Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-03-22

AsssopssA Wi1ss 1usdes ssA Ssses1es
lrrom the Missouri Dsneerss, i7sh.l
Only three months ago, James Ham, |
ilton, twenty -four years Of age, anna
bic and prospecting, was in this city
joined in marriage with Mary Coffey,
q genteel but spirited girl Of eighteen.
Yesterday forenoon with the most pre-
medita,ed and murderous intent, he
shot her at his house and then fatally
shot himself. The circumstances con-
nected with this tragedy Of love and
jealousy are nearly as follows:
Mary had been for four years en-
ployed in the family Of Mr.. Mosely
-engraver-and upon her mar
rage, Hamilton rented two upper
rooms of Mr.. Greene. at the residence
OF the latter, on the west side of Sew
enth street, . few doors north Of o.
FaIlon. He was doing good bust
ness at his workshop, on Fifth street,
near Franklin avenue, and they ap-
reared to be unquaIifiedIy happy
But, as We learn, his own relatives
we're opposed to the marriage. and re-
tanned their hostility after its consum-
nation. About week ago, his sister
visited him with young lady to whom
he was formerly attached, and appar-
emily with the object of annoying his
wife. He rather sternly dismissed the
young lady. Subsequently he became
moody, suspicious, barassed and unmis-
takeably and miserably jealous. So
far as we learn, he had not the slight
est cause, unless it were the intimati0ns
of his wlfe's enemies. His demeanor
remained remarkably kind and adec-
tionste, but he appeared excited and
,nexplicable, and armed himself with
two singe-barreled pistols. His pccu-
liar mood, and the pistols frightened
his wife, who begged that he would
lay aside his weapons. To her intrea-
ties he rather ironically replied that
he could in no contingency harm her.
Mrs. Ii. thought Of secretly removing
and concealing the pistols, but the re-
Election that he would find others and
might be made the more dangerous
if dangerous he were-prevented her.
In the meantims his conduct became
trying, he was distracted, deeply de
jected, reproachful, sarcastic, and at
times apparently demented. She met
his intimations with a spirit and re-
serve which probably aggravated his
morbor.
About IL o'clock yesterday FORE
noon Mrs. Green was induced, by hear
ing loud alteration, in which Mrs.
II. was speaking in tones of alarm, to
enter their room. She found the vex
ed wife in the act of packing her
trunks for departure. One trunk was
packed, and another was in hand
Mrs. II. asked Mrs. G. to accompany
her to the cathedral. The husband
said" You want to 60 for divorce,
do you?" He added-"And so that
you can marry again !" She deigned
him no reply. He then stepped to
Mr.. G.'s room, returned, grasped his
wife by the right arm and drew a pis-
tol She stood proudly erect, folded
her arms, and looked de6antly in his
face. He snapped the pistol but it
missed fire. He then threw it down,
drew another pistol, and fired The
ball took effect in her arm above the
wrist and then passed into her right
side near the ribs. She ran out crying
"Save me Save me y and fled by the
rear into the next house northward,-
occupied by Mrs. Norton. The de-
perate man followed, while Mrs. G.
ran for aid. He was boldly and sharp
ly confronted by Mrs. Norton, who in
formed him that he should do no
shooting in her house, and who des-
pite nis drawn pistol, summarilly eject
ed him out
| He then loudly swore he would kill
himself, and was coolly advised by
Mrs. N to do it in the yard ard not in
her hall The report of a pistol was
instantly heard. On opening the room
door he was found Frustrated and
bleeding in the outer and rear door
way. Assistance having arrived, he
was conveyed into an unoccuiped front
room Of Mr.. Green's residence, and
laid upon pallet of straw. A most
horrible wound had been inflicted, for
the wretch had discharged the entire
contents Of his third pistol in the up
per abdominal region near the navel.
The intestinies, spleen and liver were
shockingly mangled. A pool Of blood
had flowed in the yard, and the GRIM
son torrent was still flowing despite
the bandages applied. DR.. Vastine, Of
Fifth and Market streets, was summon
ed, and rendered what surgical aid was
possible.
Mrs. Hamilton's wounds were dress
ed by Ii. Frazer, in whose excellent
custody she remains. The course of
the ball could not yesterday be traced,
but her recovery is deemed quite prob
able.
While lying in misery upon his pal
let, Hamilton appears 10 have become
sensible of his folly and wlckedness.-
i He expressed the deepest remorse, and
inquired constantly and with the ut
most tenderness about the wife he had
tried to murder. Immediately before
shooting himself he had called out to
her that he wished tosee her once more
before he died. At about 8 o'clock in
the afternoon he assented to the sug-
gestion that priest should be sent for,
and desired to see the clergyman of the
Cathedral, who consecrated his mar
riage. That gentleman could not be