any M u
within vi my voice that will say This stan
by useli2 It's JOINTS that scom 80 firm, are un-
cnained It's Inks that seem so strong are shattered
THE WABASH WOMAN.
On this point MIR. R0beson rested strongly
Then we come by way OF corroberation TO the story
oil Mrs. Auvache who kept diary AZ that time and
never kept one before or since. You can take tue
diary aud Examine It, III those two pages were not
made up ut once wny, tnen, evidence don't amount
to anything. .
come on that boat between six aud seven O'Clock
locked arm-in-arm win Mr.. Armstrong, or somebody
like him. She remembers Mr Hanter She did not
SOC him on the boat, but when she camc out oi
the ladies' cabin on the left side vi the
| boat where there has not been ladies' cabin ior
twenty years my knowledge; she saw them leaving
tho boat and wnen sne passed under The gas lam y
outside the ferry she saw MI. Hunters lace, gave
her every chance show that she was not tcliing
deliberate falschood; then sue described her move
meuts that boat; she said sne went into tho cabin
the left hand 81 10 oil the boat II Is well known ana
has come out incidentally In this case during the cx
animation OF a witness, that the ladies' cabin on tho
West Jersey ferry boats Is on she right hand side com
as that In cvidenceY' asked Mr. Prosecutor Jen
kins stepping up IRON his cool seat at the entrance
81 think il is; you will find II in Mr. Mooro's tes
timony."
.sYou will not find It there or anywhere else"
swell, then VIII call The Prosecutor himself now,
remarked Mr.. koueson-
''Call m the Court will allow it," replied Mr. Jen
kins.
at makes no anerencc," resumed Mr. Robesou,
's~hether IL Is noi the TACT Is SO. Every body
knows it--and ~ Is iact gave her every opportu
nity correct herseiL asked her II she was sure.
/ called her attention to the point and alter gol
through the Assistant Prosecutor took her up 10 ma
her say sue mistaken, but she stuck 10 1.-THE
cabin tho lott hand side coming over.
She testified to coming out aud seeing
Mr. Hunter coming of the boat She didn't
him since till five mouths afterwards
whon che here and says Mr. Hunter Is the man
she saw being aolc 10 recognize him after that ons
lapse OF tmc 10 all ths she ADDS the fact OF making
AN entry on her diary which she never kept beIor,
and mas never Kept stncc. Well II is fortunate FOL
the prosecution, but unfortunate for the prisoner
that she mado this single entry In her diary. Sue
recall the day or hour minute oil any Other
VISIT ~ the city. Sne has been sitting here Ia cour
during this trial; sho heard the argument and Knew
iulI well tho kind Of TESTIMONY that was wanted ana
poor thing, she wac ambitious to ngure AS "a witness
IN tbis case. l don't blanc her Tor that, ns she II
not alone. There hundreds OF others equally al
weak, equally as ambitious to figure in some way II