The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-09-19
MRS. HANILTON'S TRIAL.
Making Out a Case of Sell De-
Tense for the Now Famous
BEAUTIFUL ADVENTURES,
The Evidence Shows that the Nurse
was Drunk and Attacked HeF-It
was a bad Crowd all Around,
Her Own Story in Court,

NNAAN ASNhAA WNf NfNVNNN- 'TTTe
with people anxious TO hear the proceed
iugs in the case OF Mrs, Robert Ray
Hamilton, indicted for atrociOus assault
upon her Child's nurse, Mary Donnelly,
and to get glimpse OF the now famous
principal in the affair
Mrs, Hamilton sat beside her counsel
Captain Perry, and looked pale and wan
and her face showed evidence Of the
strain OF her close confinement,
Mr.. Robert Ray Hamilton did not look
toward his wife. The work oi selecting
a jury was quickly disposed OF. Mrs.
Hamilton frequently sobbed aloud dur
ing the selection Of jury, and gave
every evidence Of hopeless dependency,
DR.. Crosby, the first witness called,
described the nature Of the wound, and
added that Mrs, Donnelly was now en-
tirely out OF danger.
Mary Ann DOnnelly, the nurse, was
next called. She testified that on the
morning OF the assault she responded to
Mrs, Hamilton's call TO lock her trunk,
Upon reaching the door OF the room she
saw that Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton had
been quarrelling and that Mr.. Hamil'
toms shirt had been torn of. AT Mr.
EIsmilton's request, she went In search
OF u policemen, but could not find one.
She returned to the room, when Mrs,
Hamilton seized her by the throat and
called her, a vile name. The witness
erappled with Mrs. Hamilton and de.
manded that she withdraw the epithet,
Mrs. Hamilton then threw a bottle at
her. Mr.. and Mrs. Hamilton then
grappled and the witness stood in the
door, which was half open, when Mrs,
Hamilton suddenly sprang toward her
and drove the knife into her side. THE
knife was here shown the witness and
identiaed.]
Continuing the witness said: "MH,
Hamilton is OF a quarrelsome disposition,
but had never had any serious quarrel
with her previous to the stabblng."
Nothing OF importance was developed
in the cross examination Of the nurse by
Captain Perry, and at its conclusion the
court adjourned until 2 o'clock,
Mrs. Hamilton was led from the court
room sobbing bitterly, while her hus.
baud, Mrs. Rupp and the nurse went
out together.
CROSS EXAMINED.
The court reConyened at 9 o'clock and
the cross questioning OF Nurse Donnelly
was resumed. Witness admitted that
she was ordered out OF the room by Mrs.
Hamilton, and after having gthrown Mrs,
Hamilton on the bed she did go away
but almost Immediately returned to the
room, and the alteration began again.
The questioning OF counsel for the de.
Tense was evidently 10 establish an as
sault on Mrs. Hamilton by the nurse
previous 10 the cutting.
The witness admitted having taken
two drinks OF brandy that day before
the stabbing, Mrs. Donnelly was asked
II she had taken the diamonds Of Mrs.
Hamilton aud Indignantly denied II.
She had no knowledge OF them. Fur
ther examination related to the holding
OF Mrs. Hamilton on the bed, and the
latters white wrapper, which she had
on when the cutting took place, was
shown the witness and she denied that
she had torn II when she had hold OF
Mrs. Hamilton, although the garment
was badly torn. Mrs. Donnelly was
then allowed TO retire. The State then
rested It's case.
DR.. Crosby was recalled by the de.
iense and testified that the nurse was
decidedly under the influence Of intoxi.
cants when lie first saw her.
THE DEFENSE.
Then Robert Ray Hamilton was called
and took the oath. He did not look at
his wife, but during the first half hour
Of his examination referred to her as the
defendant. He started in AZ once 10
answer the questions Of Capt.
Perry, as to the beginning Of the trouble
between the nurse and his wife, which
began In New York some months ago,
when Mrs. Donnelly came home drunk.
He stated that he aud his wife both dis.
charged the nurse that morning, but she
refused to 90. Then he detailed the
quarrel between him and his wife, and
stated that II was about yearly sum Of
money for Mrs. Hamilton and that a sep.
aration was talked OF seriously that
morning. Then he related how the
nurse returned In drunken condition
and cursed Mrs. Hamilton, and said she
had seen her marriage certificate and
knew her to be an abandoned character
before her marriage; how the nurse was
nlnnk al frnrt Nka rantt1 D. Hp ina on.l Ral m.
In the third time and making desperate
rush 10 get at Mrs. Hamilton was cut by
the latter.
The Cross.examination was as 10 the
amount Of whisky brought 10 the room
that morning and as to the quarrel be.
tween him and his wife. Hamilton was
a witness decidedly favorable 10 the dc.
iendRnt, and Coolly gave his testimony,
and was not ttipped once on CrosS.ex'
animation. '.'"h
Nurse Donhelly TaB recalled by the
defense and IN her description Of the
fracas which led Up to the cutting, saidi
"MrS. Hamilton caught me BY the hair,
turned around and threw her on the
bed, and Mr., Hamilton requested me
not 10 strike her, which ! did not do,
Mr.. Hamilton was standing Ia the door
ofhls room. shethen assaulted me with q
whiskoy bottle, and but for the timely
interference oi Mr., Hamilton, She would
have broken II over my head, Mrs,
Ruppe entered at this juncture, and
. called TO her TO save the baby, which
was on the floor. noticed that Mr.
Hamilton's coat was torn down the back
They were ClinCh0d and was standing
near by. She BwAyed toward me and
struck me with tho knife, cutting me In
tho abdomen and allowing the inIeStinel
70 come through, ! called toMf. Ham
ilton, Look, she has cut me.'h
A sAucY WITNESS.
! Prosecutor Thompson exhibited pail
, Of MI Hamilton's trousers bearings sign
| Of having bOen cut with q sharp instfu
!. msnt on the log, and the nurse inms
! dlately identified them. On CroSS.ex
animation by Counsellor Perry, III
nurse Bald that she left her hnbbanI
about a year ago, The witness was YER,
bauuy In her answers 10 the attorney,
Mr.. Hamilton, In tealilying again BAi,
!, that the trouble between the deiendan
! and the nurse began Ia New York, OI
!. the morning the AHfay occurred, lh
A nurse had been drinking and ised Ahu
d blve language 10 the defendant, MI
d Donnelly came Into the room about Sl,