The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-12
THE CAMDEN MURDER.
Graham, the Accomplish, Tells His
Startling Story.
PLOTTING TO KILL.
A Grim Narrative of an Aw-
full Crime.

The second day OF the trial OF Benjamin Hunter for
tho murder OF John NJ. Armstrong was Of absorb
ing interest Tho State put thor first witness upon
the stand, and he proved TO BIO other than Thomas
Graham, the accomplish of Hunter ana the former
apprentice and workman of Hunter. who was per-
suaded by him tor tho OF $500 to commit the
murder.
THOMAS GRAHAM's TESTIMONY.
Thomas Graham, being sworn, said he was twenty
nine years old lived at No l323 South Seventh street.
Philadelphia; u married man, with wlio and ono
child living and was sheet IRON worker by trade,
having served his time with Benjamin Hunter the
prisoner and left him about five years
ago; since then, however he had frequently
met aud been employed by his old
master. Witness continued ~ wns IN the habit Of
seeing Mr. Hunter frequently; no lived ut No. 1904
South Tenth and lived ut No 1928 South Seventh
street; was boarding there with Mrs. Ulrich, with
my wife and child; In the early part OF December last
saw Mr.. Hunter on Reed street, between seventh
and Passyunk avenue; II was on Sunday oarly IN
December; Il was nearly twelve O'Clock In the
day; had q conversation with Mr.. Hunter; he
asked mo II knew John Armstrong; l told him
.yes" had known Armstrong for number 0i
years. first having met him when worked 10 gro
Gerry; when said eyes" ~. Hunter looked around
said. Come up this ittlo street, don't want any
one to hear" Tho alley by where
standing, and when reached there he told me
Armstrong had 10 BIO killed; - want you to do IT."
he SAID; g. viii give you $500; you don't do ltyou
friend Of mine;' this sentence
produced marked sensation In court;
said tall rght;' then he commenced to tell
mo what scoundrel Armstrong was; that he
owed everybody money and ought to be out OF the
way; and that It would make better man OF Frank,
his SOM then he said that nccd not come to SEQ him
ABOUT Il, would mo; that Is oil the convorsa
ton rccolIeci next saw nim ut his house saturday
his mouse; / lrst saw ono OF his ausnters-one Of
tho t~lns; Hunter came to the gate 10
500 me; ! asked him Tor some en- money,
give you i've he gave me no said he would tell hts
wife that was after money 10 pay the rent and that
street, below Cherry; saw HIM before that ~ Suos'
store. where was working; u was couple o. weeks
week; II was IN tho morning; was outside.
working on the pavement, fixing stove tor
q store; young McCann. u boy, was helping me.
PLANNING THE MURDER.
Hunter asked Tor a piece Of paper 70 give me
draft OF the houses on Vine street, Camdon, where
Armstrong was TO DO killed. IL represented square
block oil houses, with alley marked on ~; we
10 tavern and took drink; no told mo II lost
to SOC the housed that 10 would pay mo;
met Mr.. Hunter on the pavement OF Hughes siore IN
Hunter Office there his patent log boiler
IAN attachment to range); Mr. Hunter had lett word
was not there wnen got there but ne came IN just
NJ got there; We went 10 Cherry street; he told me
he would write me note about Thursday no told me
he was going to Virginia, that Armstron. must be
killed white he there. and that he would havs
correspondence 10 mud out Il Armstrong was Ki,led;
he gave me 81; did not usk him for u when inter
gave me tho pan he said, "rhs Is the plan OF the
houses 10 Camien don't let any one SEQ IT.; sol put
on that street, aud that he owed Armstrong
money, and Sir. Armstrong had been gong over alter
u. ana thar would ,. y sood chance; he explained
GU tho place: ! saw Nc. HuGter Now Years Eve AZ
my mouse; u was about seven or hAii-past; was
tnuA nf ntVh N M IN Inn m ma a n
We took walk down to seventh street. and stopped
and took drink at Sixth and Owen street
THR IMPLEMENTS YoR rHk MrRDKR.
We walked Ninth and Wharton, and then no
pulled hammer out Of his pocket and
gave ar.o. ,b,s vo me- had better Jake ms ays
what want used - II was u square. laced hammer,
with ieruo on the end oil !, ana with rive, through
Il; put IT IN my pocket; WHOM went homcI did not
undo the hammer II was wrapped ~ paper put u In
The bottom OF the closet a,a not asien ~ Tor two
weeks; next saw Mr. Hunter at Sixteenth a1d Cherry
on the Tuesday moruing he back from vir-
ginia; Il IN the morning, between ten and eleven
ne had been at my house nall dozen times 10 SEQ
me- but was not home
HUNTER IMPATIENT.
Mr.. Hunter said 10 me, ems thing has got to DO
doac lo-night;r he said that Armstrong would be
over IN Camden that night, aud that must 90 aud
DO IL; ! said IAN right, 'hsa ! went vent
the day before Armstrong was hurt;
l aid not go to Camden that night; on Wednesday
morning met Mr.. Hunter u, sixteenth and Arcn
Streets betxoen ten aud Twelve o'clocx; told him
Mr.. Armstrong did not 70 over, that vas there; ne
Armstrong; oiice 10 see Why Mr. Armstrong dad not
20 over aud that must meet him at ghin aud Pine
streets; went down town slowly, anu mot Hunter AZ
Eghth street, above Pine u was little alter eleven
he said no had to MAKE up Ito and tell Mr.. Arm
strong that no ravo h'sa the wrong number Of the
house he 10 meet at IN Camden the night be-
fore excuse Tor him (HuntcrD not having g0no
vita him aad Davis on Tho night before; Mr. Hunter
that Armstrong was over there that Tuesday
night and had looked along tho windows TO see
Hunter, but could not find him.
HUNTER PREPAREs TO SEX rHg Jon DONE
Va Xal god aQAn ElVHl nd In kk41 IN n
where ~ buy "a cheap nat told him that no could
get plenty down smitn street on the road; We went
20 Spciisscy's; Mrs 5pcssoy herself waited on us !;
the servant was tnorc too SANDING tue doorway Vt
tho back oil lie stars; Hunter tried on hat;
the price was 81 ID: lie sliu he wanted
summer oae to 80 guaning; sue gave hun
for he said that would do, after he had
looked 10 the glass; she asked nun where he gensr-
ally went cunning; he said down tue Neck over the
rope Terry bridge. AT this time u was about twelve
ociock Le paid Tor tho hat With GIVE dollar bill;
he gave me dollar as We same out and We parted, lac
gong down Psssyunk road ana going down Egntn
street; went down 70 seventh street and took
couple OF drinks aud then to Robinson's stable;
he told mo him Al Eighth anu saason
that eight AT eight O'Clock aud no would go with me
10 Camden: dd not ace am hng more VI Mr. Hunter
uLtiI evening; during the afternoon vent home aud
got the hammer Huater gave me; put the hammer
40 my rgnt hand pantaIoons pocket, with The handle
up under my vest l went up 10 Noin's stable. stop
ping TO get three or tour drinks; | walked slowly
~ TO sixth aud SAMSON, little before SIX oelock;
ANA saw Hunter on inc northeast corner:
1 won't over aud told him hardly knew him; ne
hau MAJ down over MS eyes hbu n bhnukercnlcI
his neck no told to go dow 10 seven u aud
SAMSON; he went over aud got In an entry; Hunter
gave me tho hatcAct AZ Eighth and SAMSON that
nisht; 1t was a carpcntor's hatcbet. Witness here
described following the two men to Camden
1 followed them ia the boat; they wont out on the
bow, aud stay red near the cabin; thcy so, car;
ran alongside ,hc car. following u; went ny some
streets whose names do not know; when they got
out they went along Vino street
rHE MURpKR COMMITTED
On tho handle OF The hammer and Ratchet were
carved the letters ~. w. ID. !" Hunter did not tell me
why these letters were there; Hunter and Armstrong
went up Vino street, above Fun; followed them;
Hunter went up an alley for minute and as hc came
ous he looked and said .Yes;" then went ny 10
Armstrong to hit MIN; as went up behind him saw
hgnt Ia tho cellar OF the house ne ~ by, Just above
where | struck him; as 1 raised the Ratchet 10 hit
bm the hatcbst slipped and cut m ON the forehead;
then my ncart failed Inc anu 1 threw the hatchct
away; locked ana saw Armstrong lying on the
pavement and Hunter STOPPING ovor him; ran and
jumped down Into the cellar ran back anu climbed
up on the other side came out an alley anu then
went through TO another street that DrouHht mo out
ON Vine street again. walked on down Vine street
the Terry 4 paid