The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-04
BENJAMIN HUNTER GUILTY.
,uE yERDICT Made ny THE jury IN
,ur ciMDEN MURDER TRIAL.
p,,.oner'. Fate settled Before the Law
GER. Began to Araue-A Solemn scene In
a.. Court Room How Hunter Bore the
xs.d,ct- -Fx.secretary Robcson's Grief

,.,.o,e,.. Fate settled Before the Law
IN ucuap TO Aruue-A solemn Scene In
-. ,ourt Hoor-uow Hunter Bore the
x,..si.t- -Tx.secretnry Robcson's Grief
CAMDEN. July 3.-Tho argument OF Prose-
.c,or Jenkins to the jury was the shortest that
h.s been made by counsel in the Hunter trial.
,,is nurnosc was to seize the most salient facts.
sn.b ms in his estimation proved conclusively
Cha guilt Of Hunter. and give them connectedly
- ,be Jury. Hunters family who sat beside
him during the four days that his counsel
.note were not in court to-day. Instead. they
-, nm stairs. where Hunters cage is.
Tn beginning Prosecutor jenkins referred to
Ao minors that some OF the jury had said they
rsre on the side where there was the most
money This he said. must be false. He could
ro, beleye IL. Then he asked permission TO
,nude 10 Col. Scovel's abuse OF Sheriff Daub-
nan and Detective Yoder. Had 1t not been
Jor these men," lie said. who wrestlcd with
,bs pots of unwise friends OF the defendant.
and their unscrupulous Vaccinations. would
no, have been able to present to you the most
periect case Of corroborative proof which mod
srn times has afforded. and which has excited
The attention of the whole country" Turning
to Hunter and looking scornfully at him. the
Prosecutor added: 1t i'll becomes this prisoner.
Who has been fed from the Shcrifs own table.
n, tho sherin's personal expense. and who has
bean shown favors until the whole jail is almost
mutlnous about 1t. 1t i'll becomes this prisoner to
ait quiet and allow his indiscreet counsel. under
the protection Of his profession chartered
ilbellant TO smrch with his Billngsgate the
good name ~ the men who are in all respects
this counscls peers. and in many lis supe-
riors"
Here there was loud applause by the auI 'erse
which Judge Woodruff sternly tried to uuell.
"Itthis is repeated" he said. =" shall cause
the arrest Of offenders and commit respectable
appearing men for contempt a. a warning to
the rest
The Prosecutor then began his argument.
First of all. he urged that the man who Killed.
or caused 10 be killed. John NJ. Armstrong must
have been familiar with the Davis complication.
In fact. from such familiarity tho plot Of the
tragedy was hatrhed Hunter admitted on
cross.examination that he knew u It. He was
tho man who told Nj. Armstrong that he saw
murder In Daviss eye. II, know that Davis
owed Armstrong money. and that Armstrong
had been TO Camden TO gei it. Hence Ills plot
II was intended TO protect him. q rich man. at
the expense OF the poor man. with six babes
dependent on him. There Is proof enough that
Hunter went t. Camden with Armstrong on the
evening OF the murder. Then the Prosecutor
turned 10 the motive. Hunter was living be-
yond his means. After paying all expenses.
HE yearly income was only $500. BY insuring
his debtors life and then causing his death.
Hunter would get large sum 81 money
sudden interest in Graham during the months
Of December and January. Hunter now says
his interest IN getting work for Graham ceased
Immediately after the murder OF Armstrong.
The Prosecutor. as he began 10 speak OF Gra-
ham seemed TO be much affected. and the cause
forward and speaking in II low tone. he said
Won M ballpVa that Thomas Graham
has been given the chance OF saving his life
No. The State OF New Jersey viii never per.
NIT hired assassin to escape the punishment
due HIS crime. / cannot express 20 you how
sorry shall be to soc Thomas Graham exc.
cuted. yet must say to you now that as surely
as Thomas Graham came forward here and told
bis story: lust So surely ho must hang =,
This official statement caused sensation. II
was the nrst time that the Prosecutor hnt
spoken OF Grahams punishment. although th'
defence have insisted that he was to get oil verl
The story that Graham told and the corrobo
Eation Of il were then Clearly ,Sy Hni 70 ne inry
TO prove an albi told against him and, further
that Hunters denial. If true, proved that all IL
Se judge s5i woodhus is charge hare, 10 the jury wa
short. and the opinion was thnt II was YER
much against Hunter. The prisoner frequent
brow exctely with his handkerchief; but III
expression OF his face was the same stolid
teristic during the trial. The Judge said in hi
charge that he could not refrain from calm
llt hlttlIlNu u AAt lul ~ Ai4' l'shHih iAiN'
made during his preliminary examination
namely " wish John, N, Armstrong had 6ee
said. was II strange remark for man 20 max
who bore such reputation Tor Kindness
WAS for bssous 5se sry mSn aS'ge WAS W9gi9s aKe
Mind. 20''Hig Huptdr's r. "dSsiense had been dT.
jury believed they were bound to accept
lu, they should remember the tremendou
tsmpta'lon % a mtn placed as Hunter was I
f4Xgv.tllV for himself Q4 nDs6lIlt
Then his reputed good character was nnothe
defence led On. Ne man ever established
better rcpuie. twas for the Jury to say wheth
er In SPIT. ot this he was bad ~ heart. tn
Third point u the defence was the nibli II III
Jury hal any reasonable doubt about Hunter
being az 'hr spot when the mur'irr was com
ntled, they were bound to give hm the bench
A'5 5orlo'k the Jury retired. and were order
Al s, or5,E the jury sent word 70 tn
shern !i i'- that they had agreed. Al thi
tms iN're We're not more than il!iy persons II
tie court room. for n was not expected that m
lAy .w.ul report before o'clock Judg
Jenkins. rx-Srcretary lobeson. and Col. S'oye
Ie rr@r mat the Iufy had G asreGGd was $. re re
whore l.r u.d look suuarely al the luror5 an
g. they llei IN, Jed By the Sherlns deputy
Hunter -.iuuol the countonance Of every on
o' them. Ju so Woodruff raped with his littl
gave. tui tnl3 WAS not necessary; The cour
om" rs luictas ne ernye. EE,sefreiar ~, tai,
dirwt. uar ~ d luittal. since the jury ha
asterl quickly drew near the Jury box an
STOOD ioun. .', against the table Then the age
eo9r 'u' stood up and almost whispered
-, u'l' u oi the Jury have you agree
" i,.Ae. repled tho foreman in stead
voice Hunter threw his head back upon IN
chalr anl crossed his legs. His face was rs OK
hlssoil',s ~ thatot statue. lie looked upo
the ioraa.u with half-cOsed eyes that twitche
Tanl q. in tho direction Of cA-seeretar
VIVA, say you ?" said the crier in the sam
ioW t0n". Is the prisoner at the bar guilty o
NJ guluyf'
Guilty Of murder in the first degree" tn
Iortman answered IN Il clear voice.
Hunters iace did not show the shadow OF a
eNpr, SION. He still keIthl- head on the chair
'k ANA his eyes fAed on the iurrman but cx
Sacretury loboson dropped into his chair as
10 wrre tae person found guilty, His nori
eomprAl IA changed to an ashy palenebs. an
hs br .ilth came quick like man ln great dis
ises' Nhen he turned 10 look at Hunter grei
tears wrrr ir king down his ch"eks.
Noy qupty Prosecutor Jenkins suggeste
mat ihr Jury be- polled. Each Juryman r,
tp1nl'l nuuiy tlat the prisoner was guilty
furler IN the first degree. Judge Woodhu
V"n d'-mIs-od the Jury until Monday,an the
20 tltastr Nftttti