The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-09
BENZ. HUNTERS LAST DAY.
CIMDEN'S MURDERER SAID TO HIVB
CONFESSED PRIVITELY.
His Nerve Deserving Hin, In Ills Iron Caae--
What sheriff Calhoun snys-A Quakerss
Urgent Letter TO the Condemned Man.

Urgent Letter to the Condemned Man.
CAMDEN, N. j., Jan 8.-The wonderful
nerve which has supported Benjamin Hunter
until this late day has forsaken him. He has
broken down almost completely, and bears but
little resemblance to the man who sat so cooly
and calmly in the prisoners chair during tho
trial. Tho Rov. Dr. Allen Of the old Pine street
Presbyterian Church called upon him this
morning. and prayed for his souls salvation
Meanwhile Hunter lay stretched out on his bed.
his face rs white as the pillow upon which IL
reclinod. DIR. Allen has called several times
before. Hunter having sent for him. and has
sought to get the doomed man to confess. but in
vain. To-day no sat down by tho iron cot and
tried again.
There is no hope for you. he said to Hunt
or. You must square yourself with the
world II you wish to have hope Of Heavon-
You owe 1t to your Maker that you should con-
fess II guilty"
Hunter hcsitated n moment or two. I can
confess to no ono but Christ" he said as he
buried his head in the pillow.
DIR. Allen remained with him a short time
longer and then passed out. leaving Hunter
alone with his thoughts and his lynx-eyed
keeper. who watches his every movement.
Hunter will be hanged at about II A. NJ. on
Friday. Preparations are already making for
his execution. The scafIold will not have the
usual drop Instead. the body will be twitched
upward. In the first story OF the Court House.
whore the entrances TO the building intersect,
the platform will be placed. A hole has been
bored thr )ugh the ceiling Tor the rope. which
Will have attached at one end the weight OF $50
pounds. Hunter being in the upper portion OF
the building cannot hear the noisn mado by the
workmcn. His thoughts arc now mostly re-
ligtous. and he spends much time reading the
Bible DIR. Allen said tonight that he expected
that Hunter would make confession before
Hunters wife and other members Of his fam
ily visited him to-day. They spent most OF tho
day with him. This morning Hunter received
letter from wcll-known Quaker of Phadel-
pha: Hunter himself is Quaker. In the let-
ter Hunter is urged TO confess his sin in the
hope that God may yet forgive him. Tho writer
says:
Oh how oeen have TcmcTEered the impre',ogs on
irlgni AT sumner. Agan and agun d.d thc 'nsu,ge
come hc,ore ne which slt TequTed me ieli thee Of ai
lie that covcreh sins shall not prosper but whose
conie "a and torsakct them shall nnd mercy.
:, AM i wa, also acs9mpapicd win me query of he
San a., ien&iisd & know not am my lro!hcr keererr
fhc , y t S oo te TSHcine to M rsrSa, r
pleading WIN t9es e. Gones. thy gmit ,,.
that ou had giyen up 70 make aul conic sdon before
WY n Si sn sp G'i2, M my l,oM man whe rere1 on ins
a ISSiu m b 1 o1 ,nS @ Ss 1s % hIG % ms st
called with my fhena, Yesterday to soc thee.
but we were informed thou declined our visit But hav
ing thought much about thee surc believe II hest 10
write tIc-, lines. hoping they may be kindly received
AMI seriously considered With desires tho
salvation OF thy soul. am thy sincere friend
The name OF the writor is withhold by re-
| quest II Il thought by some that Hunters
making n confession. SO that they may believe
| him innocent alter he is dead.
sheriff Calhoun told reporter tonight that
| Hunter has made "A private confessio but that
i will not be published until after the trial Of
| Graham. his accOmplice in the murder. He re-
| fused positively to make known the confession,
| but SAID that It would be used in the trial ot
Graham by the State.