Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-10-29
MRS. HAMILTON FREE
JURY SAYS SHE DID NOT KILL
HER HUSBAND.
The Good News Completely Unnerved Her
and She Tainted Away--Ons OF the
Most Sensational Cases In
the states History.

I woman. Such is the decision of
jury after having been out for fiftee
hours.
The announcement OF the jury's de
cision proved too much for the shat
tered nerves of Mrs Hamilton and sh,
tainted away. 1t was several minute
before she recovered and an order WA
made releasing her. At the announce
ment Of the verdict a shout wen
up from the spectators and two ner
sons were fined $40 each who were
caught clapping their hands and
stamping their feet
Upon reaching the jury room an in
formal ballot was taken as TO Mrs.
Hamilton's guilt or innocence. g
said no and said yes. A vote was
taken upon the question: did Mrs.
Hamilton shoot her husband?n and re-
turned yeas 5, nays =. Next came a
ballot on murder in the first degree
and there was for and II against A
discussion followed and it was decided
that the element of reconciliation was
missing Murder in the first and sec
Ond degree was abandoned and a vote
was taken on manslaughter. There
were affirmative and negative votes.
ballot was then taken on the promo
sition of whether or not Mrs. Hamil-
ton was guilty of any crime whatever
Five members of the jury voted that
she was, while seven declared by their
votes that she should 90 free. For
some hours there was no change and
finally, upon the eighth ballot, after
having been out fifteen hours. the
jury agreed on a verdict of acauittal
and the court was notified
Sheriff Lewis was notified nv tele-
phone TO bring the prisoner to court
and soon arrived with her. Her face
was hidden, as usual, with heavy
veil, and her almost totterino form,
vas supported by her sister and father
She was led to the big easy chair that
he occupied during the trial. and of-
er taking her seat rocked nervouslv
IS II filled with dread. Judge Norrel
'rdered the jurors brought in.
The jurors filed into the box and
ook their seats. Asked if they had
greed upon verdict, the foreman
answered that they had The verdict
'as passed to Deputy Clerk Little.
Tho arose and read:
we the jurors impaneled in the
bove case, find the defendant, Lou {
hamilton, not guilty"
As the words mot guilty fell from g
Ir. Titles lips Judge Powers extend
his hand to congratulate his client. {
ut the supreme joy of the moment I
AL proved too much for her and she h
nd tainted Had it not been for her q
ster Florence and her attorneys. she O
ould have doubtless pitched forward p
ON her chair, but her swaying form h
as caught by loving lands and the i,
nal restoratives were applied; but it q
as more than fifteen minutes before II
e recovered sufficiently to under H.
lnd that an order discharging her Il
ID been entered. :,
The trial was sensational through in
: and lasted two weeks The strong
and most direct evidence AGAINST
s. Hamilton was given by her sister
d husband, Mr.. and Mrs, Seldom. pa
e killing was at the Sedden home. te
ere Mrs Hamilton had been staying 10
week or two prior 20 the event re
night. Nj
The prosecution produced evidence oy
II Mrs. Hamilton had purchased pc
tridges for Il revolver on the after TO
IN preceding the murder. after Sed 'h
had refused To get them for her. Sc
had also threatened Hamilton 5 IN
, and had told Seldom. as the Inter me
lifted, that he would better talk SUI
Hamilton FIRST. for he would not urI
e chance after abe Mrs. Ham us
nj ha seen him Also that Ham ma
n would not live to talk about her. 'n'
way II is alleged he had done. g"l
don also testified that after the 'o'
citing. he had seen Mrs. Hamilton col
ding over the PROSTATE body Of her u u,
band and in reply to question III
had said: II have fixed him. The -'O
imony OF Mrs lIamiltons sister. MOI
Seldom, was equally damaging 20
the coroners inquest the Seddons Wy
very different story. They ~,
lded Mrs Hamilton in every posi- ~"
way Seldom was held as an ac- :" :,
airy by the jury, aud was liberated l p,''
4 jail only after having told the -,
y which he repeated at the trial. '''"