Morning journal and courier., 1889-09-19
THE HAMILTON CASE.

THE HAMILTON CASE.
 The Court Room Crowded Yesterday All the Principal Witnesses on she Stand-Nurse DOnnelly TestiAes as to
 she Assault Made Upon Her by Irs.
 Hamilson-Cross.Exa alton or MT.
 Robert Hay Hamilton.
 MAYS LANDING, N.J., Sept. 18.-The court room was crowded this morning with people anxious to hear the proceedings in the case of Mrs. Robert Ray Hamilton, indicted for atro- cious assault upon her child's nurse, Mary Donnelly, and to get glimpse of the now famous principals in the affair. About il o'clock Mrs. Hamilton, the much talked of prisoner, entered leaning on the arm of her counsel, Captain Perry. Immediately follow ing them entered Mrs. Rupp, the proprietress of Noll Cottage, and Mary Ann Donnelly, the wounded nurse. They were all shown seats within the rail, Mrs. Hamilton sitting beside her counsel.
 After selecting jury Mary A. Donnelly, the nurse, was called to the witness stand. She testified that on the morning of the ss- sault she responded to Mrs. .Hamilton's call to look her trunk. On reaching the door of the room she saw that Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton had been quarreling and that MT. Hamilton's shirt had been torn off. At Mr. Hamilton's request she went in search of 6 policeman but could not find one. She returned to the room when Mrs. Hamilton seized her by the throat and called her vile name. The witness grap- pied with Mrs. Hamilton and demanded that she withdraw the epithet. Mrs. Hamilton ton then grappled and the witness stood in in the door, which was half open, when sud- denly Mrs. Hamilton sprang towards her and drove the knife into her side. (The knife was here shown the witness and identifed.)
 The court reconvened at o'clock and the cross.examination of nurse Donnelly was re- stunned.
 The questioning of counsel for the defence was evidently to establish an assault on Mrs. Hamilton by the nurse previous to the cut- ting. The witness admitted having taken two drinks of brandy that day before the cutting. Mrs. Donnelly was asked if she had taken the diamonds of Mrs. Hamilton, and indignantly denied it. She had no knowl- edge of them. Mrs. Donnelly was then al- lowed to retire.
 As Robert Ray Hamilton was called he did not look at his wife, but ten times during the first half of his examination referred to her as ssthe defendant" He started in to an- swer the questions of Captain Perry as to the beginning of the trouble between the nurse huu ulb W1lO3 WAlCA D0SnA All t>OW ! 1OAA BUILD months ago when Mrs. Donnelly came home drunk. He stated that both he and his wife discharged the nurse that morning but she refused to gc. Then he detailed the quarrel between her and his wife and stated that 1t was about yearly amount of money for Mrs. Hamilton. and that sepa- ration was talked of seriously that morning. Then he related how the nurse returned in drunken condition and cursed Mrs. Hamil- ton and said she had seen her marriage cer-
 tifcate and knew her to be - before her
 marriage; how the nurse was ejeoted from the room twice and returning the third time and making desperate rush to get at Mrs. Hamilton was cut by the latter. Witness said there had been considerable argument between the defendant and him. self that morning relative to separation and an annual allowance for her. Witness said he had agreed to give her $5,0OO year, but she wanted more.
 Mrs. Hamilton testified. saying the nurse's abusive language was more than she could stand and q discharged her. had given her telegrams to send to Rays father, asking him to come down and try to settle amicably the difficulties existing be- tween us and she refused to send them. She met Robert Ray Hamilton about four or l five years ago. She was not very certain as l to places and dates and quickly showed signs of her displeasure at being questioned as to her past life. Her counsel objected, but ob- | iections were overruled. When questioned about Joshua Mann, Mrs. Hamilton hesitated l and stated that she did not know whether he was Mrs. Swinton's son or not. Witness l said she was married to Hamilton last Janu- l ary in Paterson, N. J. Her child was three months old when she first employed Mary Ann Donnelly as wet nurse. Whom asked if | the child wes born in Pennsylvania witness
 refused to answer and appealed to the pro-
 tection of her counsel, who entered objec- 1 tions, but was again overKuled, and the ques- 1 ton was only withdrawing when Mrs. Ham | ilton stated to the court that to answer the ! question would be discriminating to her. ! Prosecuting Attorney Thompson asked l Are you the mother of that childl l The question was withdrawn under tho
 same ruling, but the incident clearly made | an impression upon the jury.
 The witness acknowledged she had torr her husbands coat in it of anger, and that l she had demanded more than an allowance l of So, 900 per annum from her husband and that they had quarreled about it. The State
 rested, and Counsellor Perry pleading illness
 the court adjourned until tomorrow morn | ing.
 Mrs. Hamilton was removed to her attic l prison.
 There exists but little doubt among the To- | cal bar that Mrs. Hamilton will be convicted l and sentenced, but it is thought she will be
 leniently dealt with