The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-11
THE CAMDEN MURDER CASE.
ANOTHER STRINGE EPISODE ~ THE
HUNTER -IR.TSTRONG MYSTERY.
Hunter Confined In an Iron Cage-A Fellow
Prisoner's startling a Afidavit-HIuntcr Ac-
cused OF tonspiring TO Murder Graham.

cured OF eonsptring 10 Murder Graham.
CAMDEN, n. j., April 10.-On rumors that
now evidence and startling developments in the
Hunter Armstrong murder case would be- nude
public to-day. n reporter for THE SuN visited
the Jail. where he found Prosecutor X. s. Jen-
kins and sheriff Daubman closctcd with n wit
ness who had made n startling affidavit before
Master-in -Chancery Cooper. The affidavit was
taken on Saturday last. but owing to the absence
of Prosecutor jenkins the contents were not
divulgcd until to-day.
To render parts of the statement intelligiblc.
1t must bo understood that Hunter is confined
in an iron cage erected in the middle Of Il room
about twenty feet square in the top story of tie
Court House. the Jail proper or cells being in
the basement The room has two heavily barred
windows opening on Market street. while the
entrance to 1t is through n double iron door.
Tho cage. which stands directly In the cent OF
the room. resembles those used in the Central
Park mcnagcric buildings for the safe Keeping
of ferocious wild beasts with the cNccpti that
thchnrs are much stout.r. and the ceiling and tho
npul Oi massive iron plate. IL il. however. bet
ter than the dark. unNcniilatrd. lOathsOmr and
Nrrmin-nfcstrd underground coils i'm which
Hunter was at first incar'"rnted. and where
Gorham. his confessed Nssuciutr IN the crime.
The startling development to-day wns the cv-
animation OF witness who made affidavit that
Hunter had tried To hrihe him to poison Gra-
ham. the alleged acrompice and hired nssilssin
OF Hunter To- murder Armstrong, as II viii be-
remembered. for $500 Of which sum Graham
snyS he received only twenty-five cents ON tho
night of the murder from Hunter aud some $40
or SD n day or 50 after. The witness. Thomas
Ellis. * ruther hovish looking lle sisted that
b" was "a years old. and had been in the CAM
den jail for sixty days on a sentence for assault
anu battery. mat during MS imprisonment
IN" sheriff employed him about the building.
and among other thipgs hc did was 10 t',ee
meals M to Hunter, ! had bccn doing n is for
some time he said. "whrn one day Hunter
asked me-. Do YOU give that other man unean-
ing Grahdn) tue same a- | gcty | told him |
didn't know. | came down and told the cook
and she told M the next time h. asked that
question 10 tell him yes, ! saw Hunter three
times a day nltcr that. ON the morning of the
2i of April Hunter repeated the question to mo.
and told hlm Graham got the same Vlrtuais
;2Ou on me- He says. You nut strychnine in
his coffee and will give you 500 as soon as IL
is done He said Graham thought he was
smart in blowing on me; he wasn't a. smart u
he thought he was
o. NM, right down and told the miller and
Sheriff The sheriff told me to tell Hunter /
would do it. That same evening Hunter asked
me again II would do il If he would show me-
the money told him yes. lie said, Don't
enough Ji II in his coffee or tea. III show you
Ne money IN the morning us soon rs get ii.
My lnwycr is going t. Ect me the money The
next morning when went up he did not have
any chance 10 speak to me. When went up
last Friday evening, Hollis the keeper on duty.
went out Tor some cigars Hunter did not. say
ANYTHING until | spoke | said How about
tins thing? You have got chance 20 work il
now. IL" SAID, Shut up. somebody will hear
YOU lwent To the door and satisfied him no
one was there: lie told me to speak low. and |
tod him lwQuld work the thing in tho morning.
lie said. on. was only q Joking when | told
you that told him knew h. wasn't joking.
and he need not tell M that He then told me
To- 20 and look and see II some onewas not COM
ing. | satisfied him no one was coming. when
Hunter said. Graham acted dirty with me.
ana uneyer went back on any man in my
your ,oid him yes as soon rs no got the
money. He said he couldn't get it until after
brahasn was dcHd, but YOU do the Job AMI as
soon rs II j. done tell my lawyer TO come up
here that want 10 see him.. We heard Hollis.
ihc k"rrrr coming up stairs. amt he com
day school up here
usual with his breakfast, and Ware, the keeper,
asked me 10 stay while ne went down stairs.
my chance. and told him yes. lie SAID.
Just rs soon as you do II 20 right
down and ask my lawyer TO come up here.
vinusly shown me roll that looked like money."
The above Is the substance Of the affidavit as
sworn 10 10y the witness. Thomas Ellis. and the
truth thereof be stouty affirmed when private
ly examined to-day. His term of sentence has
expired, and there does not seem Ia be any pos
slble motive on his part in making such an ac-
cusation. II false.
sheriff DauDman, when questioned by THE
sun reporter said that he believed il H. ns true
and that II was partly corrohorated. the cook
repeating what Ellis had told her Hunter had
asked Regarding the vic'uals furnished Gra
ham. and TINT, furthermore. Ellis was so much
eNclted on the day the ovrrtur" WAS first made
him by Hunter as 10 attract his attention, and
cause him 10 ask what was the matt 'r with him.
and that he then related the story as contained
in the affidavit
There are others who place little dependence
on Elliss testimony.
Tho trial Will b. moved by the State at the next
term OF the court. the first Tuesday in May,
Graham Will ha used as n witness. and may
thus escape the extreme penalty Of the law
though indicted and convicted Of murder in the
first degree Hunter will hr ably defended. tho
defence being an abi. which the prosecution
claim To be abundantly able to upset. Hunter
himself refuses 10 say much about the murder
or trial. while eager to converse on most any
other subject. OF the result he claims to have
no fear and that his spirits are kept up 10y his
consciousness OF innocence.