Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-12-31

MArsvnLx. O., Dee. %. 'e7.

NASHVILLE, o., Dee. %. '67.
10 The Editor Of the Ohio Stale Journal:
The village and community are enshroud-
ed in a mantle of gloom by one OF the most
hoYrifying tragedies known in the annals OF
crime, by the death of Hon. Cornelius s.
Hamilton. member Of Congress from the
Eighth Congressional District OF Ohio. by
the hand of his eldest son, Thomas G. Ham
ilton, . youth Of about eighteen. The facts
in short are abou. ~ follows: The son
Thomas was considered and wss remark
ably good and steady boy. About three
weeks ago he became uneasy about himself !.
and wished his father to come home He
came home, aud on Saturday last instituted
proceedings in the Probate Court to send
the boy 10 the Insane Asylam, but did nos
get the papers in time 10 take him on Sat
urdsy.
Sunday mosoing, ct about o'clock, Mr.:
n. aid 70 his two Oldest boys. Thomas and
Jshn. that they weald g cut and iced. Ine
three went out. the father carrying some
corn fodder distance Of some ten OF niisen
Yards. and throwing u over in the barn lot
the younger (John) going over and dissr'h-
utine il 10 the stock - the father directed.
Mr.. II. then babe John SO and prepare for
Sunday school. Ho did so, leaving ths
father and Thomas picking up and scatter
ing corn and shocks. He testiiies that be
looked back when part Of the way TO the
house, aud that homAs was watching him.
He had got 70 the house and purity prepar-
cd to 90 TO Sunday school, when tho mo'hes
went out on the porch and saw Thomas com
ing to the house alone.
She inquired where was fathers He
picked up an axe and made for the mother.
John, seeing this demonstration, screamed
and diverted Thomas from the mother 70
himself. He ran into the house, first into
the dining room. Here Thomas came up
OF him. John req past him, and slipped
and fell about the time BIO reached the
door, Thomss making blow at him, which
took effect in the left shoulder and partially
stunned him, but he crawled out OF the
house. Thomas then made pursuit Of the
mother, who fed across the street to Mr..
John Guthrie's, . distance OF about 200
yards. Here he was met by Mr.. G.'s fami
II and Mr.. +. Wood, Superintendent Of the
Public Schools Of this place. who bid him
put down the axs-he carrying it in an ele-
vated and menacing attitude. lie assumed
q more threatening manner, and made q
Mr.. Wood. who retreated in the house.
Thomas followed to the door with the up
lined hand.
He then returned TO the street, where he
Gas met by N. G. Lawrence, Esq, who in
quired Of him, "Where is your father p
suspecting foul play. He, with the uplifted
axe. then made for Mr.. Lawrence, who 70.
treated down and scroas the street, Thomas
following. He (Thornas) then crossed ovel
the fence, and making 10 the direction o.
the wounded boy, who he'd goss back Il
distance Of one hundred yards Or more, sno
was calling to Mr.. J. Q. Botkin. who had
attracted BY the cry Of distress, Save my
two little sisters y Mr.. Botkin reached thu
two email sisters and took them up, bu'
Thomas vas coming in and cut off his -
treat; 80 no took them back to where they
were By wood pile. Taking stick ofwood
which, to him, seemed too unwisldy, b,
dropped il o. Thomas wss coming on to hin
With the uplifted axe clsnched in botl
hands. Bo.kin, with great presence o
mind, seized the only alternative left hin
BY jumping into him head first, striking hin
| in the breast while his arms were upliftet
| 10 fell him with the axe. Thus he was cap
| tured.
Search was now made for the father, ant
the sequel shows that at the very plac
where John left them, which is about thirt,
or forty yards from the house, Thomas hat
killed his father, and covered the body will
corn-fodder. 1t appears that he had felle'
him with a heavy piece Of two-inch board
striking him from behind, and fracturin,
the right posteror VI the skull. The lef
postericr was also fractured, or better de
scribed by saying badly mashed in.