The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-10-10
EVA RAY HAMILTON
Tells Nellie Bly, the True Story Of
Her Career.
THE MOTTO IN HER PRISON CELL.
She Travelled with Dramatic Company-How
She Met Hamilton-Her Manners
Are Charming.

Especial to THE HERALD-Examtner Dlspatch.I
TRENTON, n. J., Oct. 81 interviewed
Mrs. Eva ]. Hamilton Monday afternoon
in her prison cell in Trenton jail. Every
body has heard Robert Ray Hamiiton's
side of the story. 1t seemed only fair that
the woman be given show. have seen
her, talked with her, and I write her story
as she gave it. She has been judged in
more ways than one. l smooth over moth
ing in telling what she told me.
The sun came family in the high win
dows, lighting the cells of the Trenton
state prison where women are confined. l
heard the low hum Of sewing machine,
and looking down the corridor 1
saw seated along the spotless
walls the blue clad women sewing.
Forgetting the popularity of the dress,
they resembled nothing so much as society
sewing for charity purposes. l except the
dress; l should also except the quiet. No
one ever saw quiet sewing society, but
these women prisoners were so quiet
could hear the despairipg sobs that came
from among them and from the topmost
tier. l went up three flights OF stairs to
this top tier, and walking along the narrow
balcony l came to a door that was closed,
cot. Her face was hidden in her hands
and she was crying bitterly. The door
opened and l stepped in.
"Mrs Hamilton | said as the woman
jumped to her feet, 81 come to you from
the World. l will state first l will faith
fully transcribe whatever you choose to
say to the World in your own defense"
Without a word, without one question,
the desolate woman flung her arms around
me and sobbed so terribly that l almost
feared she could not be quoted.
Have you seen my husbandl' she re
piled as she became more calm and drew
back to look at me.
''No,'' 1 replied. 81 am Nellie Bly,, of the
World. | have come to you to give you the
same chance as has been given Mr.. Hamil
ton and the Swintons. If you have any
story to tell, will faithfully report it,
Il will tell you truthful story. 1t has
never been told. They have told so many
untruths about me"
We sat down side by side on the cot l
looked about her tiny cell. On a little table
were remnants of a meal. The cot was eX-
tremely simple, but was furnished with two
mattresses. There was a wooden stool in
the cell and nothing more, excepting a
framed motto which was printed in colored
letters: Il believe in God my Father, and
in Jesus Christ my Savior, and in the Holy
spirit, who comforts me and leads me unto
all truth
looked at Eva Hamilton also. All her
finery had disappeared. Still she hes a
pretty face but a weak one. She looked
so much younger than l had expected. In
her simple blue gown with plain waist
and straight skirt; with black and white
breakfast shawl pinned about her throat
her bangs combed smoothly back and her
soft reddish brown hair hanging in one
braid down her back, she looked not more
than tu-purV years old q DTpttV slender
girl.
ITO begin at the first" she said, holding
my hand with her white, cool, slender one.
II am not the child of the Steeles, as has
been said. was their adopted child. My
mother died when | was born and when [
was three years old my. father died OF CON
sumption. / was born in Iunkhanock, Pa.
The Steeles adopted me and I never knew
any other people but them. When 1 was
fifteen years old l moved to TOwanda, Pa
| went to earn my own living. | was with
Mrs. Marsh who kept millinery store on
Bridge street. | learned my trade and
there I met Walter Parsons, who was
then superintendent of the railroad
We were married. she continued, releas-
ing my hand and absently pulling single
hairs out of her long braid. MY folks and
his folks fought about it. 1t made great
deal OF trouble. l had one child, a daugh-
ter, to Walter Parsons, and then things
went so badly by others interfering that
we separated
''What became of your daughter!"
asked
81 don't like to bring her into this" she
said plaintively. "She is thirteen years
old now. 1 have her at school and she does
not know anything about this. l don't
want her to, and it is not right to drag
Walter Parsons up again, for he is mar
ried again.
.atl, : :
Il went to work for During Il Pratt, in
Elmira, n. Y. 1 was at their ribbon coun-
ter. When l was eighteen received some
money which was left to me by my father.
| then went back to the Steeles and lived
there quietly for some months. In 1878, l
think it was, Father Steele and the Parsons
arranged to get divorce to free Walter
and myself. This was all done by them IN
Elmira, n. Y. After the divorce was
granted went to Elmira, where l lived
for three months. Then [ went to New
York. I Immediately got an engagement
with dramatic company and went on the
Soad."
rel me what company - said.
Don't ask me, - she said again. II don t
wish 10 drag the names of people before
the public who so far have escaped. While
was travelling with this company l met
Joshua Mann. The company was stopping
at the West End hotel, Philadelphia, and
Joshua Mann was there. One of the girls
in the company knew him and she intro
duced him to me. l was two years with
this company and then ! was out nine
months with Billy Florence; then | went to
New York to stay.'
Il first got boarding at Mrs Deans, No.
252 West Twenty first street. She was
the wife of captain whose trip was to
Brazil and back OF course you know the
rest Of il and how / met Mr.. Hamilton"
she said. with a long drawn breath.
81 do not" l answered tell me the
story"
"a friend of mine took me to house
one night. Mr.. Hamilton and two friends
of his (she gave their names) were calling
there at the time. We were all introduced
and Mr.. Hamilton and l became most init
mate friends from that time. That IS hVe
years ago this coming spring.
I'VE cared for each other" she said, and
she hung her head sorrowfully. 81 mean
by that, that he paid all of my expenses
and was with me all the time was IN
New York, which was usually from Friday
night until Monday morning, he coming
down from Albany Che was a member OF
the legislature them. Twice during that
time was going to be a mother. told
Mr.. Hamilton, and he was very angry. Both
times he compelled me to consult doctor
and he gave me $500 each time to pay ex-
penses. Once he gave me the money and
the other time he sent the money in reg
isterediletter to me to the Passaic postofice
in New Jersey.
"All this time" she said getting off the
bed and pacing nervously up and down her
tiny cell, II was friendly with the Swim
tons, as they were called. Joshua Mann
had introduced me to his mother, Mrs.