New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-03
THE EVIDENCE AND THE FUNERAL.

Al 10 o'clock the jury present and Mr. Blair IN
side room with his counsel ex-Judge Ellsworth and W.
II Arnoux At halfpast 10, Mr.. Blair, his lawyers ana
several OF his intimate friends, TOOK seats wthn the
bar where they remained during the proceedings Mr.
Rlsjr appeared exceedingly sad and thoughtful. He
gave the closest attention 10 all the testi-
monv but seldom spoke On entering the room and
of,erward he bore sharp scrutiny well. Wis youthful
appearance ana earnest manner throughout appeared
70 produce a very favorable IMPRESSION Among Ve
snectators within the bar were Miss Rebecca Draper
and her friend Miss Chtteuden, who was mistaken by
many for Mrs Blair who has not appeared at all in the
courtroom.
Tho orst witness called was Holland Lees He and
Herman Endern were in the employ OF David Tuers'
farmer living next to Mr.. Blair. who testified on the
pr,yous day These three men were together on that
Thursday evening Tuerss barn, som5O or GOO feet
fran Mr. Blars barn They overheard the loud taking
and ran over TO the fence nearest Mr.. Blair's place
,tor tbcv heard two pistol shots they went Into MI
Rair ward Lees described what WAS done for the IN
,urcd man. and stated that Mr. Blair showed him re-
yover that he .aid he had wrung out Of Armstrong;
hands as Armstrong going to shoot him. lie heard
Mr. Blair say that ne did not mean to shoot the man SO
high m Herman Enderlin testified that he heard Mr
pl,ir ssv ., shot Armstrong in sefdeencc" He heard
Armstrong say You ruflan, Won have murdered me-"
THE TESTIMONY or MISS DRAPER.
Mis- Rcbecca b. Draper. young lady OF intelligent
o,roarapce WAS next summoned. She gave a straight
forward account Of the aff ir as follows:
"I live i'm Montclar, and am frequent caller ~ MI
Rlair's house On the afternoon OF the shoonnG
called at O'Clock aud accompanied Mrs Blair IN the
orr,,ge 70 the train 10 meet M Blair on his arrival
from, Ncv-York on the previous day, while waiting
m tne derot had seen Armstrong drive Mr. BlaPs
horses in front OF beer saloon, and drink glass oi
beer while sitting in the carriage. On starting on ne
began TO heat the horses fmiousy although mad NOT
noticed that they were FESTIVE or unruly before He
strnck them heavily dozen times or more ana thfy
were going rapidly when nev parsed cut OF sight When
Going 10 the tram with Mrs. Blair spoke OF this,
and after our arriva at home with Mr.. Blair
7 told him how had seen John abuse The horScs Inc
thing was talked over at the tea table. but Mr. Blair dd
not seem angry about H. Alter supper he SAID ne woud
sp ak pleasantly 70 John about IT, but Would not 90
ANYTHING to make him angry"
Mas Draper was here asked ny Prosecutor ADeeI whV
Mr. Ra1r said he would speak pleasantly 10 John. and
he was not in the habit of speaking pleasantly Sh" re-
ned that Mr. Blair explained the matter by telling
them that on the previous evening whcn ne
told John TO do something, John had Gazed at him
ferceIy and had looked as though he would do some
thing wicked If he had chance.
When Mr. Blair went 10 the barn" Miss Draper re-
s7,rned Mrs Blair the children and went ont on the
lawn partly to see what would occur. Soon aervard
willie MI Blair standing outside the barn, heard
John begin to tax loudly and to swear could not see
him and did not hear what Mr.. Blair said. After the
swearing had grown more violent, Mrs. BAR
started up saying, I viii 90 10 the
harm and see if NY presence won't make John stop
swearing Mrs. Blairs action had no effect. ! then
saw Mr. Blair come from the barn toward the house.
and when he was near the door my attention was de
verified by Mrs Blair's coming TO the lawn and telling
me 70 90 into the house with the children, as she was
afraid something was going to happen. As we were
going into the house saw Mr. Blair come out and go
toward the barn. but did not seeG pistol IN his hand
After he went to the barn this time heard no more
talking, but while IN the house heard tho men
90 upstairs in the barn. Then came the two
pistol shots At once Mrs. Blair and started
ont toward the barn aud when had gone only few
feet we met Mr. Blair coming with two pistols il Lis
hand. Mrs Blair cried:
80 on. Joe, wnat Is the matter Come here qqleK'
a. Mary was the reply, / couldn't heip II; h"d TO
dnit have shot John. This Is the pistol when TOOK
from nm, when be was gong 10 shoot me-
s he said these words he showed Us the large, rusty
u.tol W. all went the house then, and went no
c'ot Opbeiia I'm on the floor and eHoarm an afraid
John has shot Mr. BLAIR on gong upstairs Mr. Blair
olt a gi1ss OF brandy to the injured man.
when Dir BLAIR came in from the barn after the shoot
ing ne w-ut upstairs and put the pistols into the TOP
bur au drawer IN his room ana locked the drawer lie
said TO me d l6f sbot n6 he wouG have Killed me-
1t either he or and 80 shot nm. ala II IN sell
ain response 10 questions put by Prosecutor Abce Miss
Draper stated tnat she did not hear Mr. Blair say any
tn about getIng his pistol when first bach 20
Inc house. she uid not know that he had
pistol, or ANYTHING about what he was go
ing 70 DO when ne went back TO the barn,
When Mr BLAIR came back first ne appeared a trih'
nervous. lie lold her ID exp anaiicn ~ me manner
OF the smoothing that he followed Armstrong up The
stars when ne was g9Iug up to get revolver. Inc
door locked, and John started TO open II WIN his
right hand, when MI. bar belH'N MN WIN MS Ict
and told him not 10 open IT, John dd op,n H. and
seized the Other pistol when; aa pr, Par saeS mt
pointed the revolver al Mr. Blair when he shot INN the
In repy TO questions put by Mr. Arnoux, Miss Draper
stated mat Nj. Blair had said ne would DO anything
ana everything John, and that he would nave him
brought IA tue house II necessary; she was IN Mr.
Blnlrs next morning aud "a" hln ave inc Key TO
she was positive that wnen she saw Dir. BLAIR coming
the barn. after the shooting, he hdi Two pistols
Miss Draper accepted the witness lee OF oO cents as
she lett the stand
ARMsTRoSG's ANTE-MORTEM STATEMENT.
County Physician Peter " Hewlett testified TO having
called on Armstrong ~ St Mlcnael's Hospital, in New
ark where he took an an1e-mOrem statement which be
read TWAS loiOws:
Relieving that / an about TO die, and that have
hope OF mercy make the following statement as my
Jyin0 Declaration as 80 now reJcv-d my INJURIES. IT
al arose my sending for glass Oi Deer dd not
drove right soe vita me horses gong home tue
was leapibg ana jumping, ana kcaed, ana gave nm
two or three with the whip Some one saw me, ana
t"id MIR BLAIR tat was abusing the horses. Nj. Blair
told ne thar three nSd told lin mat tod MN
that tuo horse was kicking ana gave NINA sAslp WIN
The wsip and tn4J htd g.ass OF Deer out thai did
MOI n nix that that was any harm. He tnen commenced
to abuse called rae names; cal ed me bloody VII
lam and drunEscd, aud sad ne would not pay me.
said would mako His pay He was then spirluS
up To ME as II Ae wanted 10 strike him. Was Ouy
tsndlHg 10 my hJrsrs-OrddIug them uOwu. Ills wiie
out ana told nIm 10 kill ns; lcan't think OF
tIs exact words. lie tnsn said 70 tne wife: Wat
here, you, Mary, ana viii soon settle THIS boy" He
tbsn 70 tae house, out dud tod Ins 20 ClraI
out 81 The pace. said Yes, give me NV money,
Hs nd ne would give me money. tnsn waited Tor
rev minutes. Hs stood At ths and would not let
eiiAer or the OIeT. then went up SALTS
u the room sleep ne followed me up starr. had
Iny hand latch Of the DOOR when 80 ran ny and
by tue collar with the loft had ana sAOt les IN
left side. pushed Ia the door, And go IA IN room
lie suot inc again when | was down. ne put tL4t Que
in my back when was down; tnen ne
said, 80 That viii quiet you down. my boy" lie sMd
that at door wh.I when be snO! rgen We went
down stairs aAd followed MIN down, and fell do"n
after At TIE bottom OF the stars rht by the door