Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-20
TWO YEARS IN PRISON.
Eva Hamilton Found Guilty and Sem
fenced to that Punishment.

| ~ may LanclnS, ~. D., yestefuny vuo6o
Reed. in charging the jury after the arguments
in the Eva Hamilton case had been delivered,
said: 1.-The whole matter hinges on the plea Of
the defense. The blow may have been struck
in self-defense but when q deadly weapon is
used in self-defense it materially alters the
| case"
Continuing, the judge dwell. upon the fact
that the knife thrust was deadly one, and the
only way in which the plea of the defense could
! possibly be tenable was that the blow was
struck to save the defendants life: that she
was in imminent danger and had to deal the
deadly blow to save her own life. His charge
was clearly against the prisoner He instructed
the jury to give her the benefit of any doubt
| as 10 the character of the crime. They might
bring in verdict of assault and battery, il
they thought her knife thrust was not mali
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 then filed out of the court room
| for the purpose Of celebrating on a verdict.
The closing scenes of the trial were exceed
lngly dramatic. When word was sent to Mrs.
Hamilton that the jury were out celebrating
whether she was guilty not she excitedly
paced her little prison and frequently looked
out OF her window upon the court house wherein
the jury were balloting.
VERDICT AGREED UPON.
1t was precisely o'clock when the jury an
nounced that they had arrived at a verdict and
filed into their respective seats. The court
room was crowded and the spectators whispered
audible comments upon the probable verdict
until called to order by the court
AT 3:l5 O'clock Sheriff johnson led in the de-
PENDANT through the side door of the court
house.
Mrs. Hamilton looked pale and fatigued, but
walked with firm step through the narrow
aisles and paid no attention to the scrutinizing
gaze of the crowd on both sides of her. When
brought within the railing she sank YEARLY into
the arm chair, directly facing the jury. She
was dressed the same as yesterday, except that
the navy blue directoire was missing. When
seated she nervously twisted her fingers, her
hands being covered with pearl-colored gloves.
Her counsel took q position behind her and
smiled at the jury as if expecting a victory, and
whispered to his client, who nodded her down.
cast head as If in approval. Her head was
turned aside from the prosecuting attorney,
who sat In close proximity
within five minutes after the now thor
oughly broken-spirited woman faced the jury
the clerk OF the court called the jury and in
CURED:
dict?"
Foreman Samuel Reeves responded in stem
torian voice: I'VE have"
By this time the court room had become
silent, and when the foreman answered, I'VE
lind the defendant
GUILTY AS CHARGED IN THE INDICTMENT"
Mrs. Hamilton gave perceptible start and
lifted her head for the first time, turning to-
ward her counsel with appealing glance,
and then toward the members of the Jury, who
looked her In the face. Then her head sank
upon her breast, but she uttered no comment
Counsellor Perry asked the court to poll the
Jury. seach one replied to the query of the
clerk guilty" the scene became almost tragic,
as the condemned woman apparently had not
friend In the court room to offer her consola-
tlon, even her husband having gone away as
II unwilling to remain to witness her distress
The jury, it is understood, took two ballots
the hrst resulting in a vote of eleven for con-
viction and one for acquittal The man who
voted for acquittal said that he would agree to
verdict OF guilty of assault and battery, but
not of atrocious assault. Finding the other
eleven men determined, he finally submitted
to the will of the majority.
Judge Reed. after the polling of the jury,
sternly said: "Evangeline Hamilton" Then he
hesitated and after a momentary pause, said:
stand up"
The woman arose with an effort and faced
the Judge, Counsellor Perry standing beside
her.
TWO YEARS IN THE STATE PRISON.
you have been convicted of grave charge.
that OF atrocious assault upon Mary Ann Don
nelly, the extreme penalty for which is ten
years. But there are extenuating circum-
STAGES IN this case, and the sentence am
about to impose should be considered Ienient
In case OF conviction for atrocious assault
sentence you TO two years confinement in the
state prison at Trenton and you shall stand
committed until the costs Of the case shall be
paid"
Not by movement or look did the con-
demned woman betray any emotion She
stood in a listening attitude while Counsellor
Perry advised her to bear up and be of good
cheer
She resumed her seat and conversed with
several reporters who took advantage of the
occasion to ply her with questions until inter-
fered with by Sheriff johnson, whose policy IT
has been to prevent any communication be-
tween his prisoner and press representatives.
Mrs. Hamilton condemned her husbands ap-
parent desertion and made several remarks
concerning his relationship with the nurse
previous to the ARRAY which las landed her in
jail. She said the sentence was hard to bear
She was willing and apparently anxious to talk,
but was led away by the sheriff, she following
him out of the court room. She looked pale.
but was not agitated- She entered the sheriff's
residence by the front door and proceeded to
her attic prison, which had been furnished lux
uriously by her infatuated husband when she
was nrst incarcerated and before the full ex-
posure of her past career and the deception
Practiced upon him had caused him to leave
her to her fate
Mrs. Hamilton will be taken to states prison
next Saturday morning in company with half
dozen criminals convicted at this term of the
court. She will have to serve twenty months
term, providing she gets the usual allowance
OF two months per annum for good behavior.
IL Is said that Mrs. Hamilton repeatedly
solicited an interview with her husband while
he was here. in order to explain some personal
matters, but he declined to go near her.
THE BABY TO BE CARED FOR
Mrs. Elizabeth Rupp, proprietress of Noll
cottage, where the row occurred, was seen last
night She said she was caring for Baby Bea-
trice under instructions from Robert Ray Ham
ilton whom she saw at court, and who said he
would decide within day or two what dispo-
sition to make of the innocent child. the cause
OF all trouble. Mr.. Hamilton said to Mrs. Rupp
that he would never set foot in Atlantic City
again, as IL would recall many incidents that
We're full OF bitterness to him.
LOUISIANA SECURITIES.