The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-26
Thu GREAT MURDER TRIAL.
Scenes at the Trial Of Benjamin Hunter
for Killing John M. Armstrong.
The PRISONER VIOLENTLY DgNOUNCES 4 WITNESS
"YOu're a Liar, Sir! I'm Not Going 10 Have
My Life Sworn Away"


CAnDKS, N. j., June rs, 1873.
To-day's session OF the great murder trial was
suort QUE but Il marked BY several interesting
incdents and little that was a. startling and
dramatic as q situation In sensational play. The
REORGANIZATION OF the prisoner-wisness was not
finished yesterday, Mr. jenkins having paused
IN II when the hour Tor adjournment Ar.
rivod. He not put on tue stand At once thii
morning. however, A. the defence called another OF
the formidable array OF witnesses rs 10 character
in Tho person OF Ex-Governor Pollock, Superintendent
Of tho United states Mint Al Philadelphia. Then
Hunter was once more put on the witness stand to
undergo another ordeal at the hands Of Prosecutor
jenkins
A TELL-TALE MEMoRAxDUA sNt
The first questions asked by tue cross.examiner
were in regard 10 Hunters visit to Epp's houhe.
which no declares ON Wednesday, The night Of
the murder He was asked II II was not Tuesday
sven,ug and he answered "No." He made q memo
randum OF the appointment he got the note
from Epp.
.sIs this your memorandum books" asked Mr. Jsn-
kins producing one found tho prisoner At tho time
Of his arrest
eyes, SIR"
as that the memorandum ." pointing to an entry
reading, peter Epp. No. 17zl Oxford. at six O'Clock
this evening"
Mr. jenkins then showed him that this entry was
under tho printed date OF s'ruesday." Hunter ex-
planned TINS by saying the boox.wa an old diary Of
1875 and he paid account OF dates III making his
entry.
"rhen why did you put the entry this evening
under the date OF Tuesdayf'
'.Oh! well, Mr. Jenkins don't think IT'S fair TO
use that against me-" was Hunters reply.
rHE DOUBTFUL ALiBL
The memorandum hook was pat IN evidences the
point leu IL is intended settle Is the very im0r
tant one OF Huntor's abb, which as swears 20. ous
hch I'M II In nndp 4.
Ing date tho meeting Al Tuesday, thus bearing
out the testimony Of tho entry 10 lne Dook-
A STARTLING sCExB.
Then Mr.. jenkins TOOK up line oil Inquiry which
terminated In q dramatic denousmeni. He asked the
der he did rot 70 10 inc house oil Goorge Sproue, II
No. 906 Reed street, 90 inquire Tor Graham.
al dont know no such man, SIR" was Hunters
sYou were no. !. his houss ,h.. dayi"
~ don'I know no such a man"
.To inquire tor Thomas GrahamY
al don't know no such man"
SIS Mr.. sprouls IN COURT" asked the prosecutor.
looking about i'm. until that person was pointed out
sitting In the froat row OF the benches ontside the
"Pisass stand up, Mr.. sprouls." and there arose
tail, sandy cOmpcxlonsd young man. with face
easily rcmsm bersd, wpen once seen.
The prisoner, Sii LOOKING squ.rsIy a, Inc man and
rising IRON mis- seal, said empnaicaiiy - never saw
the gentleman before"
"Were you AT this mans house thai Sunday even
ing =" demanded tho Prosecutor.
lesl" exclaimed Hunter, IN loud voice. Yes, sr,H
stretching mis- arm and snaking his nnger toward
YOU'RE :no.ner," ia = i0~ tone, answered the
man, facing him.
Hunter, s,ll standing, slanng at the unexpected
w,tness, bis eyes hashag with anger ssd hts niger
sin shaking pointed AZ him, repealed, quickly,
"rnerel 70 your lace, you're iiarl"
satrioai criucasm, be looked hS shoulder
nodded " the counsc Tor the dsfspcs, quoting tns
language OF their srsood ehAracaern tcstimsny.
Ali TINS bad taken place very rapidly, ana BY thh
time Colonel Scovel Was on hts feet, persmptorily
calling 10 hrs client, 'sDon't make such remarksl"
"I'm not going 20 stand here and have my life
sworn nway by harsln Hunter broke out onca mere
ST.. AN. on MS iest .aa Caring =. NJ; sproae 80
81 ssE PARDON 81 the Court" said Hunter, With an
uudertonc with parting look At Mr.. Sproule ho
resumed his seat, you're a lying scsmpI"
s.Gentiencss oil disposiiioni' commented Mr.. jon
kins more, upon which Hunter turned TO him
with an apoogctic BOW. saying Il ask your pardon,
Mr.. jenkins, II have been impoiite"
AFTER rKK TEMPEST
Then the aiming was resumed, and Hunter
once more was quiet and appareatly self controlled,
although ne soon contradictcd hmss.L Mr. Jenkna
asked nlm AZ what tImc he was AZ broad and oxford
streets ON the Wednesday night oil tho murder, last
January:-"About hAii-pass scvsu," replied Hunter.
This was whers be saw the with tue broken oar
ri,gc and Mr.. jenkins asked II u Was iignt enough
mnu.e descr pslon Of the location OF the bolt mat
was broken IN ms testimony yesterday
ys % saw w.1s n s.o. and sa-
about halt past seven o'oocki
mo, SIR, did not say tast"
.Wo,l, 1 was mistaken" said the Witness; 1 Ieft
Epp's al quarter bcIore seven O'CLOCK and reached
Bread street about seven O'Clock PROBABLY hssle bo-
fore"
THE ILLgeIrInArE SON.
After little while Mr.. jenkins approached delicate
You are married man, are you no.s" Mr.. Joukias
II am,
"Have you ever had more than one wifey"
II have never vesn married to more than one.
.You nave never been married TO more than one
How many caiiarsn have your"
al nave foar-lhat own."
sFour that you ownY how many that you DOM
One the wi,ness answered IN low tone, bat his
answer was drowned In the sxclamAtory objections
which came q = voley from his counsel
wais these ssjcot'oas were s.il sehoins saen
other, thc witncas leaned forward toward the Prose-
cutor aud SAID In = low voics:-
whats the use Of hasainE that up nov, Jsnkinsf"
Mr.. jenkins DID NOT step 70 explain 20 nim 'ne use
point issue went on M. ihsmpson oiaimed that
man should not be hung isr murder because ss nad
stolen horse, and that Hunter had hundred cnil-
that mad no bearing on Inc question whether no
murdered John w. Armstrong
Mr. jenkins held that Tho DESCENDANT had assumed
tho cnaracter OF very important witness Tor the do
feoce. and IN that character had called various other
witnesses Tiara Regarding him In tnat character, 10
claimed That they mad rgat 10 bring oat the
In own career.
Mr.. RoDeson maae an argument on the basis that
had nothing 10 DO with the question. IL Was more
question a. 10 the law Even man shut up " Gage
was liable 10 yicid 10 his iaatgnaton like otnss men,
bu, he still cntitled 70 all tie protecting ihaa-
ences the Law.
The Court ruled that although the questions we're
proper enough. sin u might DO better 10 have saem
unAked as the answers might unduiy preJudice some
Mr.. jenkins yisidcd Eraosfany, aad went 10 other
points.
While this argument was taking place tho poor
young man who was the subject Of them sat in the
noxt room within sound Of shs voice Of the father
VINO does not acknowledge him.
Alter iurtner mat,ers Of lass Importance hsd been
touched upon Mr.. jenkins concluded his cross exam.
natioa and NJ. Robson allowed The witness chance
TO explain many things that had been brought out BY
Mr.. Jcakins, In a redirect examination.
the MEnoRAsDUn AGAIN
On recross-examination the following came out:-
II did say that my memory hal bsca somewhat
shat ercd since my confinement; Away, made
mv mor.ndumsn
"suppose you had made this entry Of your engage.
ment win Peter Epp on Friday instsad OF on ruas-
uay, how would you have known me esgagsnsnt vas
Tor Wednesday 30