The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-14
THE MURDERED COACHNAN.
Alleged Attempt to ExtoIt Money
from the Blairs.
OPHELIA OVERS CRASHING FATHER.
Some Odd Revelations in the Mont
clair Murder Trial

81 did not call Armstrong bloody villain" said
Joseph A. Blair yesterday in answer to query by
his counsel Mr.. Ellsworth. Ibid not refuse to pay
him. did not spar mp to him. Mrs. Blair did not
say shoot the damned rascal did not say to my
wife. would settle that boy"
Ibid you refuse to allow Armstrong to leave the
barn?"
~ did not; Johns room was usually locked and
was locked at the time of the quarrel"
"After Armstrong fell did you shoot him again."
IL did not shoot him when he down; never
said to him after firing. That will quiet you down.
my boys did not stand at the house and say.
Come on. john; did not tell my wife or Miss
Draper to 20 into the house either before after
the shooting
'Did you say to Ophelia Dyer. When man says
he will shoot shoot irstT"
II did not"
did you go back to Johns room for the old re-
volver?"
81 did not. took the revolver from his hand at
the time Of the shooting
At this point the defence handed
the defendant to the tender mercy of
Prosecutor Abeel, and there was move
ment of intense interest among the audience
many half rose in their streets the better to watch
the proceedings but tho court officer waved hi
hand and the spectators resumed their former atti-
tude of rapt attention. The defendant said, in
answer the counsel. that when he lived in Silver
Lake Cottage Mountclair. he awakened
night by chicken thieves on his premises, and get
ting his gun fired shot into the air to brighten
them.
He denied shooting ut the visitors and said he did
not hear aferward that tho supposed thieves were
respectable man named Williams and his son. This
the only time he shot at to brighten any
one Tho evidence then turned several points of
mn I'M inn in he N
killing Of Armstrong. Prosecutor Abeel question ed
the defendant AGAIN as to the scene which imnedi-
ately preceded the shooting.
kEaEARSING THE TRAGEDY.
During the recital the witness displayed consider
able nervousness He repeated the story of having
seized Armstrong by the arm to prevent him enter
'.You say John dragged you into the room. Did
either of you strike against the slower?
II don't think either struck against the stove.
do not think the stove was in line from the door to
the shelf"
'When you went for your revolver what did you
do with it,"
II put it in my hip pocket and did not take it out
until fired In Johns room"
That's all. said the Prosecutor.
Mr.. Parker then inquired of the witness about the
visit of the chicken thieves without obtaining any
light on that affair.
The Prosecutor returned TO the cross-examira tion
by asking Blair if he did not say ut the inquest that
he had hold of John by the hand when he shot first.
The witness said mo-. and added that he made his
statement at the inquest under great agitation.
Prcsecutor-Now, Mr.. Blair. take the revolver and
show how you held it when you tired.
Blair thereupon took the pistol and held it close
to his right hip with the muzzle pointing down
''That was the position in which you fired the
first shotl' queried the Prosecutor
You were nearer to Armstrong when you fired
the irst shot than when you fired the second?
IL think WAS
Here the Prosecutor looked over the evidence at
the inquest.
you gaasped him by the hand when you hred the
second shotY'
no; think not"
'But you said John dragged you into the room.
You must have had hold or him :"
my hold slipped just inside the door,.
During the cross-examination Blair exhibited
much nervousness The Prosecutor dismissed him
with the dry exclamation
There was IA marked awakening OF interest when
the counsel for the defence called Miss Draper to tho
STAND. The audience were in their seats to catch
glimpse OF her as she passed from her place in
OF the rows OF seats inside the bar to
take her place on the stand She exhibited
the marked self-possession which has distin-
auushed her throughout the trial. Her dress
the same us former occasions-deep black relieved
by white lace neckte. On being sworn the coun-
sci FOR the defence requested her to state how Mrs.
Blair returned from the barn.
,''She came across the grass Then, this did
not seem to her sufficiently clear, she said-I could
illustrate"
Counsel replied-"very well, and the young lady,
taking up the pointer. showed that Mrs. Blair had
crossed small patch of grass i'll front OF the stable
door until reaching gravel walk which led down
to this clump of trees beside the house. where the
hamnocks were swung.
What did Mrs. Blair say to you when she
turmoil" ''She told to go into the house and
taxe the children. ~ John was going to school"
AN UNEXPECTED sENsATIoN.
The next witness called was Ophelia Dyer, the
want girl who witnessed the shooting. The audi
cnce exhibited almost M much interest in her i'll
the former witness. Ophelia DYER is n rather
good-ooking and intelligent girl. She was dressed
neatly and i'll excellent taste. She had a round
white felt hat. trimmed with dark blue silk; dark
dress, faced with slotted silk harmonizng in color
with tho trimmings on her hat. Her lett hand was
encased i'll a black glove, and in her right she hold
black ran closed up.
There was some delay in proceeding with her ex-
animation. owing To the abs encc OF witness named
Henry Kane. who was called specially to contradict
portion OF her testimony aud for whose presence
the lawyers for the defence seemed somewhat
anxious. Finally the cross-ex examination was begun.
Just as Kane appeared i'll company with an officer
or the court.
Mr. Ellsworth began by asking tho witness
the witness said she did not. Kane then
tronted with her and she said she remembered hav-
ing seen him.
''Did you tell Mr.. Kane that John was an ugly man
and had brought this all himself?" asked the
counsel.
John threaten to blow Mr.. Blair's brains out"
"Havo you said that for $500 you would go out of
the country aud not come baek? pursued the coun-
sell
mo- sir" was the reply
'Havc you made proposition
40 whom asked the Attorney General.
10 anybody responded defendants counsel.
"whereY interrupted the Attorney General again.
anywhere, returned the counsel. "Have you
made proposition 10 anybody anywhere, that for
$500 you would leave the countryT
"No. SIR. replied the Witness
And that IL the money was not paid YOU would
give testimony that would hang Mr. DlairY' pursued
the counsel completing his question.
''No. sir"
"Did you 90 to Dair's brother in Brooklyn with
your fathcr-or q man you call your fatherr'
ayes sir"
opHELIA's PAPA.
"Who was that manY'
Ellis name is David Dyer. He "a my father; lie
lives IN spring street--boards there: at what num-
Der cannot say he 10 boiler maker; he asked me
to meet him TO 80 to Hail Biar's store in Brooklyn
went and no went"
did you propose that tor $500 you would go out
of the country"
NO, sir. IL was my father who did all this My
fathor proposed it. yes sir but told him would
not 40 away"
"Did you tell Mr. Blair when he asked as TO the
importance OF your testimony that you would
that you heard Blair say before the shooting,
1T cannot be helped; must 10 tY'