The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-02
BENZ. HUNTERS DEFENCE.
Xxx SECRETARY ROBESON ATTACKING
A STORY GRIHIM TOLD.
| Telling the Jury that the Acc"mpiicc' Com
fessi"n IL beyond Bciicr-A New Point for
| the Defence MIR. Jenkins to speak Next.

the pefcnce-Mr. Jenkins TO speak Next.
CAMDEN. July Ex-Secrctary OF TN. Navy
Robcson made the closing argument to the Jury
in defence OF Benjamin Hunter to-day. Tho
Secretary had large audience. and hum
dreds were unable to get into the Court House.
He came troting in just after the hour for open
ing the court. with three or four calf-bound
volumes under ono arm and n roll OF manu-
script under the other. 1t had been whispered
about in Camden and Philadelphia that
George" as every ono calls tho ex-Secretary
hereabouts. was going to make the speech OF
his life. Lawyers and n portly Judge from
Pcnnsylvnnia came over to hear him. Hunter.
with a stiflly starched white vest and newly
shaven face drew his chair close 10 the table
on which the ex-Secretary placed his books
and manuscript. Hunters family sat near
him. as they did on Friday.
Before rising. the cx-S Secretary very carefully
wiped his gold d.bowcd spectaclcs. every now
and then running his eye over the jury as he
did so His face WINS less nord than usual. as
happens when he is especially Interested or cx-
cited. and his curly white hair was brushed
well back from the forehead.
beginning in a low voice and n mnttcr-of fact
manner. he said something to the jury about
| their trying and responsible position. Then he
told them that they could not convict Hunter os
murder in tho arst dcglcc. oxen II th-f were
| satisfied thSs he hired Graham to strike the
blow. unless they were also satisfied that Hunter
was present at the time OF the murder The
defence were going to show conclusively he
said. that Hunter was not in Camden when
Armstrong was killed Therefore he could not
be convicted. But. besides this the improba-
| bility Of Grahams story tho ex Secretary re-
garded as sufficiently great to secure an acquit-
| tai for his client. The whole story about the
| insurance money was nm unbusiness-l kc thing
| A man would he fool to get another's life in
| sur.d, and immediate after kill him and then
at once demand the money. The very act. hc
might Know, would create suspicion. But
Graham knowing that he was being hunted fof
this murder, and knowing that II Hunter were
hanged the insurance policies would be void
might, with far more probability, after he had
have decided to bring the charge TO Hunters
door BY 70 doing he would protect large in
trrrsts, and thereby the chance would hc very
great that he would not suiTer himself for th'
crime; Then said Mr.. Robeson. there IL
something probable
the most important point for the defence
When Armstrong came over to Camden To $50
L. ". Davis. he said. he brought papers ovel
that were 10 play an important part in the set
tement between the two men. Now. where ar
these papers They we're not found on tn
body. They had been rliled from the victims
The ex-secretary said. however. as Col SEQ
vel had said. that. while speaking of thes
caused j. NJ. Armstrong 10 to be killed. Th'
| elDIy lUA hTulluu flls Ol luls UlIutT. thla
ex-Secretary Robeson. is like an Italian tale
| II the story be true. il should be written II
Italian and circulated. 1t is crime which. IL
its details. plan. execution. Is worthy OF the pei
| OF the elder Dumas. unnatural To our soil. ant
incredible for Benjamin Hunter 10 have con
ceived and carried out"
The entire argument was based upon the I'm
probability OF Grahams story. The Jury ough
not. the ex-Secretary thought. TO believe tina
story. because IL wis n tale surprising belief
The ex Secretary did not finish his speech 10
day He had dissected. shred by shred. tn
evidence. and gone into such marrow and mi
mute details that the day was gone before he wa
through. But all that he said. every illusra
| ton. every reference 10 evidence bore upon IN
one point that he hammered at all day. the i'm
| probability OF Graham's story. and tho danger
| therefore. OF believing IL when mans life wa
staked on that belief This argument he plie
with the skill OF a resourceful lawyer now b
insinuaton. now 10y plain. fiat statement. thun
dercd ont one minute by trick of rhetoric an
the next minute 10y a categorical assertion. an
there ara many who believe that the eX-Secre
tary, knowing Camden intellect pretty well Rn
the mental bias of the Jury. took tho rgi
course in persistcntly pounding away all day
that one feature OF the case.
There may b. some excitement before Prose
cutOr Jenkins finishes his speech to-morrov
He has said that he would read some affllavil
| while making his argument. which will onl
| add to some Of the sensational features of IN
| trial. for the defence will strenuously object
| any such reading.