The New York herald., 1879-10-08
JOSEPH BLAIR'S TRIAL.

SECOND DAYS PROCEEDINGS IN THE NEWARK
COURT HoUsE-A LARGE AND INTERESTED
AuDIENcE-rHE TESTIMONY TAKEN.
The court room of the Newark Court House was
thronged yesterday by very attentive auditory at
the second days trial of Joseph A. Blair. of tho
Mechanics National Bank. in this city, who is in
dicted for the murder OF John Armstrong his coach
man. ON the 26th of June last. The presiding judges
were Judge A. Depue. of the Supreme Conrt. and
lay Judge John II. Meeker. Prosecutor Abeel and
Attorney General Stockton appeared ON behalf of
the State. and ex-Juose @. s. Ellsworth Cortlandt
Parker and Mr.. William H. Weeks were for the pris.
To the left OF the prisoner sat his wife and
gambolling around both during tho proceedings was
their little son. about hve years old In their
vicinity was number of ladies. principally from
Montclair. all of whom were said to be friends OF
the prisoner.
Miss Ophelia Dyer maid servant in the employ
of the Blair family ut the rimo of the shooting and
whose direct testimony was given at the opening Of
the court on tho previous day. cross-examined
by Mr.. Ellsworth. She said she did the words,
81 am afraid John has shot Mr.. Blair" When
first looked out she said. he was standing upright
the stable doors he halooed murder three times;
when l left Mr.. Blairs family l gave my address
to Mr.. Arnott. the counsel for the Mechanics Bank
and afterward / told Mr.. Arnott all knew Of the
affair; I think told him that Mr.. Blair had said
''when a man says he is going to shoot me I viii
shoot irst;' never said that saw Mr.. Blair with
the rusty revolver; never said that Armstrong
had threatened to shoot Blair; said
that Armstrong cross, ugly man; told Mr..
Blair that Armstrong had given him wicked look;
the first thing Mr.. Blair said when he entered the
house was, II have shot John. and sorry for it,
but il had not shot him he would have shot me-"
Mr. Blair went out to the barn after the shooting.
and heard Mr.. Blair say, "John, you brought this
on yourself" John said. go away. you are q mur-
.kl,s,,
hear and Armstrong said. Il had no pistol at alf
THE ANTE-MoRrEM STATEMENT.
DR.. +. V. =. Hewlett. County Physician. was the
next Witness He gave technical description of
the wounds as he found them when he assisted ut
the post-mortem examination Of Armstrong. and
said he attended him at the hospital; he
found Armstrong dying. but in clear.
he had to die and the witness then told him that he
ought to make his ante-mortem statement. Witness
am about to die. make the following statement"
Armstrong asscnted to that and then made the fol-
lowing statement of his own free will Witness
then read this statement. which follows:-
hope mercy, Following :saisnsns ss s my ny
Il .i out q my sending for glass e sssr did
drove right home with the horses Doing nome tho
horse was leaping and jumping, and kicked. and
as sas' saw S me S
h% II told him % that horse @ getting Kick
Ing and am Su. k Win d As o whp sna
any harm; he then commenced 20 abuse mo; called
said him he wssd he @ % s 'ss
ing Seds Ni WIFE
wsord he then said to tho yifo:1"wait here, you.
went to tho house; he came and told me to
s s se Of said tho he %o% s no
thon waited minutes; he Stood the door
Won't if
s Id The risa r. ss il
shot in the loft s,do; pushed in the door and got In
s' ss rs0% when when wa: down.
@ a s the aasr will aSs; Ss the" my
down W stair. and followed him down, and isii down
shcy s' left % lying there
's' asss tnSw @ Inc dcstor: Looked ssSr sssry
said they would send anS;hs. Doctor did no! e:
s said hs would sond Carriage to take mo
lind s ss Ss ss
% n ny s ds
o R a nn to if 0ss ss Sa SS's in tho s
would have boon inside tho door and All right thi:
DID s s Sors
sn know ns %SsA s would % Or no
tried n; threatened him in way; he did not
IN snaa and ho does NOT Know how 10 use
ns do IT Other way had
work in the garden mind what else Iihad to do;
gracious with him when gave him notice
that going leave; this last Sunday morning
whom told him was going to leave; he discharged mo
when had the fuss last night and told him would
when no gxvo mo tho money. JOHN ARMSTRONG;.
FURTHER TESTIMONY.
Tho signature was Witnessed the witnoss said, by
Drs. Young and Zeh.
In cross-t examination Dr. Hewlett said Armstrong
had been given morphine and liquors. but that they
had little effect upon him; he was about fortyhve
minutes making tho statement. and once or twice
had to be reused.
DR.. Charles Young one of the surgeons OF the st.
Nicholas Hospital. confirmed the testimony of the
previous Witness In cross-exanination he said that
Armstrong said to him that Mrs. Blair came out and
said to her husband, "5hoot the damned rascal"
that witness did not want to hear more. and told
Armstrong to stop. but Armstrong said, Wasn't
that pretty expression for lady to use?
David t. Tuers, who lived next door to Mr.. Blair.
testified to having heard the Afternoon OF tho
shooting considerable talk between Armstrong and
Blair; 1t lasted twenty minutes; he afterward heard
two shots; he ran to tho barn and found Blair with
rusty pistol in his hand and Blair said, Il am sorry
shot you so high up" Armstrong said that Blair
shot him on the stairs.
Holland Lees followed the above witness and gavo
conhrmatory testimony.
Nehemiah q. Plllsbury, Justice of the Peace
Montclair. N. j. testified to taking the antemortem
statement of Armstrong
The Court then took recess until ten O'Clock
this morning. The jury. accompanied by the
Sheriff, will to-day visit the OF the tragedy