Daily Republican., 1879-06-30
A NOTE
Trial for Jersey } Justiee

TfIhl IOr JeTHty SustlCe'
Another murder has been committed
in New Jersey, which COMES SO soon
upon the heels of Policeman Smith S
murder that it looks IS if trial OF Jer-
sey Justice was to be made t" see II
she would rigidly carry out the law. III
this last ease. The diff r,nse in the 60
cial position of the murderer and MUIR
dered is SO great that it will be severe
strain upon the impsrtiality with which
murder cases have been tried in that
State. Mr.. Joseph A. Blair, is the pay
ing teller of the Mechanics National
Bank, No. 33 Wall street, New York,
but resides in the pretty little village
of Montclair, New Jersey. John Arm
strong was an Irishlnan, and his coacn-
man.
Mr.. Blair had been informed upon
his return home, on Thursday last, that
on the previous day his coaehman had
driven pair OF horses to the village
and had treated them very cruelty while
in an intoxicated condition. Upon ar
irving at home, Blair hunts up his
coachman, to give him lecture on per
verse ways. Being man of very quick,
high temper, and Armstrong still surly
and cross, from the previous days de-
bauch, a quarrel ensuel, which made
the gap between the bank teller and
his coachman still wider. Hal the two
men there, iu the heat of passion, car
ried their quarrel to the extent of shoot
ing and killing each other, it would
have only been case of homicide; but
when Blair leaves the scene of the quar-
rel, goes 10 his home, arms himself with
= couple of pistols, and returning re-
news the quarrel, which resulted in
the killing Of Armstrong, a strong case
of prem-ditat-d killing is made out
against Blair. 1t will not do to say
that Armstrong had threatened to blow
the top Of any mans head off who
would attempt to make him leave his
place, in justification of his action.
Blair's lif. was not in danger when he
L. :. L., ,,,1I \ l.
Armstrong arrested for his action, in.
stea | OF taking the law into his own
hands.
In this case there is danger that the
difference in social position between the
parties will interfere with the admins
tration Of Justice. Reverse the actor
Of thu two mn, and suppose that it was
Armstrong who rushed to his humble
room in the cock-loft of the barn, anC
ther- taking a pistol, had returned tt
Blair's house and shot him dead, tber,
could be but one opinion, that it was a
case of deliberate murder, and no doubt
the cOachman would have had to pay
the penalty ofhis crime with the forfeit
of his life. We have 10 desire to see Mr.
Blair mad. out guilty of murder o
which he may In innocent, but j
should be the desire of every body Il
see justice done to rich and poor alike
NO matter how humble or exalted theil
positions in society.
The life of John Armstrong, the hum
BILE Irish coacilman, should be as pre-
cious in the eyes of the law as that o
Joseph A. Blair, though he be a banl
teller and leader in fashionable socie
ty. What makes the affair look al
if Justice was to be inter fered with, i.
that after Blair was committed withou
bail, he could not be found in the
Courty Jail or in any of the Newark
police stations, but that afterwards {
person dressed in woman's clothing
and heavily veiled, came out of Blair.
house and was driven to Bloomfield
where she took train for New York.
is hoped that Jersey, so noted for thu
administration OF justice to rich auc
poor alike, will not now discriminate
when called upon to decide betweel
Joseph A. Blair, the bank teller, ant
his humble Irish cOachman.
Of