The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-07
THE MONTCLAIR TRAGEDY.

JOSEPH A. BLAIR ON TRIAL FOR THE MURDER
OF HIS CoAcHMAN-'I CAN BE THE FIRST
TO SHOOT p opHELIA DYERs uNHEEpEp
INTERcEssIoN
Although it had been given out that the trial
Joseph A. Blair of Montclair for the shooting OF
John Armstrong. his coachman, would be postponed
for day. large number Of people gathered al
the court house in Newark yesterday forenoon
and witnessed the opening of the II
began about ten O'Clock. The Court
sisted Of Judge David A. Depue, of tho
Supreme Court, and lay Judge John H. Meeker.
Blair was early brought from the JAIL He wore the
suit of gray clothes he had the day OF his
arrest. He attended by three lawyers Cortlaudt
Parker. ex-Judge Ellsworth and Counsellor William
Il. Weeks. Mrs. Blair. who was also present was
quietly dressed in black and sat beside her husband
Miss Rebecca Draper. the unintentional cause Of
Blair trouble with his coachman. also present.
clad in dark. close fitting costume.
BENJAMIN Fairweather the first called out of
special panel of forty jurors. He had to stand
aside. as it was found no sixty years Of
age Here the Attorney General mr. Stockton) raised
the question of the possible illegaity Of the whole
panel, because one man defective. Mr.. Parker,
of Blair's counsel. promptly brushed that objection
away, by saying that the defence waived all
right in that matter and anxious for
challenge. De Forest Pentecostal Lozier had, he
said. conscientious scruples about capital punish
ment The State peremptorily challenged him.
Finally the following persons were sworn Melvin
Doremus, foreman; William Terhune. Samuel I.
Person, william Beardsley. John Nungesser,
Charles S. Squier. George r. Snyder. Robert s.
bruce. AMI Coeyman, William N. Herrich, John 8.
Llttell and Morris Hoppaugh
OPENING FOR THE PEOPLE.
Colonel Abeel. the prosecutor, opened for tho
q Of
already given in the HERALD, and said that the de-
known to our law, murder in the hrst degree.
There are two counts, one charging murder under
the common law and the other under the statues.
The defendant is young man, pectable looking,
living up to the time OF this tragedy quiet. peace
full life with wife, children and hosts of friends.
who still cling to him: Yet believe this case will
be tried without preiadice and without passion
He closed by expressing the belief that Blair had
been inspired by evil intent and without excuse
had shot his coachman inAicting a mortal wound.
and then while his victim lay his face, unable to
protect himself had shot MIN again. II the prose-
cutor had read the case Alright he could see that he
might find it necessary, and the jury might lind 1t
their duty to render up Joseph A. Blair to the JUS
| tice of the State murderer
| HARRISON Van Duyne civil engineer and
veyor. the first witness. He testified to making
| the maps shown in court, and explained them and
the distances between the several points. &c.
Ophelia Dyer was servant in the Blair household.
She is checked handsome Irish girl of twenty
two so. She was at the Blair house tho day of
the shooting, but now lives in New York; she had
been in Blairs employment only a week; she testi-
fed to what occurred the day Of the
tragedy: 81 was in the laundry" she said. " and
heard loud talking; l heard John cursing; Mr..
Blr's voice wasn't loud; paid little attention to
it, and went into the dining room Mr.. Blair came in,
and said. Oh. Mr. Blair don't get out Of patience
with that man. Mr.. Blair said: when man tells
lie will shoot, lean be the first to shoot he also
SAID, 'Ophelia, shut your jaw, I'm running this busi
ness: he went upstairs. and afterward came down
and went into the yard; heard him tell Mrs.
Blair, Miss Draper and the children to go into the
house, then went out ana heard him say no
couldn't help it he went to the barn and heard two
shots; l aid:-'Oh, Mrs. Blair, has John shot Mr..
Blair? she said. No, Mr.. Blair has shot john; Mr..
Blair came in and said --'Mr Blair did you shoot
him?' he said Yes, Ophelia and am sorry
I said, Oh Mr.. Blair, 1T was dreadful thing to
shoot that man he told me to give John brandy;
when was doing John called Mr.. Blair MUIR
derer, villain; Mr. Blair took out money and said.
said, You keep your money, don't want it. Z"
'CoME ON, john"
Miss Deyer also testified that Blair, after getting
the revolver in the house, ran out in the yard ana
said, "Come on john several times. Upon cross
examination the witness SAID that she didn't think OF
stating the latter fact at the inquest; Blair was
then facing the house, standing still and near tho
house; think he was there ten minutes with his pis-
to in his hand didn't then John and
didn't say anything because Blair hadn't said
he going to shoot; Johns cursing was very bad;
Blair only say this during the quarrel: John. you
can't COW me down bt;" never heard John
swear before and Mr. Blair said to me as he
went up stairs in his house, Hold your jaw, I'm
running this business" he did not say simply BE
quiet, Ophelia, his witnesses testified at the in
quest.
The case was here adjourned for the day.