Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-09-19
THE LAW AND THE LADY.
Mrs. Robert Ray Hami1tOn's Fate
WILL Soon be Decided.

NAYS LANDING, N. j., September 49,
The courtroom was crowded this morn
ing with people anxious to hear the pro.
ceedings in the case of Mrs. Robert Ray
Hamilton, indicted for atrocious assault
upon her child's nurse, Mary Donnelly.
Mrs. Hamilton sat beside her counsel,
and looked pale and wan. Her face
showed evidence of the strain of close
confinement. Mr.. Hamilton did not
look towards his wife. The work of Sc
lecting jury was quickly disposed of.
Mrs. Hamilton frequently sobbed aloud
during the selection OF the jury, and
gave every evidence Of hopeless despond-
ency. DR.. Crosby, the first witness, de-
scribed the nature of the wound and
added that Mrs. Donnelly was entirely
out of danger. Mrs. Donnelly then tes-
tilted as to the facts of the assault, and
the court took a recess.
In the afternoon Nurse Donnelly said
Mrs. Hamilton took out of her trunk the
knife with which the cutting was done.
Mrs. Hamilton called her vile name
and she demanded its being taken back,
which she refused to do. She then left
the house and on her return found that
Hamilton's trousers had been cut in the
right knee, and his coat split down the
back. The knife and garments we're
both offered in evidence.
Mr.. Hamilton's testimony went to
show particularly that the nurse was
very abusive towards Mrs. Hamilton.
The rent in his coat he explained by the
fact that early in the day on which the
stabbing occurred, they had family
quarrel. The nurse was very aggressive.
A parasol was also broken by the de-
PENDANT. She wanted greater sum of
money than he was willing to allow her
on separation. Defendant had showed
him bruises and scratches inflicted by
the nurse.
Mrs. Hamilton testified that her hus-
band upheld the nurse, and that she (the
nurse) was very abusive to her. She
threw her on the bed and placed her
knee on witness stomach; then the
knife, which was lying on the bed. was
used by witness in self-defense.
She stated that she first met Hamil-
ton four or five years ago at Mrs.
Browns, in New York, being accom-
panied by Miss Bader. She afterwards
met Hamilton on the street, and finally
he called upon her. Neither of her par.
ents were living, and che had money left
her by her father. She said she was no
relation to Mrs. Swinton. but met her in
boarding house at No. 10 East Twenty
eighth street, where che also met Josh
Mann. She was married last January to
Mr.. Hamilton, but declined answering il
she had been married before or YVES the
mother of baby Beatrice.
Mrs. Hamilton said she was afraid to
call her life her own during the time Mrs.
Donnelly was in her employ. The nurse
neglected the baby and drank great
deal. The nurse had made several
threats against her life prior to the en-
counter in which the witnes stabbed her.
Before the encounter the nurse had at
tempted to assault her with whiskey
bottle. Hamilton put the woman out Of
the room, but she soon returned scream
ing, "Let me at her" and fight en-
sued.
The physician called to attend Nurse
Donnelly said she was under the influ-
ence of liquor when he came.
Mr.. Elizabeth Rupp, proprietress of
the Noll cottage, was present when Mrs.
Hamilton attempted to assault the nurse
with an infants bath tub. Mrs. Hamil-
ton made the remark in her presence,
Ray Hamilton, you will have me sent
to the gallows yet"
Both sides then rested, and Judge Reed
stated that the arguments would be made
and the case given to the jury in the
morning.