Daily Republican., 1884-05-24
Perry Hamiilon's Death.

Perry Hamilton q case togetner rriuay
afternoon, In the Municipal Court room
at the City Hall, for the purpose OF
hearing additional evidence In relation
to his death and in order, II possible, to
ascertain whether or not he met his
death through accident or foul play. A
large number of spectators, principally
colored people, were present to hear the
Of the various witnesses sum-
moned.
The first witness called was J. T
Wood, railroad crossing tender at the
foot of Justison street, who stated TO
the Jury that he saw pool of blood on
the Wilmington Il Northern Railroad
tracks, about 100 feet from where Ham
ilton was supposed to have been struck
by train on the p, w. Il. b. Rail-
road. The blood was scattered on the
rails and ground as though the man
had been walking over the tracks with
the blood flowing from wound. The
witness observed this on Monday, and
said the pool of blood was as large as
his hand. In reply to question from
one of the jurymen, the witness stated
that the man was not run over on that
track. He also stated that he observed
drops of blood about half way between
that point and where the man was
struck not in a direct course, but scat
tered all about saw this on Sunday
and also observed few drops near
Harlan's yard saw Benson about 6
o'clock on Saturday evening going
along the railroad towards Market
street, in company with woman, but
did not hear their conversation.
Hirman II. Tates, colored, was next
called. and testified about as follows
Struck West Liberty street and rail-
road about 6. 10 o'clock, on Saturday
evening, coming from work : saw a
crowd up Liberty street, and instead OF
going home, went IN the direction OF the
crowd saw Hamilton go out into the
street and have some words with Pres.
ton Kane, which resulted In wrangle,
but no blows we're struck.
After this was settled the witness
went home arriving at home heard
curses in an adjacent yard hut paid no
attention to them after washing and
dressing up. started out of the house
and saw another crowd around Hamil.
tons house John Walters endeavOred
to hold Hamilton and keep him quiet,
but Hamilton resisted and struck Wal.
ter's who in turn drew q knife and
threatened Hamilton, at the same time
using abusive language.
Hamilton then became violent and
told the crowd to stand back and warn.
cd them not to come near him Preston
Kane then advanced In threatening
manner, when Hamilton's wife succeed.
cd in getting him (Hamilton) into
the house Kane then endeavored to
enter the house also, when Hamilton
got loose from his wife and advanced
with something in his hand, resembling
razor Kane then picked up brick
and was about to hurl it at Hamilton
when lie was arAed by friends not te
throw it. and needing tho warning he
muttered, "never mind you s-of alb
III get you before Sunday morning.
But little else was known by the wit
ness and he left the stand. Hezekiaf
Williams also heard the same express
sion.
The testimony of Eliza Jane Roth
well, an aged colored woman, who re
sides along the railroad near where thu
dead man was found, was straightfor-
ward and very damaging to one Of tn
supposed murderers. Her statement wa
about as follows: Was aroused from
my sleep about 1.30 o'clock by an In
m ate of the house, and, hearing voice
outside, l got up and went to the door
saw two men near the house, but i
being dark could not recognize who
they were; heard one OF them say
We've fixed that s-Of a b-nOw
amt WEI" to which the other replie'
"Yes, by Cd we have" Was posi-
tive that these were the words and +
the best of my knowledge and belle
one of the voices was that Of PrestOl
Kane. The witness stated that she wa
well acquainted with Kane and was
very familiar with his voice, but di
not recognize the voice of the other
She was not acquainted with Benson
shortly after the men passed by tw'
trains came laundering along, one goin
north and the other south, one of whicI
made a queer noise, which sounded a
Though sand or something was n I'll
wheels.
! (The description Of the queer nois
was not very clear, but from the fact
in the case, it is supposed that the nois
was caused by the body of Hamilto
being caught under the wheels.) Hell
rietta Rusk testified that she starte
down town about 1890 o'clock and sa'
Hamilton sitting on a step on Frol
street, between West and Washington
in company with Elijah Benson, VIII
was standing il. front of him; proceede
on a short distance when | met sewers
parties and turned back In re-passin
the two men Hamilton asked me ft
, five cents, which gave him | the
, passed on towards home and went
, bed did not hear or see anythln
: further know Hamilton well but on!
4 slightly acquainted with Benson.
Eluora Hamilton, wife Of the dea
, man, testified that after hearing OF I'll
, death of her husband and learning tht
Benson had been with him, sue in,e
viewed Benson or Sunday AFTERNOON
: and asked him where he had left Perry
. Benson replied that he left bilh on IL
. railroad, but did not know what time
/, was both were drunk ; Eens,n said |
wanted Hamilton to 90 home, but |
would not 60, wherein ,on they parte'
In another interview Benson said tn;
he thought it was about 1890 O'cloC
, when he left Harilton. The witne
i then told about the fracas that occurrt
a early in the evening between her hu
a band and Preston Kane, as previous
a told by another witness, and aiso 81
! ted that Preston threatened to XII
q Hamilton. The witness stated that
q party told her that Kane had said 81
a would fix Perry before Sunday NOR
+ ling, and that he Perry would eat b
breakfast in hell"
Carrie johnson testified to the effe
that she heard some one quarrelinl
supposed 1t was Benson aud his viii
, Who lived in the adjoining house, b
3 could not say positive, as she paid b
'. little attention to it.
Rebeaca johnson was the last witne
;, called. She stated that Miss Black
: ton lived in tho same house, and tn
;, Benson was frequent visitor to Mi
i B. About o'clock Sunday mornil
" she got up TO get a drink, and goll