Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-10

hisIokf or TIE Brutal MURDER OF Iou,,
hkMSTRoNt-THE MOTIVE OF THE CRIME

hisi"n. of THE Brutal MURDER or JOHN N
AhnSiRoNt-THE MOTIVE OF THE CRIME
,S'.ofIeSpondence OF the New York Times rrom
Philadelphia. Jan = say>.-parl,+ IN ,l,a 80,
ltg OF Wednesday, Jan. %. ISIS. Holm M Arm.
s..ong. music txpographer of this civ WAS
attacked IN the streets of Camden Y \ n,,ra
site Philadelphia. on the Delaware ri,-ar rcts,,
ing wounds nom which he died on The foliovtnc
TFiaaS without ever regaining consciousness
Io-HofroW morning. between the hours Of IN
aha O'Clock. Ben jamin Hunter The inti,ooto
Trend and former business partner Of An
strong, win be hanged in the Camden iaiI for
the murder. The crime was carefully ro,Cr.3,-c,,
Its motive was money. Hunter and ArrnStr.n-
had been intimate for years Ia December is
Hunter persuaded Armstrong 10 insure his lfe
for SO 0uo ana to make the policies over 10 him
10 secure him for a debt OF 1900 which Arm
strong owed Hunter. Not for a moment belIeV
ing there could be anything wrong, or that his
friend had designs upon his life. Armstrong
readily consented. Armstrong was then de-
coyed to Camden, y. j., on the pretense that
Nj. Ford W. Davis. a bankrupt. who owed
money 10 Armstrong. desired 10 settle with
him. Hunter did not wish 10 perform the deed
himself. so he employed a young man. a sort OF
an outcaSt, over whom he had some secret III
huence, TO 90 the murder. Hunter offered 10
provide the tools, and set three separate dates
for the murder. AT last, his proxy failing twice.
Hunter determined that the crime should be
committed on the sd OF January. Before 60
Ing TO Camden he presented his aCcomplice
Thomas Graham. with a hammer and Ratchet.
on the handles OF which were carved the ini-
tiaiS 'F.W.D." The object OF this was 10 throw
suspicion on Ford ". Davis. Davis lives on the
last street iii Camden. on tie northern out
skirts. There are no street lamps near hi
house. and the place was well chosen. The TIVE
friends journeyed To Davis house. followed b.
Graham. who was 10 strike the fatal bow
When within few feet OF the house. Hunter
passed into an alley ana called TO Graham
" Now. AZ that noment Armstrong turned
round full face 10 his assassin. Graham
him 10 his Knees. Then the fellow became
ILlghtehed. dfoprcd his hammer. and nan
away. Hunter picked il up and finished
the job. The two men ran away, and Arn.
strong was discovered some time after
ward In an unconscious condition. The tools
WIN Davis Initials were found near the BODY
1he man was arrested. and for time the en-
cumStantial evidence was strong against him
Early In February Benjamin Hunter was ar
tes,ed on suspicion. The authorities took him
INTO custody with great trepidatiOn. lie was
man who was thought TO be wealthy ana WAS
an active church member He denied the ia
pntauons- but was held for the time being
Then was revealed a more Stckenin.- story 81
me murder The day following the assault
Hunter visited the residence OF his friend ana
while alone Ia the Oed-chamber Of the dying
man removed Jle handageS from the gaping
HouhGS, starting them 10 bleeding affeSli. 50 a.
10 make sure OF his tieudSh work Weeks
,Ule9 oli, anu every means thar could be de
tiSed was employed by Hunter and his friend,
10 secure MS release IL the meantime stiSn-
cioh pointed to Thomas Graham, and every
ehort was made to secure hiil, but for six
weeks they failed. Finally relative OF Ora
ham received an linking that his brother-in-law
had been concerned in the murder He went Ia
democratic politician OF this city, Who offered
TO deliver UP the man il S5,o90 was paid him
Ibe authorities refused, and ia a few DAYS Ora
nam was caught Seeing that he was cOrnered.
he made full confession OF the crime
Hunter was Indicted for murder in the first
degree and tried in June on the evening OF
The Sd OF July verdict OF guilty OF murder In
the first degree was rendered, and Hunter was
sentenced TO be hanged. His case was appealed
TO The Court Of Errors and Appeals but that
body affirmed the decree OF the lower court
Gov. Mcclellan was appealed to, but he refused
10 interfere, and now the preparations for his
execution are completed. He was ably defended
10y Hon. George III. Robson. Col JAS NJ Scovil
OF Camden, and Aaron Thompson esq. OF Phil
adelphla. Nearly $4,000 was spent in the effort
10 secure his release. He received every one
cordially, and maintained the utmost Self-poS-
session. Now he is a broken man. The cow
aidIy traits OF his nature appear in all their
IulIncSS, and the man ShrinkS from the fate
which awaits him. The execution will take
place III the corridor of the courthouse The
building Is nearly square, and has wide pas
SaeeWayS leading through il from east to west
ana from north 10 south. The Instrument of
death will be rugged in the center square II
VIII not be SallowS, but composed oI ropes
suspended Oh pulleyS. The ropes VIII pass un
IRON The first floor through holes in the ceiling
10 TIE courtroom above. There Will be the
weight OF some 55a pounds.