The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-09-27
MRS. HAMILTON FOUND GUILTY.

'svboiO wy itHutlNuU " utsOBnuaUI
OF Alexander Hamilton became infat-
uated with a woman of bad character
and married her. A few weeks ago
the wife stabbed the nurse woman at At
lautic City, and ON Friday last she was
condemned, and sentenced to two years
Imprisonment Tor her offense. Owing
to the previous high standing of Ham
iliton this case has become Accelerated
one, and the papers are full of it. The
trial took place at Mays Landing, N.
j. beginning on Thursday. On Fri.
day morning when the jurors had taken
their seats Judge Reed said: "Sheriff,
bring in the defendant" The sheriff
stated that the defendant, Mrs. Hamil-
ton, begged to be excused from appear
ing on account of serious illness, aud
the Judge allowed the case to proceed.
Then Captain Perry, counsel for the
de.ense, began his argument. He said
he he. .Jed The jurors would frame their
verd ct according TO the testimony,
independent of newspaper reports or
other influence.
Prosecutor OF Pleas Thompson closed
the case for the prosecution. He said
bo,h Hamilton aud his wife repeatedly
contradicted themselves while on the
witness stand and their testimony was
q tissue of falsehoods from beginning
to end; that Mr. Hamilton's life woul |
proabbly have been taken we:e it not
for the timely entrance of Nurse Don
ely, and thai Mrs Hamilton was fort
unate in not being on trial for murder
Instead of atrocious assault.
Juuge Reed at once delivered his
charge, which was Gle ,rly against the
prisoner. He set aside all the facts
which it was said led up to the cutting.
He instructed the jury to give her the
benefit of any doubt as to the character
of the crime. They might bring a
verdict of assault aad battery, if they
thought her knife thrust was not ma Ii
cious, but if they viewed the matter
from the standpoint that she reached
around to stab the nurse, then there
was no reason why they should not
return a verdict in accordance with the
indictment. The jury came in at 3.l5
and returned verdict of "Guilty rs
indicted that is, of atroci)us assault.
The closing scenes of the trial OF
Evangeliue Hamilton for an atrocious
assault upon Nurse Donuely, were ex.
ceedingly dramatic. When word was
sent to her that the jury were out
deliberating whether she was guilty or
not, she exoitedly paced the attic prison
and frequently looked out OF her win
dow upon the court, where the jury
were balloling. 1t was precisely 8
clock when the jury announced that
they had arrived at verdict and fiji.
led in their respective seats. The
court room was crowded and the spect-
ators whispered audible comments up
o. the probable verdict until called to
order by the court.
AT fifteen minutes past three sheriff
johnson led in the defendant. Mrs.
Hamilton looked pale and fatigued,
br. walked W til firm demeanor through
the narrow ais'es, and paid no atten-
tior 10 the scrutinizing gaze of the
crowd on both sides of her. When
brought within the railing she sank
. weari'- into a chair, directly facing
the 'ry. She neryouslr twisted her
6ugers, her hands being covered with
pearl colored gloves. The clerk of
the court called the jury and inquired :
"Gentlemep, have you agreed npon a
verdctF To which Foreman Reeves
responded in stentorian tones: "We
have" BY this time the court room
had become silent, and when the fore.
man answered, "We find the defend
ant guilty as charged in the indict.
ment," Mrs. Hamilton gave a percep-
table start and lifted her head for the
FIRST time, turning toward her counsel
with an appealing glance, and then to
ward the members of the jury, who
looked her in the face. Then hel
head sank upon her breast, but she ut
tered no comment. The condemned
woman apparently had not friend in
the court room to offer Der consola
ton, even her husband having gone
away as if unwilling to remain and
witness her di, Sress. Judge Reed
sternly said: "Evar geline Hamilton,
stand up" The woman ose with
an effort and faced the Judge, Cour-
sellor Perry standing beside her
"You have been conv cted of grave
charge, that of atrocious assault upon
Mary Ann Donnel y, the extreme pen
a'y for which is ten years. But
there are extenuating circumstances in
this case, and the sentence am abou,
to impose should be considered lenient
in case Of conviction fol- atrocious
assault. l senterce you to two years
confinement in the state prison a,
Trelton." Not by movement or look
did the condemned woman betray any
emotion. She stood in listening at.
titude while Counsellor Perry advised
her to bear up and be of good cheer
She resumed her seat and converseG
with several reporters, who took ad
vantage of the occa ion to ply hei
with questions. Mrs. Hamilton con
demned her husbands apparent deser
tion and made several remarks con
cerning his relationship with the nurse
previous to the affray. She looked
pale, but was not sgitated. She en-
tered the sheriff's residence through
the front door and proceeded to hel
attic prison which had been furnished
luxuriously by her infstuated husband
when she was first incsrcerated and be
fore full exposure of her past career
and deception practised upon him hac
caused him to leave her to her fate
She will have to serve twenty month
8 term, providing she gets the usual
allowance of two months per annun
for good behavior 1t is said Mrs
Hamilton repeatedly solicited an in
terview with her husband in order to
explain some personal matters, but