Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-28
THE HAMILTON TRAGEDY.
The Unfortunate Wife Sent to Prison
Without Bail.

THE INJURED WOMAN LIES At DEATHS DOOR
STORY OF THE MorHEH OF THE ALLEGED PARA
noul-cARRrR or TIE WOMAN WHO BIIoHTxp
NOBLE HANS LIFE
The hearing was held at Atlantic City, Nj,
yesterday in the case Of Mrs. Evangeline Ham,
nton, wife of Robert Ray Hamilton Of New
York, who il charged with having stabbed
Mary Ann Donnelly, Q domestic in her en-
ploy. Justice Irving conducted the examine
ton The prisoner when brought in showed
signs of great mental distress, and all during
the proceedings sat with her head bowed on
the rail in front Of her. Robert Ray Hamilton,
her husband, testified to the discharge OF the
servant previous to the cutting. and hesifat-
ingly admitted that the knife used was IN the
hands Of his wife at the time. Witness gave
his age as twenty-eight, but was not questioned
as to family relationship.
Policeman Biddle, who arrested Mrs. Ham1l-
ton, stated that she told him on the way to the
station house that she did il in self-defense.
DIR. G.. W. Crosby, who attended the injured
woman, showed the nature of the wounds at
the same time stating that she was in a very
critical condition. This testimony caused the
prisoner to exhibit renewed signs of nervous
ness, and was the only time she had raised her
head since entering the court room.
THE PRoPRIETREss OF THE 'NoLL" COTTAGE
on Tennessee avenue. where the stabbing took
Elizabeth Rupp and her testimony was merely
that she was the landlady of the cottage and
that she identified the prisoner and her hus-
band as former boarders OF hers. When held
by the court in 5000 bail as a witness Mrs. Rupp
began sobbing and stated that she could not
procure the bail and besides she had three chill
dren to support. The justice then detailed an
officer to watch her constantly until court shall
convene on September 10. Police Sergeant
Loder stated that just before placing Mrs.
Hamilton in cell yesterday he asked her if
she had committed the deed and she admitted
it. saying she had used a white. handled dirk
knife and that in her excitement she had
thrown it on the bed or in the closet, she didn't
know which. The weapon was afterward found
In the closet.
THIS concluded the testimony, and Judge
Manning remanded the accused to prison at
Mays Landing without bail to await the injuries
Of Nurse Donnelly. She was taken to Jail this
afternoon. Robert Ray Hamilton was held in
$500 bail, which he endeavored to secure under
surveillance Of detective. The high standing
OF Hamilton has made the affair one Of great
importance, and intense excitement has been
caused. The attempts of some to prove that
the man is not Robert Ray Hamilton, the de-
scendant of Alexander Hamilton, have proved
futile. Judge Irving has proof OF his identity
which cannot be denied The injured woman
still lies at deaths door.
GRANDMA swINroy AND SON.
There walked slowly up to the Verona cot
tage during the afternoon q woman advanced
in years, plainly dressed and accompanied
young man. She is the woman who figured in
Mondays reports of the tragedy as Grandma"
Swinton. and she knows volumes about the
whole affair. The young man was the notori-
Gus Joshua Mann, alias 'Dotty," who was the
paramount of Mrs. Hamilton and who is the
fountain head OF all the trouble. She told a
reporter that she was in her second widow
hood, her first husband being named Mann.
and by him she had a son. Joshua Mann
"Here he is" she said. pointing to her COM
panion. who had the appearance of Bowery
dive bouncer. My second husband was Prof.
Swinton, paleontologist of the Smithsonian in
stitution OF Washington city and an expert in
the geological department of the government.
He died in 1878. leaving me in comfortable cir
cumstances. bu. my money dwindled down and
moved from my mansion to an unpretentiUuz
house at No. Ill west 18th street, New YORK
city,
WHO MRS. HAMILTON WAS
prior to that time | was the house keeper
for one Of the biggest families in New York.
living on Fifth avenue, who are related to the
yanderbilts. l will not mention their names.
In my new home lived by doing dress making
and keeping borders. among the latter being
Miss Eyangeline Brlnn of Passaic. NJ. She
always acted in a ladylike manner and said her
family was wealthy. Her board was paid very
regularly. My son Joshua and she became
ardently attached to each other but cannot
say how intimate their relations WERE
Hamilton called to see her one evening,
don't know how they became acquainted
There was a contest for her hand in which he
proved the victory by reason of his beauty
wealth and social position They were married
IN time, but this WAS kept secres until within
four months of their babys birth. They went
to California, but Mrs. Hamilton lost forty
pounds of flesh and her elegant clothes no
longer fitted her. She sent for me to make
over her dresses and that is why am here. 1
know all about her family affairs
FIGHTING ABOUT MONEY.
''On the night previous to the assault she and
her husband quarreled. He had promised on
their marriage to allow her 5000 per year to
keep herself as most of his time was spent
IN Albany. He did not want to go back to New
York and told her on the night In question that
if she insisted on going he would cut off her
allowance and pay all bills himself This an
gered her and the loud words attracted Mary
DonneIly, the wet nurse, who was drunk. She
came in the room and was ordered out by Mrs.
Hamilton, but refused to go. She then said to
Mrs. Hamilton:
You are a nasty; you have been init
mate with Josh Mann and love him more than
you do your husbandn
Mrs. Hamilton was sitting on her husbands
knee when this was said and they were drink
ing brandy punches. They were intoxicated
CUTTING TO KILL
Mrs. Hamilton jumped up and grabbed the
dirk-knife from the table, She made a down.
ward plunge at the nurse, but her husband
got between them and the dirk cut his trousers
down to the knee. She then pushed him over
and before he could recover she plunged the
dagger into the womans stomach. I suppose
you know the rest of the story"
Joshua Mann, the reputed lover of Mrs.
Hamilton, had nothing to say. He is insignif-
cant looking. in spite Of his good clothes.
How Mrs. Hamilton became infatuated with
him Is a mystery, but it is partly explained by
the fact that they were so much together dur
ing the absence of Mr.. Hamilton in ALBANY.
Late last night there was a rumor in circu-
lation to the effect that Counselor Perry had
drawn up articles Of separation between HAM
ilton and his wife and that before going to iail
she was given the papers. with a view of get
ting her to sign them. She is also said to have
In her possession her husbands will, of a recent
date, which bequeathes his entire fortune TO
her.
HAMILToN's CAREER
Robert Ray Hamilton has been an honored
member Of the best social circles in New York
for many years. Fresh from the Columbia
college law school he took a hand in politics
and has served four terms in the legislature
He was the leader of the reform element in
the New York legislature and last wear intro
duced some twenty measures looking to the
correction of all sorts of abuses In the moral