The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-25
He ContradictS the Chief Evidence fol
the Prosecution.
A MERCILESS DISCRIMINATION.
The Witness, Confronted with His First State
ment,s Admits Its Untrulh.
He ASSERTS HIS INNOCENCE.

~.
Ono OF the most remarkable scenes witnessed
In court room took place In the grost murder trial
to-day whom Benjamin Hunter. the prisoner TOOK the
stand TO testify In his own defence, 70 brsak the
effect OF the strong array OF evidence
tending 10 establish the fact that no
deliberately and cruelty KILLED his friend John n.
Armstrong the $40. 900 life insurance which
Hunter held az security Tor $1,000 debt Hunter
was not entire q witness. Not only
did he contradict himself under tho able cross
questioning OF Prosecutor jenkins, but even with
the friendly guidance OF Mr.. Robson, who brought
out his story on direct animation With all tho skin
aud regard tor effect 10 he expected
lawyer, tho prisoners statement contained dis
crepancics, and lar from satisfactory.
Neither the prisoners appearance nor manner was
N hts favor. He fdgcted In tho witness char, his
hanIs moved nervousiy, no changed hts position fro
qucniy and was evidently i'll at case, cvon under The
soothing influence OF NJ. Robesons gentle manner.
When he fell into tho hands OF the public prose-
rutor, with his quiet, but keen anu searching
probing, and his rapid fire of questions, Mr. Hunters
symptoms OF discomfort increased. Before the day
wns over and the Court adjourned to give him a
respite until to-morrow Benjamin Hunters pale
lace showed that the wonderful SELF possession,
which has been the surprise Of all who saw
him. had for once deserted him. AS ho left the
stand hc wiped his perspring face with An unsteady
hand. II no Is an innocent man, II was nervous dis
trcss because he could not tell coarer story Of bis
innocence If he is guilty., was the despair OF one
who realized that is crime be explained way
That The court room crowded ana that BeuJa-
min Huuters story listened TO with Interest may
well DO imagined Tho eagerness hear all thar he
might say GREATNESS intense and every spot
where human body could lind foothoId was seized
upon. inside tho bar, the space reserved for priv
legged persons, there were many distinguished legal
and professional gentlemen.
THE TESTIMONY.
Charles A.. n tor on ho anYn q
Philadelphia street Mr. Young, the conductor
VINO testified that Hunter got on his car at half past
seven the evening murder, the FIRST witness
called. He was to prove what Young had told him
about Hunter having been on bis car. but Judge
After i've other witnesses had testified, none OF
them 70 anything that was Of Importance, Mr. scovcl
Mr.. jenkins, regarding tho murder should be handed
over. Alter discussion Judge Woodruff directed tho
communication, which was published IN the HERALD
a. the time, nothing ever came OF IT, the writer iaing
TO answer the "Personal'' that inserted In the
newspaper. Tho letter read thus
r. s. JENKINS, Prosecutor camden county,
DEAR sRt the insurance companies who liable for
$4,000 In the Armstrong murder vii, give 50 900 70
murdeers OF Armstrong. and thus he $4,000
man IN With you When you know p me you
Of % ma to won't
Issssr through persona" 5ESs.
Then, after two more witnesses had been examined
tho tailor who made Nr. Hunters overcoat with tho
there was sudden sensation and cranng OF necks as
Mr.. Robson called .Benamin Hunter" With the
gliding step peculiar 10 MN the prisoner crossed
the bar took the witness chair after swearing
10 tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing hut the
He did not at first betray tho marked
10 winch have alluded above, but he seemed a
little uncom portable. He answered questions IN low
that II Impossible for tho reporters hear.
He used bad grammar frequently and was not
happy In choice of words He spoke TO the
fury as though realizing that his fate rested In their
bands. HIS manner rcspectfui, and even during
me cross, xamination he continued TO DO polite.
'Wherc do you Ive?" was one OF the nrst questions
sked oy Mr. Robson, who conducted the direct ex-
animation.
II hare lived near Tenth and wharton streets.
Philadelphia" replied Mr.. Hunter with significant
emphass
When the dates Of tho business transactions
vhh Mr. Armstrong were asked Tor, the witness sx-
planned In a rather lngubrous tone, my memory
been very much shattered since came here''
"You mold some insurance policies tho lilo OF
81 40" answered he.
Explain to us now you came In possession Of those
IL will do the best can, although am poor hand
1t explaining things" the witncss replied
Mr.. Armstrong. suggesting that as the latter was
considerably indebted TO him, II would DC well to take
out debtors lie insurance policy Tor the benefit Of
tnc creditor Mr.. Armstrong consented cordially and
spoke gratefully ot what Mr. Hunter had done Tor
BIN anu OF his desire 10 keep him from loss Accord
fngy the witness went shortly afterward TO the ofcc
oil one OF the companies and negotal cd Tor policy OF
$4,000 on Mr.. Arnstrons's he. anu told Mr. ARM
slrong OF what he had done, ana ths latter
claimcd:- H
.why, Mr.. Hunter. you had better make Il $40, 600
II should die ali my other creditors would CONC I'M
There was something OF a dis cussion on tins pont
Hunter urging that he would not be entitled TO any
more than tno amount OF his cia ana tearing that
hc would not be able TO carry tue premiums on 50
large an amount, and Armstrong assuring him that
Ia remembrance Of al that hunter had done for
HIM and his family, he would not lot his benciactor
sstick."
Finally Hunter decided 10 act on the proposition
and visited the Offices OF the companies
with that purpose IA WOW. IL WAS alter dong this
thai bc wrote 10 Armstrong and no explained the
postscript about the truss by saying that he knew
Mr.. Armstrong; amcnt was q worry slight one wnich
should net % allowed TO vli'ate his poiicies.
rho witness mentioned the interviews he had with
Hr. Armstrong both before aud alter the visit OF
dunter 10 Virginia. IL was on Monday that he went
u,. ~ o,s, Tia. n, ,m.,ronsS nn
not be disturbed AZ there had boen little dill
suity previous to this aud hs did not w'sn y 10 be
On Wednesday Hunter visited Armstrong's once
again, and gu tnis occasion tho ony subject OF
which was TO tsko place noxt day, and which they
wore 10 attend As witness was about leaving no sand
10 Mr.. ArnnstroDg.-
"You come, aud viii be there"
"Wss any thing saia a, about your going TO Camden
.There was not, sirl 1 would not have como TO
Camden with him. ana ne never suggested u me-,
Tho witness spoke IN very emphatic tone, ana
his voice was raised 10 higher pitch than here
toiorc.
.'Do you know Thomas Grabams" was asked
later
"Did you see him tha, dayn
II did not, air." And again the tone had an ON
lhatic ring.
wHERr HUNTER WAS TnR MURDER.
"Did ycu 90 10 Camden that eveningfr rho qucs-
sinp was asked aitor somo preliminary queries and
responses
81 did not, sir" And the answer was moro en-
phatic than any that had preceded IT,
Then thcro was some further questioning as 10
Whcn he had been last In Camden prevous TO this
occasion, ana as 10 what took place during early
Part OF Wednesday evening Witness stated that
is won't TO Hughes. where no remained Tor a
mort ,me ana from there he won't 10 keep
IN appointment with Mr. Epp ut abe resi-
aesr OF the latter, No. ], 72l oxford street. lie
had rscevcd q note from Mr. Epp written the pre-
vious day, requesting him 10 como TO discuss and
Explain hts patent boiler; no was there Tor three
quarters oil an hour thersabous and then started
ind walked down oxford street TO Tenth, beng
topped on the way TO assist o gentleman whose
buggy had broken down on Broad street; the
gentleman had lady IN Inc buggy win hun,
but witness aid not Know cithcr OF them; the
venticman went TO buy rope aud witness held
he horse While he was gone, but he could not tell
car the corner OF Tenth aud OXFORD Streets lazy