New-York tribune., 1878-06-25
THE ARMSTRONG MURDEI

TESTIMONY OF BENJAMIN HUNTER THB 'cCUsED
MANTLE STATEMENTS or GRAHAME KXPII-
CITY DENIED-sOME CONTRADICTIONS UNDER
CROss-EXAMISATIOS
CAMDEN, Nj, June 24.-In anticipation that
the counsel for the defence the Armstrong murder
case would place the defendant Benjamin Hunter, on
the witnessstand to-day the Camden Court House was
crowded oyerowng and hundreds were unable TO OBJ
tain admission The prisoner testified that up TO June /,
1877 he Armstrong; silent partner ana had S0OOO
were squared between them by Armstrong; giving him
I'VE notes Of $1,000 each TO cover the capital invested
aud for smaller amounts representing sums lent 10
deceased at various times by witness In the nrst place
he had only intended take out policy Tor $4,000 but
Armstrong persuaded him TO make 1t $4,000, giving as
reason that II he AstrOng to die all his credi-
tors would come IN and his family would suffer Wit
Armstrong told him that be would help TO pay tho pre-
niums and thus the matter was settled Hunter then
described his movements the day OF the murder. On
the morning OF that day he visited Armstrong on Duh
hess e' dd Ap1 pot see Grshame at ali on that
day had not been 10 Camden for year before being
bTo1eLt here by the police lie described minutely
ali his movements on the fatal day, all OF which were
confined to Philadelphia giving times l0callOns rival
incidents By the way, ETC. reaching home finally about
75O D. M and retiring TO bed at TO- According 10 his
own account. Hunter was at the house or Mr.. Epps
from @ D. IN TO CAB which is about the time at which
Grahame testhes that lie and Hunter crossed the ferry
three miles distant, with the victim Armstrong
I'm connection with this IL Will be remembered that
Epps has made AFFIDAVIT that Hunter visited his house
on Tuesday, the night before the murder, and not
Wednesdayl with regard tO the bedroom scene. where
is alleged 70 have removed the Dandagcs from
wounded maus head, causing the WOUNDS 10 pleed
aresh, he declared that all he did was to put on Arm
strOpg's head a clean towel, which he took from the
girl who was present Witness explicitly denied all the
allegations against him concerning his alleged candes-
tine visits 20 Grahame, except when chataDy disposed
TO assist the latter 10 obtain cmplOyment also every
part Of Grahamcs testimony which charges him iun-
teri with hiring Grahame To do the deed, supplying him
with weapons with regard TO the alleged purchase OF
soft hat at Spclsseys store the day OF the MURDER
which considered by the prosecution as an important
link in the chain OF evidence, Hunter admitted going
to the store with Graham and making the purchase,
but swears t was previous his duck shooting eNcul
sion TO Virginia, week or ten days before the murder
After a short recess, and the reassembhng OF the
Court Hunter was tuned over 70 Mr.. jenkins, the
Pubio Prosecutor, for crOss-eXamlnatUn. The
questions confined principally to the amount
OF his income, his relations with Armstrong,
been presumed the hammer and hatchct used TO com
NIT the murder were takcn his association with era
hamo and mis- conduct the fatal day. Ills replies were
mainly straightforward, and were delivered Without
spDg Of extraordinary nervousness but as the mercesB
cIOgsduesiODing took him deeper into the subject he
became confused and although lie looked his incfrOgn
i'm his chair and frequently showed signs Of confusion
He denied that be was at BrOad-st. ana Grard-
ave. on tho day after the assault Dut Wheh
said IN his examination that he there on that
day he admitted It, His assertion that he did not see
Grahame from the time he went 10 Virginia
never kept riveting hammer IN MS XII OF
fools: two OF his hatchets be lost, and all
the tools that he employed IN his business were handed
over TO his successor His severe cr0sse1amnaton was
conducted on the basis Of his nr5t statement when
brought TO Camden on The night OF ms arrest and
the discrepancies were accounted Tor Dy Hunter himself
when after the Prosecutor had perslstently piled him
with question after question, lie replied; Mr. jenkins,
decline 90 answer hat question am not responsible
for anything said In that statement II you had been
terkcd from home ana frlends as was, you
would not be responsible either" 80
At halfpas the Court adjourned and the witness left
the stand considerably exhausted