Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-01-20
benjamin Hunters Mental Condition.


Ben ;anin Hunters Mental Condition.
Mrs. Bepjami1 Hunter, the wifi, Of tho re-
Gently executed murderer Of John NJ. Arm
strong, has made statement to reporter OF
the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph, which
gives glimpse of the home life and manner
that remarkable MN. who appears to have been
an angel 10 his family circle aDd demon When
bis greed Of money vas aroused. Mrs. HUI
ter said:
"Bapjsmin nu1ter was by % means the de-
moa he is painted, but was, 10 fact, 10 ell bis
family acd social relalloDs--as husband, father,
brother sod neighbor-entirey above reproach.
Some of the newspapers have stated, since his
convicioD, that the oeighbor5 about here have
stories to tell Of bis raonical temper aud evil
passions; but nothing can b, further from the
truth than this, for d0z:Ds Of families all
around rs are wiIIiog to testify to bis kindness
AMI charity sad TO his helplulnoss to all who
needed help or Influence. This very man,
Graham, obtained four or Gyo situations
through his ithuecc, and cana again and
again to him for money, re7er golag away
emDty handed.
Raporrer-How do you feel toward Graham?
Mrs. Huutcr-Oh, if he had only gone TO
us With the story Of Mr. Hunters guilty ap-
proaches to him we would have paid him thou.
ssuds Ct dollars f.r bis confidence, for we would
then have koowo that thes, money troubles
With Mr. Armstrong had crszei Dir. Hunter
aud should have takco steps 10 hsv3 prevented
the consunmatioa Of his pIaus
Reporto Oh thiok, then. that h? ~ tsin-
sane at the timo OF the commission CT his
crime?
Mrs. HuaIeT-Yes, and lo- twp years before
il. Iadccd, when be quit business six years
$50 he did so because, as ho thea told me, 30
felt bis MUD giving way. lie WAS subject 10
spells Of depression that aim0a! auou2ted to
melancholy; passed sacD!csi oiShts al! con
paiacI coastao!l3 OF b!iading headaches. l
feared be would los, his Di1d altogether, ia'
sanity being 10 the family.
Reporter-IIad he relatives insane?
Mrs. uuutcr-Ycs, he he'd q brother who
was for years an inmate OF klrkbride's Asy-
Jun, aud nephew aso W2s iosaoc. From the
strorp's busigcs: and found that be vas 10
danger OF iosos it bis mind became moro aad
more disturbed, bis appetite failed aod be
scare IL slept at ali. tlorc than orco lie said
to me, Mother, il lose tha. money | snal!
70 Grey" always told hin Wien he spoke
10 this way, "D0 cot worry abou.it. Even If
it is n goro VIC .hal still have enough to 1.-Two
90. Ouy keep away trou Armstrong now,
and do net iaiorso oc loan him any more m0bcy.
for it is oDIy throwing good money after bad. I"
lie did not take my advice uotogtuoatcIy,
always hoping, if lie could keep Armstrong
out Of the sheriff. haaGs, he would c7op,uail2
get back his mopoy. | watched bin CONSTANTLY
duriDg all this time and Fever saw him leave
this house without fJari0g be would commit
suicide or cater ialo some disastrous ep9cula'
tiop. Bat never .bcush. of harm comio2 %
Mr.. Armstrong through him, as l never heard
Mr.. Huoter blame or speak III Of him,
Reporlcr-Did your husband confess to you
his guilt 10 this matter?
Mrs. Huutcr-Never. lie distinctly told Iac,
iha ast tia,c ;,ad auy c0pVcrsatlon Hith blD.
Take ibis TO your heart, mother, wtaicVtr
conle:; b0vcr struck JohD Armstrong bow. >
In rasyo9se 10 nav question, Papa, are You
prepared to die?' lie answered, YES, for |
know that however grc5t may have been my
sius q I'd is eble to Wash out aud forgive them.
This remsk vas overheard by Mr., SH!ndcll,
and was the sole Foundation for the story that
Mr.. Hu0tcr had confessed to being gullty.
Reportcr-lt is reported that you were badly
| treated by the Camden authorities 10 your last
interview with yorr husband. Is this true?
Mrs Huncr-Yas; thuk myself and chill
drcD were treated with unparalleled barbarisy by
| tho Sheriff. On the day before that On which
| he was 10 have bacn executed, but which exc
cutiou he escaped by death, | accompanied by
my four chlireD, went to take leave Of my hus'
bard, aud begged to be permitted to enter his
cage aud bill him adieu. At a former Interview
we he'd been told that We might have this priv
ilegc, kut when We went fer our fiosl leave tax.
ing were denied il. Whea NC reached The cage
We fouud bin iu bed aud manac.ed, although
he was so weak aud dszad that even wben, at
| cur petition, The shackes were removed and he
aas brought By his keeper 70 The bars, he could
not speak, AID was unable to raise his hands to
| ours. One Of bis jaers, however, raised his
arm and pushed his bard through the bars He
c5uld net speak, although he struggled to do
so, aud |, 10 my agory, begged to be
allowed 10 20 iaside the cage with my children
and press one kiss on his forehead before We
parted forever. The sheriff said We might
DO this If We would keep our hands behind
our backs aod make 90 other demonstration
He, however, concluded that VIC should wait
half al hour and be would consider the prop-
riety of allowing this favor. He then Weut
away. apd WHEN be returned told US that II
could not be; ard right 10 my husbands hear
| log. II, lrdeed, ne could near anylnlog at t0at
| nomeot, said, "You had better 90 home ard
prepare to receive bis dead body" A5d so
| we went away without one embrace.
R,po7ter-Pfa7iously to this had Mr.
Hucier been tra:,ed veil By those haViog him
10 charge?
Mrs. Hunter-He never coDpIaioed, but l did
DO, think he was treated we'll. After his coa-
viction Sheriff Daubman went to Atlantic City
! ny Tan Nav to IN porn rnanv rynpk5 EIthous
making the smallest provision for my huabaud'
food ard be Tas obliged to live Oh bread and vat
er aIo1e,as he did 20. dtiak coffee, until some o.
the officials told ue | might supply his meals
from home This Idi1 three times day 10
til l Gas utterly broken down, and then | mad!
arrangements with person in Camden 70 serd
him his TODD regularly FIR s. per week. Ga hi
return to lis duties Sheriff Daubman charged
| and rcc,iqcd thirty scQen and q half CENTS tn]