Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1859-03-19
Frtghtful Domestic T~ragedy---A Nan
Attempts the life of his wife and
then OF Himself.

Prom me 81 Louis Republonn.l
About four mOuths ago, James Hamilton, a
meat seller, eyed tFenty-three years, married
. handsome and sprightlv girl Of eighteen,
named Mary Cofey. HamiltOn's relatives. for
some reason which we have not heard, were
much opposed 70 the match, and frequently,
both before and after the marriage, represented
that the alliance was snch a one az ought not
to be made. He persisted in his choice, how
ever, and for some time the two lived happily
together. At the time Of the lamentabie oe-
e%urrence Of which we are about to speak, they
lived ina respectable brick row on the west
side Of Seventh sereeL. between OsFallon and
Cas- avenue. The people in the vicinity speak
Of Mrs. Hamilton as a gOod-natured, unofend-
ing and perfectly proper young woman, and a
very pleasant and agreeable neighbor. They
said that for some weeks, Hamilton, impelled
BY a mysterious motive, the origin Of which is
ascTibed to the bitter. and perhaps reveneefuI
feelings Of his friends toward his wife, has pre-
served a mOodiness in her presence, often seek
ing 10 draw her into quarels, and tsunting her
with vague surmises as to the propriety Of her
/ conduct.
Yesterday morning, before going out Of the
house, Hamilton had a few angry words with
his wife, wherein she stated that she could no
longer endure his treatment, and that she would
seek another home. Shortly afterwsrd her
husband went out and proceeded TO his place
Of business, being the keeper Of a meat shop
on OFallon street, between Fifth and Sixth.
Between 10 and IL O'Clock he returned, and
going up to Mrs. Hsmilton's room, produced
three pistols, and asked his wife Id she was
going to leave Almost simultaneously, If we
were rightly informed, he presented a large
sized single-baueled pistol and pulled the triC-
ger. The cap snapped, and he threw the
weapon on the floor, taking out a pair Of
pocket pistols.
The pale and frantic woman imPlored him in
vain not to shoot The contents Of one Of the
remaining weapons were fred at her left breast.
Her elbow, which was thrown up. protected the
vital part Of her body, in some measure, and
saved her, in al probability, from instant
deatl The bail, passing the point Of the left
elbow, and laceTating II in a horrible manner,
penetrated the bowels a little above and 70 the
right Of the stomach The wounded woman
ran shrieking from the room, went down stairs,
and, passing through the back yard. sought
rhrAtor in the hs--s "a Nj Eaoehtun. immrdf-
ately joining on the north, CRYING 70 Mrs. n.
for Gods sake to save her life. Hamilton
quickly followed, and on getting sight Of his
victim, produced the second pistol. but Mrs.
Naughton caught him, heroically pushed him
from the room, and locked the door. It appears
hat the Infatuated man, being deferred from 1
accomplishing his murdeTOus designs. went
back % his wife's room and shot himself. the /
bail passing directly through the navel. He I
had strength, however, to 60 down stairs, and.
] A0L NlnL NlI pose cannot be OWNED. NwTHn !
started 70 90 into Naughton's house. but fell at /
the door Of the kitchen.
As may well be imagined, this double
tragedy produced an unusual commotion in the
neighborhood. Great crowds Of women rushed
in but were 90 honor struck that they hardly
knew what 70 DO. Mrs Hamilton. bv this
time, had become quite weak from loss Of
blood. She sat with her shattered arm resting
in a chair, the elbow over her lap. and her
dress so arranged that the carpet should not be
stained mark Il caTefulness not a little
surprising IN one IN her situation. Hamilton
lay on the kitchen floor bathed in gore and
grooming as if in much agony. Officers Gaty,
Culkin and Cain, Of the third district, were
quickly at the spot. They found Hamilton
vomiting blood, and, apparently, very weak,
begging to be taken in The house.
DR.. Nasbne, who had been sent for, ascer-
tanned the condition Of Mrs. Hamilton not TO
be 50 bad as had been thought, and while he
stated that she had received severe and danger
Gus wounds, he expressed the belief that, with
careful treatment and attendance, she would
recover.
The case Of Hamilton was bv no means 40
hopeful. The wound was an unconmonlv
large one % be made by a pistol shot, measur-
ing little less than one inch in diameter, from
which a large quantity Of the covering Of the
bowels protruded
Hamilton was removed about 5 O'Clock last
fehlhe Lucueh against hls WISHES, 70 he
house OF his step-mother, residing on Eleventh
street, between Wash and Carr. At last ac-
counts he was stiIl living, but it was thought
he could not possibly survive tnl this morning.
We are not sure that We have the correct ac-
count Of the motives and causes Of this dread
ful affair. A hundred rumors were sfoat YES
terday, all differing, and some widely differing !
from each other. The parties themselves were
not in a situation 10 speak on the subject, and
both scenes 20 dislike being asked. We have
taken what appeared to u to be the most
truthful version Of this tragedy.