The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-09-20
TWO YEARS IN prison,
Eva Hamilton Found Guilty Of
Atrocious Assault,
A DRAMATIC SCENE IN COURT
When tho Jury Game Ip-The EfEor'
to Make Out n Case of self'De'
Tense UnavaIllng-The End
of au Infamous Career,


court didn't open this morning for th'
continuation OF the trial Of Miss EyI
Hamilton, for the atrocious assault upoI
nurse Mary DOnnelly, until Oi45o'clock
the delay was caused by the detention
through an accident to another tralI
from Atlantic City upon which wcrC
the Judges, attorneys and other official
connected with the case, When thO
Jurors had taken their seats, Judge Reet
said: "sheriff, bring in the defendant
The sheriff stated that the defendant
Mrs. Hamilton, begged to be excused
from appearing on account Of serious III
ness, and the Judge allowed the case lc
proceed,
defense, began his argument. He said
he hoped that the jurors would frame
their verdict according 10 the testimony
independent OF newspaper reports OF
other influences. He closely reviewed
fbe circustances which led up to the as
Eault and argued that the testimony
showed clearly that Mary Ann Don
nelly, the nurse, was the first aggressor
and That she forced Mrs. Homilton to
pjrk no the knife in self defense, She
hal threatened to kill her miStres; she
was hot tempered and lrenzled with
brandy, and size assailed Mrs. Hamilton
with lnurderous intent.
Was Mrs. Hamilton justified in strik'
inc tie blow In self deiense2 Is there
anyone in this room, placed us Mrs.
Hamilton was on the bed, In the des'
perate clutches Of the drunken nurse,
who would not take similar oppOrtl-
nity 10 protect their liie2 Gentlemen
Of the Jury, consider well the facts In the
case and give my poor forsaken client
the full benefit Of the lpgraVatlng cir
cumstanCes which compelled her 10 com-
init the act for which sheis held.
II was now Prosecutor ThOmpson's
turn, and he ut once proceeded to dis.
sect The testimony from the States stand
point
He, dwelt upon the proposed senara:
ton between Hamilton aud his vile and
the proposed money consideration oi
i've or Six thousand dollars. How she
demanded more and had placed price
on her marfiOge relations.
He said that both Hamilton and his
wife repeatedly ContradiCted themselves
while on the witness stand and that
their testimony was tissue Of false
hoods from beginning 10 end that Mr,
IIamilton's life would probably have
been taken were It not for tho timely
entrance OF Nurse DOnnelly, and that
Mrs. Hamilton was fortunate woman
in not being here to-day 10 answer the
charge OF murder, instead OF Ntrocious
assault, and urged the jury to find her
guilty OF tho latter oilense.
1t was nearly 9 O'Clock when court rC'
assembled. Judge Reed at once began
his Chargeto the Jury,
"The whole matter hinges on tho plea
OF the Defense" lie said. "The blow
may have been strnck in seli.deiensel
but when a deadly weapon is used in
soli.deienseit 1t materially alters the case"
Continuing, the Judge 4dwelt upon the
fact the knife thrust was a deadly one
The only way in which the plea Of the
defense could possibly be tenable was
that the blow was struck to save the de-
iendant's life. His charge was clearly
against the prisoner. He set aside all the
facts which IL was said led up 10 tho
cutting. He instructed the Jury togive
her the benefit OF any doubt as to the
character Of the crime. They might
bring In a verdict OF assault and battery,
II they thought her knife thrust was not
malicious, but II they viewed the matter
from the standpoint that she reached
around to stab the nurse, then there
was no reason why they should not re.
turn u verdict in accordance with the
indictment,
The jury then filed out Of the Groom
and within q short time returned, bring.
ing in verdict OF guilty Of atroclouS as
sault.
DRAMATIC SCENES.
The closing scenes Of the tlial were
exceedingly dramatic. When word was
sent to her that the jury was out delib.
Grating whether she was guilty or not,
she excitcdly paced her attic prison, and
frequently looked out Of her window
upon the court house wherein tho jury
were balloting, II was precisely three
o'clock when the jury announced that
they had arrived at a verdict and filed
ia 10 their respective seats. Tho court
room was crowded.
AT fifteen minutes past Sheriff John.
son led In the defendant through the
side door OF the court house. Mrs. Ham.
ilton looked pale aud fatigued but
walked with q firm demeanor through
the narrow rassageway and paid no at.
tention to the scrutinizlng gaze Of the
crowd on botll sides OF her. When
brought within the railing she sank
wearily into a chair directly facing the
Jury. When seated, she reryously
twisted her fingers. her hands being
covered with pearl colored gloves, Within
five minutes after the now thoroughly
broken spirited woman faced the Jury
the clerk OF the court called the jurJ
and its ioreman's response, In stentoriaI
voice, was; ave find the defendant
guilty as charged In the Indictment
Mrs, Hamilton gave a perceptible star
aud lifted her head for the first time
turning towards her counsel with at ap
pealing glance, aud then towards the
lnGmbers Of the Jury, who looked hei
in tue face. Then her head sank upoI
her breast, but she uttered no comment
Counsellor Perry asked the Court Il
poll the Jury, AS each one replied u
lhe query Of the clerk: "Gnilty," tht
Scene became almost tragedy, as the con
dVmnel woman apparently had not
iriphdin tho court room 10 offer her con
ISOLATION, even her husband having g0nl
away aS II unwilling TO remain and wit
resS her distress, The silence Of th,
court room was only broken by the fuBl
oI reporters 10 telegraph the verdict !,
ihe newspapers,
TnE sRSTRNcH,
Judge Reed, stcrnly said! "Eyange
lInO Hamilton, ,D--Lhon he hesitAted ant
after a luomenlary pause said, 'Btan,
up The woman arose with an elor
and faced the Judge, Counsellor Perry
standing beside her. "you have be6i
convicted Of d grave charge, that o
AltoclOus assault upon Mary Ann Don
nelly, the extreme penalty for which 1
ten years. but there ate OxtenuatlnI
circumstances III this case, aud the sen
lencp am about 10 impose should DO con
Ndetpd lOhlUnt In case Of conviction 10
atoclOus assault. tBentenCe you 10 twu
yeats confinement In the State prison Z
Trenton, and ynu nhAll eiaH1 COinMllte