National Republican., 1883-04-14
HAMILTON MURDER TRIAL.
A Number Of Witnesses for the Prosecution
Examined Yesterday.
The Story OF the Tragedy as Told by
Eye witnesses.
rnr HAMILTON MuRprR TRIAL.

day. Annie Thornton, colored, testified that
she knew George Hill well; Hamilton only
slightly. Saw Hamilton at the corner of
Fifth and N. Hill met him there and they
had some words. uill put his hand on Ham
iton's shoulder and said al heard you said
you intended to mash my mouth for being
with your girl" Hamilton denied saying
90. Hill then went off with Eliza Tut.
She heard the shooting afterwards. Saw Hill
fall and Hamilton run. Heard Hamilton say
at Fifth and N that he intended TO get more
satisfaction out of Hill than he had gotten.
Mary Smith testified that when Hill passed
Hamilton on N street near Fourth the latter
said, "There goes n niger I'll have in an ice
box before 10 o'clock tomorrow" Witness
lived on M street; saw Hamilton shoot Hill
and run off. The cross-examination mixed
Mary up considerably. She testified that the
shooting occurred at 7:30 o'clock. Was posi-
tive she did not see Hill before the shooting
Did not see the shot fired. Then she was
positive she did see Hill before the shooting
and that she did SEQ the shot Then she
testified that she did not know anything
about tho affair until she heard the shot
fired.
Mrs. Maria r. Brcsnahan testified that the
bAnd Scrcnuucu 0cr On lHt HlBnJ III lutatlOu
Heard some words on the pavement, but did
not get out of bed. Heard Mr.. Ross say 1t
was a shame they should be followed about
by lot of dogs.
Richard H. Phipps was the next witness
called by the government. He was clerk
for Mrs. Bresnahan at the time of the kill
ing He saw Hill when he came up to Ham
ilton, slapped him on the shoulder, and said
something. Did not know what it was. The
band then stopped playing. He heard Ed
Ross say twas pity they could not go round
serenading without being followed by q set
of dogs. Saw Hill take pistol out and lay
it on the step and put his hat over it. He did
not hear what took place; could only see.
His window was down. After that he saw
Hill start away with a woman.
William Hardy, also government witness,
was next called. He was near Mrs. Bresna-
hans store where the band was playing. Saw
Hill come in and put his hand on Hamilton's
shoulder and Hamilton backed out into tho
street Saw Hill follow Hamilton up. Saw
Hill take of his hat. Did not see him take
out his pitol He heard Hills pistol clicking
after he had left Hamilton and had picked up
his hat.
Cross.examined. He did not see Hamilton
with pistol at all.
This closed his evidence. and the court took
q recess until o'clock.
After recess, George Smith, colored testified
that he was in the neighborhood Of Fourth
and streets on the night of Sept 90, and
saw two men sitting on Mrs. Whites steps
and one standing near the tree box. Could
not tell who they were. One OF them SAID
something but witness did not know what
Il was The night was very dark. There
was no moonlight. The man near the tree
box had on dark clothes.
Sarah White testified that she lived next
door to the corner of Fourth and n streets.
Tho street was quite lively, and witness
looked out the window and saw two boys sit
ting on her steps, and Charley Hamilton was
behind the tree box in front of Mrs. Thorn
tons house next door.
George Hill came around the corner, and
ono of the boys said Come here; is that
you, Hill?"
"Yes, this is me-" said Hill. Charley Ham
ilton walked from behind the tree box and
I do" said HILL "Take that back" said
Hamilton. az won't take it back" Hill
said. Hamilton said again: "Take that
back" Hill said: "I'll not take it back;
I'm gentleman"
Then the shot was fired, and Hamilton ran
away. One Of the other boys walked up and
looked into George Hills face as he lay on
the sidewalk, and he left too. Hill lay there
until his uncle came over and carried him
home.
Tho cross-examination was very amusing.
Mr. Smiths close questioning angered the
witness. She said Jennie Thornton was on
her (Jennie's) porch when Hill came up. Mr..
Smith asked her what the witness was doing
up so late.
"None of yo bzness," said the witness.
When Hill was shot he was standing up
straight with his cane in his right hand. He
didn't have his hand in his pocket, and did
not mako any motion as If to shoot Hamil-
ton. Hill did not have his hand up TO his
face. Witness knew Hill personally Only
Hop Inv, ali ~
pistol on the pavement after Hill fell. Wit
ness was looking out of her second story win
dow when the shot was fired. Had been
looking out Of the window half an hour. Did
not notice what kind of clothes Hamilton
had on.
Charlotte Wait testified that she lived at
407 N street. next door to the Thorntons. Her
niece came into her room about 1890 ON the
night of the shooting from the pump and
woke witness up. Witness heard loud talking
and went to her window. Annie Thornton
was standing on tho corner talking to Mr.
Robinson. Heard some one say "Take that
back" and then the pistol went off, Saw Hill
fall. Ho tried twice to get up and then said,
"Oh, Lord Oh, Lord" Cross-examined.
Witness was aroused by loud talking. 1t was
between | and 2 o'clock when witness went
TO the window and saw Jennie Thornton and
Lucy Hart ON Thornton's porch. Three young
men were sitting on Mrs. Whites steps. Told
lIuCy IlhTI, HST nlcCt, W Beb HeT hOne water.
When Lucy Hart came up with the water
witness was told by Lucy that she expected
there would be trouble. Witness told Lucy she
didn't think Charlie Hamilton would shoot Mr.
Hill, because Charlie knew Mr.. Hill wasn't
no chicken" When Lucy came with the
water witness drank some Of 1t, and went
back TO bed. Staid in bed until 10 o'clock
Her niece was sitting at the window, and told
witness something, and she got out of bed
and heard somebody say in loud voice,
"Take IL back" and heard the pistol fired
Did not see who fired the pistol Hill was
facing Hamilton, and the former fell on his
face on the pavement when he was shot Hill
was ON the corner when witness first called
her niece TO got her the water.
Lucy Hart testified that on the night of the
shooting she was at the entertainment at JEFF
ferson church, and saw both Hill and Hamil-
ton there. As witness was coming home, and
was at the corner of Fifth and n streets with
Mrs Thornton and Annie Thornton she saw
Hill and Eliza Tutt. Hill walked up to Ham
ilton aud said, Did you call me dog ~
Hamilton shook his fist in Hills face, and
said, "Who ever told you that Is damned
liar" Hill then went out into the middle of
the street, and Hamilton snapped pistol at
him twice.
Witness and the Thorntons came homo and
sat on the porch. After awhile Hamilton,
JEFF Mackey. and Robert Chase came and sat
on Mrs. Whites porch. Witness's aunt sent
her to the pump, and as she passed the porch
she heard Hamilton say "The Cd id
s. of a b., I'll put him In an icebox by IL
o'clock tomorrow" Witness took the water
upstairs and looked ont of the window saw