Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-09-26


Hamilton trial yesterday afternoon Nur8e
lDonnelly under roBss-examination tes-
2tified: "Didn't you threaten to DO Mrs.
Hamilton bodily harm?" mo, sir; but
tell you she was scared. She yelled mur-
2 Ter, police, holpl loud enough, can tsil
,ou. the thought J. was going TO kill
er," aud the witness smiled smile OF
epseme satisfaction. Lawyer Perry
niled, too. He had scored strong
cint, and everybody Raw it.
Mrs. Donnelly was Immediately dis.
sissed, but was recalled to identify
ne white wrapper and other gsrments
belonging to Mrs. Hamilton, which had
been badly torn. The n1Ese recognized
lhom as those worn by her mistress Ut
Che time of the stabbiug, but said they
must have been torn afterwards; she had
inot caused the rents. Mrs. Donnelly cast
one last look of spite at the prisoner and
chen marched, smiling, to her seat.
The state here rested its case.
Counsellor Perry opened for the de.
fence with short address to the jury TO
the effect that the outing was done in
self-defenoe.
DR.. Crosby was then again called. He
testified that the nurse WAS evidently
under the influence of alcoholic stimu-
lants when he first took charge Of her
after the stabbing.
Hamilton was then called. He wore n
worried and anxious LOOK, but told his
story and answered the questions put to
him IN q frank and straightforward man
ner. BE never once mentioned his wife
By name, but continually referred to her
rs 1.-THE defendant"
HI spoke in smooth and gentle tone
NJ ataA lie 30
agitate his wife considerably. On the
morning in question Hamilton said Nurse
Donnslly was drunk and abusive, as she
he'd been on one occasion in New York
when she had kept the baby out after
dark and had been reprimsnded for 30
doing. Early in tho morning he and de-
PENDANT had been disputing about their
trunks, and defendant had torn his night
clothes of his back, then had snatched
bis Hight overcoat and Slit it up the back
and atfuck him with her umbrella. Just
then the nurse entered in answer to the
defepdant's summons, while he was sit
ting on the edge Of the bed in gar
ment]ess state. The trouble had been
ny1r his refusal to 90 to New York, as
had been arranged the previous evening,
and also over the question OF her allow
, nuca- A separation had been partially
agreed upon. The nurse brought letter
to bin after he had wrapped himself in q
!. .xheet. Because she would not give up
the other letter at defendants request she
wss discharged.
Witness said: "You must 40, Mary;
you bad better leave the room now" But
Mary had answered defsntly: ~ wont go
for both OF you" Then "defendant''
had used abusive language, and the nurse
in turn had grown very abusive and ag.
gressive, calling the defendant" hard
names. The nurse then rushed at "de
fendart," and witness couldn't keep hei
away.
They struggled with one another. each
clutching at the others mouth and each
biting the others fingers. Witness
hustled Mary into the hall, and defendant
ran TO the window and shrieked Murder
Police !" The nurse returned and threw
"defendant" on the bed where the knife
Was lying, alcng with some of witness
hunting traps. II was then the cuttinl
took place. defendant" grasped tn,
knife, while the witness rushed to her ~
distance.
Mrs Elizabeth Rupp stepped forward
and was examined by Lawyer Perry
She had run upstairs on hearing III
noise and had seen Mrs. Hamilton shield
ing herself and striking at the nurse viii
d baby's bath-tub. little later she is,
seen her trying to strike the muse with
bottle. She had heard both the wpmsi
calling out bod names, too bad to bo re
peated. She mad heard Hamilton in 10y
tones bidding Mary 10 keep quiet. Sh
had also heacd defendant ory ''nufder
and "police" and In I heard her Sxclei,n
s'Ray Hamilton, you'll have ms sent I
the gallows yet" Mrs. Rupp wAs dis
missed aud then the most exciting epiaod
Of the trial took place.
M Mrs. Hamilton was called TO the vii
ness box, and With hundreds OF eye
gazing at her she walked deliberately {
the stand, dashed away possible tear c
two, and began to relate her version {
the fraoas. Her husband wstcbea he
nnxiously as she took her seat, then b
steadfastly gazed at the floor, shteliin
\ his facs with his hand. ~ was efraid !
: call my life my own when Nurse Dor
nelly Was around" she began i'll n heai
tating, musical voice. But Mr.. Hsmi
ton always seemed to uphold her. Sh
told awful tales of her doings, relRtin
how she had cut her own husband's fa;
with hatohet and other like aohiev
ments. gave her two telegvR,ns I
deliver that morning, but shs refused
send them. They were to Mr. Haul
toms father anc brother, urging them
come to Atlantic City and settle our di
putes. When asked her why she hedn
given Mr.. Hamilton his letter she sai
she didn't want to. told her she VI
discharged. She was undor the iutlIent
Of liquor at the time.
"She kicked my knees end pulled II
out of my chair by the hair. Then M
Hamilton parted us and l scream,
Murder. Police' out of the winiol
Next she backed me on the bed, prsasii
her knees upon rle. She tried to hit il
with whisky bottle, but Mr. Hamiitt
rushed in, and picked up the knifB th
was lying on the bed 10 defend myself.
M reaohed around him and struck vt her
eif-defence. didn't really know Id
cut her until the officers came to ARE
me. knew she was gong to kill N
She frequently threatened TO AiIl me, a,
ALSO once said tauntingly: I've seen 20
marriage certificate and know you we
AZ before You were married."
Prosecutor ThompHon's cross-axauir
tion created o sensation. He probed {
Woman's past life, and though Lawy
Hsry raised frequent objections, /
judge invariably allowed the question
to proceed. She said that she bud II
hamilton years ago at a friends houl
She thought it was at a MEs. Browns
New York city, on Forty filth street.
WAS boarding at that time on Twon
third street, between Sixth and Seven
ayenues, and her second meeting wi
Hamilton, she thought, had been up