New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-11
THE DEATH PENALTY.

M Xa
was wrapped in mystery for some time and pubic
opniop was much divided with regard To Hunters gut
the case attracted great interest al over the country
fnntcr the murderer, and John NJ. Armstrong, the
victim had associated III business, the ulsSolu"i
OF their partnership leaving Armstrong IN Hunters deO'
10 tae extent OF about - 600. About December l. $50
10 protect himself he SAID against any possible loss
IInutcr induced Armstrong To insure his ne
for $4,000 IN has UIuuters) favor Slo'VVV
being in the Manhattan. $4,000 in the NeW-1olk Nu-
tual COMPANY AMI $4,000 in the ProNlcrh'' H"ou'
seven weeks after this Transaction January 49, ls7s
two hours after dark, Mr. Armstrong was fcuhd lying III
the streets of Camden n j. with his skull cruSneu d.
and in An nscnsiOle condition. Near him. On the pave
mpnt was found a hammer marked T. W. D' WIN
which the assault had evidently been committed IhS
circumstance led 10 the arrest of Ford W. DAVIS ana
lanes p Dcmaris Of Camden, both of whom were IN
volvcd in commercial complications with Armstrong
Two days afterward Armstrong died at hlS nome ID
Philadelphia. on tue following morning hunter ac
ccutcd an invitation 10 so to NcwJersey 10 FN'lW
Dor aut testimony in the case" but was not perh''u
TO return home the suspicion against hlh' however
bling manly based on the fact Of his holding the large
insurance Oh Armstrong; life As the chain Of evidence
grew stronger. Davis and Demdrs were released ana
Hunter was bound on the charge Of murder
THE STORY OF The CRIME.
Thomas Graham, a ds>olute young man oi rHi'"-
delpha and a former apprentice OF Hunter, was next
suspected as an accOmphcc, and was Swallowed Oy
The q
In the house where Graham boarded. Suhcleut was
learned in mis- way to warrant Granams arrest and on
the 18th March, two months after the murder ne WAS
taken over TO Camden, where he made iul confession
of the deed He rcccd Hunters proposition 10 nm 10
murder Armstrong for which he (Grahaln) was to re-
cciyc $500; how the conspiracy failed on one occa-
sion ; how on the fatal night Hunter. wearing new
felt hat and with his face so muted up as 10 ne ul-
recognizable went III company with Armstrong to Cam
den Graham following them with the hammer Whlch
Hunter had provided him with, and how NJ ruin ana
Vinc-ss. Hunter gave him the signal for the attack
Graham then claimed that after he struck tie hrst
blow his heart failed him seeing the distressed aud
reproachul look the face of the helpless man. ana ne
threw down the weapon and away, leaving Hunter
and the victim in the darkness. soon afeTward Hunter
TONED him at the ferry and Informed MN that TIC
UIun,er mad finished him" BOth then came over the
river separated IN Philadelphia, and tnc next day
Hunter paid hm $40 for his share in ihe muIdelous en-
terprse.
TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
After this confession a the bill was found against
Hunter aud on the lOth Of June he WAS brought to tlIa
Testimony, which TO DE conclusive, wa brought
here TO show that Hunter not only muIdcrouy assaulted
his victim in the streets OF Camden, and 10y cutting lnl-
tails ON the weapon sought involve an innocent man,
he also went 10 Armstrong; house in the char
acicr of friend the day after the assault and tam
pered with the wounds the head of the diving man,
who was s inscusble, causing them TO open aircsh.
His made great efforts 10 prove an ab but they
broke down. and the 81 day OF july he was convicted
OF murder the first degree Although the jury re-
manned out near, three hours, 1t was subsequently
stated by some or them that they would have convicted
the accused without leaving the box had they not
dreaded the ensuing excitement After his conviction
strenuous efforts were made TO save his HE. judge
WoOdhull oycrruled motion for new trial He was
ably pleaded Tor before the Court Of Errors and Appeals
The great influence brought to bear on Governor Nc
Celan las been unayaIiug, and Hunter has PAID the
nalty OF the highest crime known 10 the law.
TnE MACHINERY OF DEATH.
At an early hour this morning a crowd began to as
tembe before the Court House in Camden 10 witness
what could be Of the preparations for the cXccu-
ton The place selected for the execution inside of
the Court House az the intersection OF the two main cor
ridors which run INTO the shape of cross on the first
floor There was no scaiold nothing being visible Of
the machinery for the execution except lOuG noosed
rope hanging apparently from tine ceiling This rope
passed up through the ceiling and the floor of the court
room above. running over two pulleys, thence again
through the dor to the basement where IL lsat-
tacntd To large weight weighing about 800 pounds.
Tins weight wa> elevated about five and hall feet aud
Was held in position 10y second rope, the cutting Of
which would permit to fan thus drawing up Tic moose
on the other Extremity Of the rope distance from the
noOr corresponding II the fall of the weight below
The MUEDEEEEs LAST HOURS.
In the narrow corridors o. the courtroom about zoo
persons. comprising the shoHGs posse comtaus, MEM
bers OF the press, and others were tightly packed to-
I
tanned delncauor Of sluggish indifference He VAS this
morning in an extremely respondent state of mind He
arose at o'clock refusing to patdkc Of any breakfast
At 1880 Il. IN. fins pulse was about 100 The report
of his attempt at suicide, by cutting an artery III his
thigh, conhrued by the county physician, and lac was
very weak from loss Of God resulting from the wound
After this attempt suicide he made another by rcfus
NJ 10 eat but kept alive Dy injections. His pulse
nj various times ha, gh $50, and this morn
ing hc very nervous. Al ll:O2 a: NJ the count
Hunter was very weak. HIS brother, sonln-law, and
the Rev. Dr. Kunkeman, oi Philadelphia, were with
being unable to walls, was carried dO"nslaIs'
SICKENING SPECTACLE.
At 1874 the vretched man, having been carried
downstairs and into the inclOsuTc III the corridor,
was IN au utterly helpless condition. The white
cap was quickly adjusted over lis face,
aud the rope was placed around his neck,
while four held MIN on his feet, the condemned
criminal being seemingly Obvious To all the surround
ings. The sher put the usual question TO him as TO
whether he mad anything to say Why hs execution
should not take place, but he nude 10 response. At
1l:2j the sheriff cut the auxiliary rope and here
occurred sickcniuc spectacle. THc rope either had
too much slack or gave way so much that II
nfrd tue cuiprit barely from the door. when
he fen back, ana was caught 10y the assistants
sheriff Calhoun seized the rope leading TO The basement
and hOistcd Hunter into lcalr and he hanged only
by a number Of persons holding the rope durug the
whole time M which hc was suspended Tic physclans
sad at once that MS meek Wa not broacn, and although
ne died by stru gdldou. he gave no outward evidence
OF pain. hanfn., quietly though ne dlcd Instantly
Three minutes after hanging ms pulse beat az 81 one
minute later AT lO3. aud al ll"l 10 beat ~ lii The
maximum. AZ ll:5l the pulse Wa 81; AT ll:' IL be
spasmOdlc, and a lliolt had ceased aiiosctAoE
At l2:Oj the rope was cut ana the dead body was
viewed 10y jury after which the County Physician, DI
Morgan, gave certificate The b1db was Lien urINrIcd
to John G. Hunter, the brother who has all along been
devoted IA his efforts To s"cure some mitigation OF the
sentence. lie took IT 10 Phl3dcphIa where II VIII be
buried from Hunters late residence.
ron c.sou: but 10 is generally believed taat either rs
admissions Of ms own or by voluntary statements he