The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-17
BENJAMIN HUNTERS MENTAL CONDlTIOy

WHAT THE WIDOW OF THE MURDERER SAYS OF
hIM-sHE ADMITS HIS GUILT, BUT THINKS
HE WAS INsANE--A TENDER HUSBAND AND
FATHLR AND A GOOD MAN.
PHILADELPHIA Jan. 16, 1872
Mrs. benjamin Hunter, the wife of the recently
executed murderer or John NJ. Armstrong has made
q statement to q report OF the Ereaiaq Yeicgrapa
which gives glimpse OF the home life and manner
OF that remarkable man, who appears to have been nm
angel III his family circle and a demon when his
greed of money aroused. Mrs Hunter said
benjamin Hunter by no means the demon hi
is painted, but was. in fact, in all his family
and social relations--as husbands father.
brother and neighbor-entirely above no.
proach. Some of the newspapers have stated,
since his conviction that the neighbors about here
have stories to tell of his tyrannica temper and evil
passions but nothing can be further from the truth
than this, for dozens of families all around
willing to testify to his kindness and charity and to
his helpfulncss to all who needed help influence
This very man, Graham. obtained four FIVE situa-
tons through his influence and came again and again
to him for money. never going away empty handed"
REroRrER-How do you feel toward Graham?
Mrs HUNTEn-Oh if he had only to with
the story of Mr.. Hunters guilty approaches to him
would have paid him thousands of dollars for his
confidence. for would then have known that these
money troubles with Mr.. Armstrong had crazed Mr.,
Hunter and should have taken steps to have prevented
the contamination of his plans
REPoRTER-You think then, that he was insane at
the time of the commission Of this crime
Mrs. HUNTER-Yes. and for two years before it.
Indeed. when he quit business six years ago he did
SO because, he then told me- he felt his mind
giving way. He was subject to spells of depression
that almost amounted to melancholy passed sleep.
less nights and complained constantly Of binding
headaches feared he would lose his mind alto.
gether insanity being in the family
REpoRTER.-Had he relatives insane
Mrs. HuNTER-Yes he had brother who was for
years an inmate of Kirkbride Asylum. and nephew
also who insane. From the time that he put the
first $4,000 into Armstrong; business and found
that he in danger of losing it his mind became
more and m ore disturbed his appetite failed and he
scarcely slept at all. More than he said to NO.
'.Mother, il / lose that money shall 60 crazy"
worry about it. Even if it is all gone we shall still
have enough to live Only keep away from Arm.
strong now, and do not indorse or loan him any
more money, for 1t is only throwing good money
after bad" He did not take my advice, unfortu-
nately. always hoping, if he could Keep Armstrong
out of the Sherifs hands, he would eventually get
back his money. watched him constantly during
all this time and him leave this house with.
out fearing he would commit suicide or enter into
some disastrous speculation But Thought
of harm coming to Mr.. Armstrong through him.
never heard Mr. Hunter blame speak i'll of him.
REPoRTER-Did your husband confess to you his
guilt in this matter?
Mrs HuNrER-Ncver. He distinctly told me- tho
last time had any conversation with him. Take
this to your heart mother. whatever comes; never
struck John Armstrong blow" In response to my
question Papa, you prepared to dep" he an
swercd, Eyes; for know that however great may
have been my sins God is able to wash out and for
give them" This remark was overheard by Mr.
that Mr.. Hunter had confessed to being guilty.
REronEn-It is reported that you were badly
treated by the Camden authorities in your last
view with your husband Is this true9
Mrs. HuNTEn-Yes; think myself and children
were treated with unparalleled barbarty by the
Sheriff. On the day before that which he was to
have been executed but which execution he escaped
take leave OF my husband and begged to be per-
mitcd to enter his cage and bid him adieu. At afor-
mer interview we had been told that might have
this privilege. but when we went for final leave
taking denied it. When reached the cage we
found him in bed and manacled. although he was SO
weak and dazod that when, at petition, the
shackles were removed and he was brought by his
keepers to the bars could not speak, and
to raise his hands ours. One OF his jalers how
ever raised his and pushed his hand through
the bars. He could not speak. although he strug-
gled to do so. and l. in my agony, begged to be
allowed to go inside the cage with my children aud
press kiss his forehead before parted for
ever. The Sheriff said might do this il we would
demonstration. He, however. concluded that we
should wait half hour and he would consider the
away and when he returned told that it could not
be; and right in my husbands hearing, if. indeed he
could hear anythn Ut that moment said You had
better go home and prepare to receive his dead body
And so we went away without embrace.
REpoRIER-Previoisly to this had Mr.. Hunter been
treated well by those having him in charge?
Mrs. HUSrER-He never complained, but did not
think he treated WELL After his conviction
Sheriff Daubman went to Atlantic City or Cape May.
to be gone many weeks without making the smallest
provision for my husbands food and he was Obliged
to live bread and water alone. rs he did not drink
coffee, until some of the officials told l might
supply his meals from home This did three times
day until / utterly broken down, and then
made arrangements with person in Camden to send
his duties Sheriff DaubInan charged and received
thrty-scv half cents for every meal my hus-
band had taken in his absence, and although
told We could recover the sum spent by this
way not got cent of 1t. Apart from this,
o small of money and due bill. which he had
| in his pockctbook when he removed from his
cell to his cage, was taken from him and has
been returned.
$4,000?
Mrs. HuNTER-Yes aud great deal moro than that.
After hts arrest, several notes Endorsed for Mr..
Armstrong by Mr.. Hunter fell due, and these we
were obliged to take up. Besides this, you know
that Mr.. Scovcl, my husbands lawyer after going
John g. Hunter for money, which he pretended
necessary, and being referred by my brother-in-
law to his of business, Mr. Hnckley, went over
to my husband in the jail, and wrought upon him
by his false representations that he signed judg-
mcnt bond this house for 81 100, which Mr..
Scovel, in his own interest, sraghtway transferred
to q Mr.. Reeves for $3.50, which last We were
Obliged to puy before We could get the boad out Of
his hands.
REronTER-If you believed that your husband
insane, why not that line of defence ten on the
trial?
him on that plea but he positively refused TO 10 so.
saying that the insanity dodge was played out long
agol
n