New-York tribune., 1885-08-13
CONFESSING A MURDER.
ARMSTRONG KILLED HIS srEPFATHER.
+, PLEA OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Nio
sELF-cRIMINATIoN.

.,s ...no accused OF numbering his stepfather
Albert r. Berrick, at No. $50 Pearl ST.. nrooAs .'vn
Monday afternoon, had left his cheht IN oo, "a 'no
washington street Police Station, he cautioned MIN no.
. 80 an, s,aement TO any one Armstrong promised
90 tollox this advice, and the lawyer went away.
Hardly had he gone before squad OF Brooklyn polioe
officials headed by Acting superintendent Moho'ia'
entered the station and descended to the cell OF tne s
rscted murderer with the head OF the ponce
were Detectives Looney. Zundt, Chambers ana sergeant
mcnamara. They gathered abou. the prisoner 10 tne
narrow CELL and Inspector Mcclellan az chiet inqusno
told Armstrong that In great danger ana MS ony
safeeuard lay In full and topen confession. Inc prs
oner was told that had been seem escaping aons 'n
copyent wall by Miss Ida Sammis from the rear "uo"
of the house in Jayst and that she had fuy oesoe.
b,m Moreover he had been recognized coming out Vi
the Myrte-ave. house. The face OF the you'niu.
murderer grew pale as he listened to this array oi
evidence against him. He seemed to hesitate anu Wv
hs lin nervously The Inspector, noung "na' ""s
going on in his miud followed up the advantage game"
and toll him that his only safety was In plea Oh se
defence as there was not lacking the smallest INK III
the chain OF evidence against him. Tne dn hea' III u
coll and the stern faces the detectives gowerng upon
him proved too trying Armstrong, and raising MS
ewes to Mr. McKellar he said
"Tll tell 1t all then"
Pen and ink were hastily brought and the confession OF
,he murderer was takcn down he gave IT, Ids
detailed statement in the hands OF the police ana VIII
not!e produced until is used aganstArmstrong at MS
trial beginning 1t narrates the Ill -ieeiine 'ia'
had been existing between Herrick ana MS stepsoh io
long time. According to the prisoner, he had peeh
harshy treated by his tepfaher who disked the idea
of his mother supplying him with money The TWO nau
had a quarrel on Sunday morning. After thinking IL
over IN some bitterness Monday he went back TO the
house In Pearlst in the afternoon. and going 10 MS
room on the second floor he seated fimsef az 'aoe
with pen ink and paper and began TO wrte ieter W
his stcpfather He sitting at the table writing
when the street door opened and he heard MS step
father come In. He continued his writing land MI
Herrick came up the stairs and into the room.
When Herriek saw him sitting at the table he new
into violent rage called him loafer and ordered him
out of the Duse at the time advancing towaru MN
in a threatening manner. Knowing that ne was no
match physically for his sepfaher ne ran lpass nm
ald down the stairs. Herrick pursued him and nc
soucht refuge In the coal cellar 1t was pitch DARK In
the cellar aud Herrick. filling the air with oaths fo
lowed him down IN the coal cellar and then went pack
ND the stairs to get candle He lighted the candle ana
came down. At the foot Of the stairway candle In hand'
he encountered his stepson. Fearing for his saety'
Armstrong saws he drew his revolver and fred and ran
ND the steps with Herrick following him. He did not
know that he reached his when ne reacheo
the basement hallway he turned and nred TWO more
shots at Herrick Then he that his aim had been
effective getting out OF the back door ne escaped Dy
the convent wall and the Myrtle-ave house.
He did not know what route he took after getting into
Myrtle-aye but walked through several streets ana
down Huson-ave to the river and threw his pistol INTO
the water Then he went to the Erie Annex boat uhuer
the Bridge and took the boat for Jersey CITY going
thence TO Hoboken
Armed with the written confession which they beeve
IN he a truthful account Of the killing. the Inspector
aod officers went before Assistant Attorney
Jeoks who took their aHdavits and drew the formal
charge against Armstrong
In the police staten yesterday morning Miss ida
samns was confronted with the prisoner. who stood
NTH me
appearauce Miss sammis's eyes wandered up and
down the row and rested awhile in an uncertain
way on the dark features OF young Armstrong, VINO
looked straight before him without 80 much as an eyend
twitcing Those Who had been in the Peari-st mouse
and had noticed picture Of Armsrongsfather hanging
m the wall a stern faced man with long. coal-biack
beard and thick black eyebrows meeting above his eyes,
eoud not but be struck with the likeness OF the son TO
the father There the same black eyes, strong
features and bushy eyebrows that ,overlapped each
other The prisoner wore plaid business suit with
sack coat and check cravat On his head was the hat
crowned Derby hat the only article that he when
seeu by Miss sammis running along the convent wall
The voman's eyes rested the facrowned hat long
fine but finally she head and said that she was
uncertain But her Identification was not needed
At 10 a. m a big crowd blocked the street before the
station waiting to Armstrong on his way to court
They were disappointed, for Detective Lowery with
his prisoner slipped out Of back door and made their
waythrough alley into Myrtle where Visit was
paid 10 the police photographer and negative secured
OF the young criminal Then they went by way OF Pearl
and willoughby to Police Justice washs Court In
the City Hail. They passed through tho large crowd
that stood staring at the bare brick walls and closed
bnds of No. 500 Pearl-st where the murder was COM
mcd and where lay the body or the victim An under
takers wagon stood before the door, Making their way
through the crowd that had gathered before
the police door the officer and Armstrong entered
the court room from the rear Judge Walsh was busy
nd he unODseryed:
hut when Armstrong; name was called and he stepped
forward there was sensation In the room which was
fammet full Of people still more marked sensation fol-
lowed the reading Of the affda's OF the detectives
Armstrong meanwhile had regained the air OF indier
enco which is habitual with him and displayed no
emotion aindavits all similar to the following
one of Inspector McKellari
Tbad an interview with the said Armstrong. at which
time resen and that at the said time the said Arm
strons upon his own free viii and without coercion and
a a ns e
there at the time, and that while In the cellar fired
ps.od mot the stairs by the deceased again
eral times discharged the pistol at him tha ne knew
xred IT him as he went toward the front basement door
his sepfaber went to the basement dooa 1s G
into that he carried tne pio o ~le se S a.
ss ssn r. %ass s way to
In reply to formal question. Armstrong pleaded
"Not Guilty" Lawyer Gaynor. for the prisoner said
that he would waive examination and await the action
Of tho Grand Jury Then Armstrong was hurried @ out o.
SSSaa %SnS ps Street Jail Hs said that his name
Of EewYork City, that he lived at No. 339 Pearl-st
and was by occupation clerk. He was locked up In
cell next 10 Groblewski, who is charged with wife
murder. He asked thathIs mother and friend young
man named Murphy who told the police where he could
be found, be invited to visit him. He also wanted his
clothes sent TO him, especially lawn tennis shirt
.oD s ha Sa psIo ~aS sS r al day
terdsy alternately bemoaEing his death and saying;
"Oh, my Tommiel Why did he DO iti"
Coroner Menninger and Jury viewed the body In the
morning The Coroner then dismissed Jury until the
third week In September In order to give himself and
the counsel chance TO to the Adirondack
The funeral OF the murdered will he held on
Friday ct D. from the house. An Episcopalan
eergvman IL said will 0nicate The will be in