The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-06
HAMILTON HELDFOR MURDER
A C0RoNER'S JURY FINDS THAT HE
KILLED hrs WIFE.

strong Evidence Against the CoY0red Ex.
Preacher-The Broken Cane and the Cur
Hutton Identified Ms His-He and Mrs.
Hamilton Roth Traced to Winneid.
Strong circumstantial evidence was brought
out Mt the Coroner's inquest in Newtown yes
terday afternoon tending to connect former
Preacher James L. Hamilton. colored. OF
Flushing. with the murder OF his wife. whose
body was found In a o pool near Winfield on
Monday morning with tho throat cut At the
conclusion of the hearing the Jury brought In
verdict holding Hamilton responsible for the
death OF his wife.
The inquest was held in the Newtown Court
House. The court room was packed with col
orcd people. They extended out on the plat
form In front OF the door and down the rickety
wooden stairs into the street. In order to
avoid trouble OF any kind. Coroner Brandon
had Hamilton taken to Newtown in a coach
from the Queens county Jail IN Long Island
City.
Thore were several colored clergymen among
the spectators who had known Hamilton in
his prosperous days. They came to admins
ter consolation to tho prisoner. He listened
to them in respectful silence. Hamilton wore
the coat which was a part OF the uniform no
was accustomed to wear as hagman on the
Long Island Railroad. District Attorney
Fleming sat beside Coroner Brandon during
tho inquest. John j. Trapp Of Flushing and
John ]. Thornly were present as counsel for
tho prisoner.
Charles H. Mitchell. Of 1876 Lincoln street.
Flushing was the first witness He testified
to Identifying the body. Michael Quiz fol-
lowed. and told how he had found the MUIR
dered woman's body in the pond about 600
feet from his house. He also identified tho
razor and the broken cane, One part Of the
Vua in Ia a
tSi Rf We feet o away He ioned The pieces and
the cane was handed to the Jury for insPec-
tRp Wa Was cand 91y ss
There was no blood On the erase thstesabo outs
ing. said that Hamilton had boarded WITH her
sss sS 5 ss sSSs b ssosi
and h lis ss the
jury. in his hand. She asked him Why he had
hs e C les s sos s Io HI s %y he
Shown her. which was found near. tho body;
IN bed. Tho Witnesses daughter. Miss Mary
She also ais said that Hamilton had a razor and
shaved himself.
e the e1 s sP
IL He' hsd s TICKET Tor @ined The train
about seven minutes late and did not get to
was not ON" on the train when Il left Winfield.
brakeman George Leek corroborated Grover:
ssn Ss sSt S MIs MART a COX % Il sss
ssnS 5Se and Ss ss
looked ESd out Finally she said: ,"oh! here yoS
ofs with Biz man wearing an overcoat similar
TO the ono shown her. which belonged to Ham
Sen n s ne dy hs
went to see the body and at once recognised y
as that OF the woman che bad seen the night
before n the Depot Mrs. oook test'neo 70 'ne
Comparable Edward A. slayin Of Flushing pro.
the these scene Of the murdsr The constable found
the button behind bookcase In Hamllton's
Capt Charles Hance told Of arrcstine Hsmil-
ton, and the prisoners informing him that he
had lent his caneto an unknown man to kill
M .Is Cornell ssg Mr. so Hss E9m ss q
4:45 O'clock. saying she was going to Flushing
t. meet her
oeloc EA hat az night Mrs: David Watson Of Fl
The
hss s1 dG 81
had Ssbsns sad b. Judon
who made the post-mortem examination,
thought the woman's throat must have been
cut after che was In the water owing to the alb
sence Of blood on her clothing. Mrs. Hamil-
How the heavy cane came to be broken has
not yet been explained as there were no other
wounds on the woman's body besides the one
which caused her death. DR.. Combes says the
woman had great quantity Of hair. and that
which a stick as heavy as the cane would have
been broken without leaving any marks on
the scalp beneath. Hamilton eays his wife
her the cane several days ago. Perhaps she
had 1t on this particular night and broke 1t
over Hamilton either in n rage or in self-ds-
fence.
Hamilton hid his face In his hands when he
heard the verdict. He was at once put into
jail