The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-16
A MURDERER'S CRUEL WORK.
SOARING OPEN THE POUNDS ON HIS
DYING JICIIM'S HEAD.
Te.inony Intcnded to Show that benjamin
Hunter thus Attacked John VI. Armstrong
An ht. ned-An Exciting Scene In Court.

CAMDEN, juno 1j.-NIuch OF the testimony |
which it Is believed will cause Benjamin Hunter |
10 be hanged. for tho murder Of John NJ. Arm
strong in this place on the 23d Of last January |
had boon presented TO the jury when they re- |
aired last night 10 the room in which th'y arc
kept close prisoners ~ The Shcrin. They haVo |
hoard the accomplicc Graham tell how Hunter |
had hired him to strike Armstrong With |
hammer md how Hunter had led the muir |
dored man arm In arm. to his death. They
md heard various witnesses corroborate some |
of Graham's statements about his meetings with |
Hunter when tho plot was being contaminated
md had learned that 1t was Hunters Intention
10 have tho murder charged upon one Ford W.
Davis noar whose house Armstrong; manglcd
body was found and who was known to have
had trouble with Armstrong. They had boon
told by insurance mon that Hunter had ncgo-
tiatcd policies for his own benefit on Arm
slrongs life amounting t. 500 600 within three
months Of Armstrong; death. But mono OF
this evidence affected Judge counsel Jury.
nnd the gaping throng in the court room APP
parently. rs did that given this morning. Sew
cral Philadelphia lawyers. keen eyed and
hatchet visagod who knew that a witness was
10 tell how she believed that Hunter had opened
nfresh the wounds OF the man he il charged
with striking with hatchet were inside the
bar. 1t was 10 be bit u criminal testimony
that lawyers who aim to excel in that branch oi
practice proposed L. take advantage OF.
Mrs. Sarah A. Smith pale and weary-look-
ing woman was called 20 the stand. She seemed
10 be suffering and she is said to- recall the OK
perionce she was about to tell with horror. Tho
counsel were gentle with her. even those OF the
defence. whose cause they know she might
greatly injurc. She told them first that she had
known both Hunter and Armstrong for many
years. and was intimate with the families ofcach.
So when she heard on the morning Of January
M tl.,t I.t,,, luI l.lar ctr ttal
with hammer ana Ratchet in Camden and had
been found lying unconsr ious on tho sidewalk,
eho haatencd at once To- Armstrong; house in
Philadelphia whore he had been taken She
found the wounded man on his bed. tho great
wounds on his heal sk!ully banIaGcd but he
was moaning and une'n-c!.u-; Nobody knew
and brother law had both been to Hunters
house. because they remembered that Mr.. Arm
with hun unit That MI n,: BIT from Hunter they
had learned that this was AL mistake. Hunter
nuiro about his iriend and partner. ami here
NIrs. Smith saw him. lie had even brought his
vito with him 10 offer neiEhhorly aid ant con
ISOLATION Mr.. smith could not help saying to
Hunter when she saw him: ,.,,.
Il don't understand YOU Mrs. smith, Hun
ter replied; l. wis no, 10 Camden last night;
But if YOU oniiy 'iiai Gbcyni With him" Mrs
Smith replied. this migitnot have happened
remembercd and sie ri,urncd 10 the room in
which Armsi rone Law. HIS meanings had then
ceased, but there wcr" couNulslye twltchinhs of
She sat there. sle Said. COR some time alone
with Armstrong. A. length Hunter came in. and
Mrs, smith gave Nun rAair Mrs Snth had
minutes and then said softly To her;
" l. he ounsc.gus Does he speak p and she
replied that he hat h"t % uu 'nus'iuus from the
1irsi. This rCrti ol her experience with Hun;
ter ~ the SICK D. nm she iorEot to-day n did
day and put It IN evidence. she went on with
erst9ry this morning. saying that she turned