The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-14
IN. NJ. - 1. Il. NM. !. ....A...

s@gs e.s I, S"mTge r., WIZ, Nr Hunter M business
tea tp Guulds
Frank was Mr. Armstrone's son. etold the
nuth"rities that VIII lie on the way to dinner ON
the day of tho murder his father told him TINT
that morning Mr.. Hunter said that Mr.
Davis had money in the bank. and that the
parties We're deccivinE him. Hunter advised
FRANK father To- 20 over that evening ana SEQ
going to do So and Hunter wns going with him;
=, The AUTHORITIES concluded that they wanted
Hunter. Mr. jenkins. the District Auori,,y
sent Shmrin Dauhman over TO- Philadrlphin alt"r
him.: The sheriff says that he told Hunter mat
the Prosecutor of tho pcus wanted him 10 come
over to Camden and give histrstimony concern;
ing the death Of Armstrong. Hunter f'pll'i
That he knew nothing about II hut sHlI h',Wuuu
hr over the next morning at = ocln,k. iiI uin u,iini
Sheriff for not bringing him. ana sem nm
over second time. Therenpon the sheriff got
the ground that Hunter was y hui'lI,T', ir9ih 3
justice. Accompanied 10y inllhd,phia dr-
i.ctve, he ggaln called up3h n,n,, ,,,
urged him to come over ana give ms testimony.
As Hunter had said at the previous inlgrvirw
pointing to the drtcctivr. told him he had
broughta a gentleman with him who would see
him safe homo. Dnubmun said he had been
scolded for not bringing him the first time and
this time he would have to come. Hunter then
told his wife that he thought he bad better 90
AMI take his son with him.. He did SO.
The sheriff. detective. Hunter and son en-
tered The Shcrfi's Office in Camden between
additional information. calculated to impliratc
Hunter hnd been secured. Hunter was then
examined by the District Attorney in the pres
encc ofthe Mayor. Sheriff. detective. and his son.
Deputy sheriff acting IA an amanuensis. He
answered all questions without hesitation.
Hunters son says that when his father nut on
his hat To return home the Sheriff SAID, " We've
gOt you where we want YOU and you must stay
where YOU are" He was then placed in coniine-
mcnt.
Benjamin Hunter belongs to an old Philadel-
phia family olQuNkere extraction and his chara'
nj.
lives in quiet style in Il small house at Tenth and
Horton streets. and is reputcd to be worth about
tbu.uOO. Much OF this money was made through
IN" invention Of patent back log boiler. He
mad practically retired from business when he
became acquainted with Armstrong. Armstrong
was very poor and seoms To- have hern shack
ling business man. Hunter loaned him money
to carry on his music printing establishment,
and advanced small sums until Armstrong owed
him nearly 81 900. He was regarded as a special
partner. ana did not want himself considered a
general partner His friends say that he in
sured Armstrong; life at Armstrong; sugges-
ton and that the extra insurance was for the
benefit Of Armstrong; family IN ease Of DEATH
They add that Armstrong paid portion of the
money fnr the premiums, and promised to pay
all. and Hunter says that his receipt ought Ia be
found somewhere among Armstrong; papers.
All the policies. however. appear 10 have been
assigned Ia Hunter. The total amount of in
surance is s26.OO0.
Hunters friends were indignant nj the man.
ner of his arrest. They claimed that he was in
nocent. and that he had been bascly trapped
into admissions that formed the groundwork II
ths charges against him. They Were about 10
take steps for his release when they were
checked by the prisoner. who said that he would
not 70 out until everybody was satisf ii Of his
Innocence and he was free from suspicion.
Meantime Detective lodcr searched his house
shop nnd oilice, hunting for clues; The city OF
owned the hammer with its peculiar rivet.
BENJAMIN Franklin said that the ham
rivet in the handle. The Philadelphia news
papers asserted that Armstrong; lite had b"en
insured Tor three months aud that time had
nearly when Armefrtur il.I
This increased the public excitement, and
created IA feeling against Hunter. The state-
Armstrong; life was insured Tor twenty years
on tue endowment plan. certain premium 10
br paid every three months. \ failure IN the
payments, however, would vitaie the policies.
- ABOUT tins timr Hunters vile " nj 90 Aaron
yhia ana an Old friend ~ her husbands and
he>ousht iim TO take sinps to srcur" the
lease Of the prison"r. Benjamin Daniels.
partner OF Mr.. Thompson. who had been h.-
lriended by Mr. Hunter. offered MS services
Ihess gentlemen went t. Camden and rni-
poyed the Hon. James VI. Scovel. Hunter. like
Davis. was Kept III close confinement. H. had
been commiited after the midnight cxHmina-
tion by Mayor Ayres, whose legal arnmen
seems to have been obtained during fifteen
years service n POLICEMAN aud watnhman
- the depot Of the Camden and Amboy
Railroad. lie refused 10 allow Hunters cOun-
sci 10 see or confer with him. and they were
forced 10 appeal TO Judge Woodhull Of the Su-
prcme Court before they were admitted 10 the
Jail. They demanded an immediate hearing
Tor the prisoner. The friends Of Hunter claimed
That the insuranc" companies were directing
the operations against nm, and manifest ri
considerable feeling. After a delay Of several
days Hunl.r was granted formal hear
lug. the Mayor presided. assisted hy Justice
Cassidy. Hunters counsel caulcd that
no evidence was oirred T. show that the prison.
er WAS within the jurisdiction of New Jnr-ev
or anywh"re near II az the time Of the murder.
The agents of the life insurance COMPANIES and
several other persons were examined. No news
paper reporters We're present. and the evidence
was taken down by the official stonograuii.r
Through the kindness Of District Attorney Jen-
kIns, the writer has seen the stenoGrapher's re-
port. AZ u has never been madc pubic. an alb
stract will be read with interest.
Alter F.dele. the EXPRESS man. drug clerk and
doctors were examined concerning the fndihs
ana condition OF Armstrong; 5 body. stephen NJ
Corey.a music typographer employed 10y the
murd rcd man. was sworn. II snid that he
saw Hunter in Armstrong; Office between 10
O'Clock and noon on the day %! the MURDER
Armstrong was deaf. and Hunter was compelled
to talk loud to make him hear. He heard him
say. This man has a bank account. lou 20
oyer to- might at o'clock; and III g with you"
Camden with Mr.. Hunter. and is printed abOvel
Frank Armstrong swore that his lnller told
him. wnii" gong 10 dinner that Mr.. Hunter
said that Davis had money in the bank and ad-
ylsed hlm to 20 over that evening and See him.
He said that Hunter declared that Davis and De
Marrs were dcceiving him. and had arranged
to 20 over to Camden wth him. lie rorroho-
rated Corey's story about the note. and SAW his
alter the murder he went To Mr.. Hunter house.
and there was some hesitation about admitting
T.
and his wife put her head over the balustrade.
asked him ii he went Camden with fat,r last
mght He saii no told him that iather had told me
hr was going with hIm, ami he had written note %
mother 10 tile effect lie said It not 49,, and
tIat lac hhd made no engagement 10 20 over There. |
then told him about their nnling the hammer
perhaps this party who you told m,
hns trracherous' lie sand Perhaps 80" lie did
deny ,hAt he told my father that lie began talk
about .oinr business transactions, aud thugs he lind
my futher, and II lur my feelings, and went
away. He told me about certain papers hr ind en-
dor ed aud certain things reiAtinl 10 The endorsements
and told not To say ANYTHING 10 his VIE,
that he could stand IT, | Hnnor the
the day nf The murder lie said that he
ani father gong out together that he would
nrst wound not look well Tor them both 10 out
together, that II would create suspicion Hunter
iaihD followed him. Father his office MN.
ufrs o. .iN that n-ht. sIw him there.
William n Lambert. lhiiadel hin Hlent of the Mutual
Lite Insurance taupanN. sworn. Hunter came into our
about lst Decemhcr last and talked with
about m.uring about ~ years old Tor SlOpIun the
twettN.year enauwmcnt plan. lew days hiterward a
man made Hppncalun think he snid al the request 0
Mr. Hunter The Application Wh- illed out by my part
nor hut mot quite cumilced owing TO doubt as 10 the
amount stated presumed Mr. Hunter wanted II
81. Oi. and cent ness'nler Tor HIM, but
The uicc. lie said $1,000 and We filled II IN. lie paid
nr premium hrtnie tho issue oi the policy II
quarterly payment Of sl3s 20 The undcrstandin was
tn.t ~ was be ms benefit The policy taken
the of Armstrong ana assigned 10 Mr. lluncr
Tie assl-uurut drawn hy Hunter. An