Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-09-21
CONFESSION.
A Tale of Tramp Life and
it's elimination in
Murder.
The Murder of Police Officer Scott
in Sacramento, in De-
cember, 1878.
The Full Confession of Thomas Ham.
ilton, one of The Gang that As.
sassinated the Officer,

Aio VA SouASoSiOh VI LnCmaS Ham
ilton, one of The Gang that As.
sassinated the officer.
The following is the statement of Thop,as Hamil-
ton, made in the City Prison, in Sacramento on
Monday evening" September IS 1882, ir the presence
OF District ATTORNEY Henry L. Buckley, Charles T.
Jones, Chief Of Police Matt. Karcher, o. c. jackson,
X. c. Gichrst, Winfield J. Davis and Robert Har.
rison. Phonographically reported by Winfield j.
Davish
Joseph Scott, member of the police force of this
city, shot down in the nighttime on the public
highway, the corner of Seventeenth and
streets, December T. 1878. The facts that led to
the suspicion that the murder was committed by
four tramps-Wiam Anderson, James O'Brien
alias Flynn, Thomas Hamilton and Eddie Edwards
have already been stated in these columns They
developed from incautious remark made by one
of them in the heat Of anger while three of the gang
were coufined in the State Prison at San Quentin
Recently Anderson, 0Brien and Hamilton were
brought from the State Prison to this city to be
examined for the murder OF Scott On Tuesday
there was published in the RECORD UNION a brief
statement to the effect that Hamilton had made a
confession. This confession is now presented in
full.
The idom OF the criminal is preserved, and his
statement, with all its surplusage and repetition
presented, as it gives glimpse into some of the
ways and habits Of tramp life that will de
more to unveil that vagabond style of living than
even lengthier descriptions. The abruptness with
which the statement begins the evident conceal
ment of other crimes, etc, all point to career of
idlenes lawlessnes and while the confession
lifts but corner of the curtain, the glimpse given
OF the career OF tramp and the motives that led
to the assassination are sufficient for single chap
ter OF horror The details herein preserved have
their value also as being important factors in cor
roboration of Hamitons statement, as many of
them, it IS believed, are susceptible OF proof by
other testimony than his. The statement was made
after an Introductory question by Mr.. Jones
Mr. Jones-Flease commence with that day you
came to town, and who was with you
A.-Don't you want anything prior to that?
prior to II at, day or two before
Al want to get the whole Of 1t you will have
to go back two or three days.
Q.-Commence two or three DAYS before
MarysviIle-that is the story-and l was sick there
fell down and hurt myseif l thought had hurt
couple of ribs and the authorities got after me in
Marysville in little scraIe. man tried to take
my life, and shot | at him. The other man cut
me across my check here, in Marysville. Well, |
could hardly raise up so sick at the time, and
thought had broken a couple of ribs and that is
the reason this fellow took advantage of me- A
little difficulty we had, and of he seen was
not able to defend myself any way at all. Well
wanted to get out OF town, and wanted to go south
some where. In fact, wanted to get in some place
where could recuperate, because was pretty bad
all gone; was pretty dead wanted TO get out
OF town, and l knowed that when got on the train
would be apt to be arrested. Anderson jumped
on the train and went to wheatland and struck
out on foot to Wheatland, and when | got along on
the road part of the way got to feeling pretty bad
and sick. laid down on the road, and was in a
kind Of shed there made CT ties, guess, and the
tram came along Anderson had
GOT To wHEATLAND
While was laying there, and back and do not
know whether he seen me on the road or whether
the next train. He went, anyhow, to Marysville
Whether going TO Marysyille or coming back, do
not know, but he seen me and hoared to me and
gave him to understand would be at wheatland
after awhile-anYhow, came to Wheatland. felt
pretty bad did not know what to dc, and was
sick; and was out Of money then and doing moth
ing; so went to place to get something to eat
told the fellow ii he wanted some work done
v FORK, and could not do anything | went down
al
freight depot-was man with red whiskers, at the
railroad there-it appears to me he was; but he
seen me there, and l stood on the platform. J hat
was while l was at wheatland l saw Charley
o'Bren and Eddy Edwards there sitting on the train
waiting to go through. do not know where they
were going, and in fact they were going towards
RoseviIle. / did not know who they were at the
time, and finally Anderson came over He told
them who was so we struck out then. l do not
know where wentfg 1t appears to me we went
sfoot 10 Sheridan l thiak that is the next t.wn,
isn't it?
Q.-Yes, sir.
A.-From there we went on foot to Lincoln that
is the next place, think. Anyhow, when we were
at Lincoln
IT WAS DARK,
1t appears to me- amt positive about that but
it appears to me it was dark. We went right below
the town OF Lincoln ways and stopped there
awhile; and while we was there four men came
there. did not know who they was went in
and let on was going to arrest them. told them
to get their things up, that they were committing
some offense, and l was going to take them off
They were Dutchmen, and they were pretty badly
scared. They had lot of things there and com
menced to tell me it was right, they hadn't done
anything. l told them would see about it. Any
how, we built fire there and we run low" We
were without money then. The other parties must
have had about dollar a dollar and hall, or
something. So we concluded we would get some
thing to eat at Lincoln, and it is laughable matter
to tell of. There hotel there and We concluded
toget there to ii could get something to eat
They spoke that was rot able to get around, and it
was no use OF me going up. could not see good,
and was liable to fall on to something. / con-
cluded it was about as well for me to stop where
was, and so did, Anyhow, they went up there and
they go in it, do not know-I think the corner
hotel ! could not see that far. understood it was
in there. And they brought out lot q jars OF
stuff. do not know what it 1t appears to me
it peach brandy and several jars of differ.
ent kinds of preserves. do not know what all 1t
got there, but lot of things. 1t was
pretty late then, and We concluded anyhow that we
would cook up some Of it that way, and have a
meal and be away before any one would know any
thing, and we could take our time and have some.
thing to eat and then strike out. So we did. We
ate little OF the things, and l turned about and
took some Of those bottles and things and showed
them out of the road. | thought they would see
those bottles and things on that side OF town and
they would know that the parties that went in this
place had went in that direction. Then
WE STRUCK OUT
To Roseville. 1 do not know what time it was we
got to Roseville-it pretty late. 1t appears to
it must have been pretty well on towards morn
ing. think it was pretty veil on towards morning
when we went through this place at Lincoln. /
think it was. We went on from there to Roseville.
We kept out Of the way at Roseyille. do not know
exactly now what we DID around there, but we went
up. did not know how much those fellows had, in
fact. l thought they had two or three dollars at
the time, but it appears there was not enough to
pay for all for me9l. So went to 4 house that
understood TO be two-bit house think the
Eagle Hotel is sile. think It is called the
Eagle That is not the place we went to. 1t was
across the street. 1t appears 70 it was. We
weLt in there and took meal, and poor meal too,
at that. There was not anything they had TO eat.
When we got up expected they were going to pay
fo7 the whole thing -ke.- Before thfs-before we
went into the plaee-they divided the money and
gave US each so much. S@me got two bits,
some only had ten ceets, or some.
thing like that, and had hail
dollar with piece cut of the side OF IL. do not
know whether it was quarter cut on or not, but
considerable piece Of it anyhow CT me hali-dolar
Well, knew there was going to be row about this
paying, when we came to pay this money, the way
it wss-tbis hall dollar all defaced that way and
these others. SO when we got up handed the mar
my half dollar, and he raid, That will not go for
half dollar" / said, q That is good enough aini
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