The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-11-03

MURDER AND SUICIDE
Edward Hamilton of Wor-
CeSter, Shoots His Wife,
His Children and
Himself.
THREE WILL PROBABLY DIE
Insanity Said to Have Prompted
His Act-Dstails of the
Crime.
THREE WILL PROBABLY DIE

WORCESTER, Mass, Nov. 2, 1S97.-Ed-
ward Hamilton, for twenty-five years an
employee of the Worcester County Instr
tuition for Savings, this mornin shot and
killed his wife and one child and fatally
wounded another child. The murderer
then shot himself, with probably fatal re-
suits. Hamilton and the two wounded
children were removed TO the City Hos
pital.
The shooting occurred at Z O'Clock this
morning at Hamilton's residence, NO. %
William street. Hamilton had been in
i'll health for a few months past, ana mac
suffered from neuralgia. He had praetl-
cally lived on opiates for a number OIL
weeks, and is supposed to have suddenly
become insane. r.
1t appears that the only witness TO the
tragedy was the domestic employed IN
the Hamilton household. AS soon as the
news of the tragedy was reported to the
police, officers were sent to guard the
house, and Inspectors O'Day and Stone
were detailed on the case.
The servant girl was at once conducted
to Police Headquarters, and was clos
eted for over an hour with Chief of Po-
lice brennan.
The Hamiltons had lived at No. So West
street up to a few days ago, when they
removed to William street.
Mr.. Hamilton was married about seven
years ago to Katherine Long, a profess
sional nurse, who had nursed him during
a severe illness from pneumonia Their
married life had always been regarded
as a happy one, and they were blessed
with two children. a girl, Katherine Pres
colt, aged about three. and a boy, Ed
ward Prescott, about one and a half years
old.
1t was difficult to get at the facts this
morning, but it was stated by a neighbor
that shots were heard about Z O'Clock. 1t
is said that Hamilton became seized with
a maniacal fury shortly after arising,
and taking his revolver fired at his wife
and children. The wife and little girl
were almost instantly killed. The boy was
badly wounded, and the father completed
the CHASTITY work by turning the revolver
on himself.
The sleeping apartments of the family
are on the second floor, and the three VIC
tins of the tragedy were in three rooms
fronting on the street.
Mrs. Hamilton. was in the room at the
left, facing the street, and she was shot
first. The bullet passed through her right
temple, and must have killed her in
SANITY Mr.. Hamilton then passed into
the room where the baby girl was sleep
ing and shot her, and then went to the
third room, the one at the extreme right,
and shot the boy, wounding him.
Then he applied the weapon to his own
head and fired.
The weapon used was a 32-calibre re-
yolver. Only h four shots were fired.
Mr.. Hamilton has been i'll since Fri
day, and there is no doubt hat he was
not in his right mind.
Medical Baker and DR.. Charles
D. Wheeler, who were summoned as soon
as possible, gave this as their opinion.
As soon az word was received at Sta
ton I Sergeant Hill was sent to the
house in an ambulance and took Hamilton
and the little girl to- the hospital, where
it was said the former could not recover.
Hamilton expressed the wish that his
wound would be fatal. The baby boy is
said to a a chance of recovery.