The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-12
HIS CONFESSION.
Policeman Swears That HamiI-
ton Confessed to Killing Day.

Minneapolis. Feb. 1.-THE testimony
Of former PatroInan Rooney caused a
sensation in the Hamilton murder trial
today. At the time of the ARRAY Rooney
was a member of the police force. He
testified as follows
when I entered the billiard room that
morning Waterman O'N1ally said to me:
'Ohicer take this rhan and lock him up;
he did it, I said: Did what2'
g Did this he replied, leading me to
where Days dead body lay on billiard
table. I took, hold OF Hamiltons coat
sleeve and told him to come along. He
was sitting in a chair in the barroom
Some one suggested delay, but Hamilton
got up and said: i will go with you;
let the law take its course I'll take the
consequences I killed him but did 1t
in defense
Rooney then went on with Hamilton
confession to him as follows:
Hamilton said: This trouble is all
on account of a girl, Miss -; and then
going with her I told her Day had a
disease She told him. He got sore and
has had it in for me ever since Feel
Of this bump. Day did that I had to
do him. could not stand and let him
beat me and do nothing
''Afterward he said: This is terrible;
I wish 1t had been the other way
:" What other way?' I asked.
That he had killed me instead of
I him.
Then he asked of me to feel of that
bump again and told me that Day had
done it, but he did not know what with
I said It seems to me a man like you
could have taken care of a slim man
like that without using a knife
. I would if his friends had not jump
ed onto me- he answered, as it was I
had to do it to save myself
after q while Mr.. Francis came; he
wanted to talk with Hamilton I said
that he might but that it must be in my
presence. Francis said: Keep your
mouth shut Don't say a word till you
see me again. Let me see your knife.
Hamilton produced a small knife. Fran
els asked if he had another kife. He
said no. Then Francis asked: Did you
have large knife?' and Hamilton an
sWered yes Nothing was said about
when he had the large knife or where
it was"
On cross-examination the witness
could not exactly locate the place where
the confession was made. His memory
was not clear on some other details and
the defense endeavOred to show that his
memory was not of the best He said
Hamilton appeared to be intoxicated
and he observed a lump on his forehead
and an abrasion of the skin.
The crowd this morning filed the
court room.
Ralph Gary, recalled, was the first
witness of the day. He could not iden-
tify the big knife, and declared he had
never seen 1t. He corroborated Gray,s
testimony Of yesterday that at a GER
tain juncture after the killing there was
no one near the body.
Ernest N. Ruel, night clerk of the
West hotel, testified that he was playing
pool with the day porter, but saw only
a part of the trouble. He heard what
Day had said to Hamilton at the first
meeting, but did not hear the latter's
reply He saw the scuff1e, and heard
Day refuse to fight because Hamilton
was not sober. His recollection Of the
affair and the persons there corroborat-
ed 50 far as it went the evidence of the
states other witnesses.
J. w. Bennett. the travelling man, was
recalled. He denied emphatically that
he had said to Hamilton, as Witness
is dead; you killed him"
Robert c. HILL night police reporter
on the Tribune. gave some important
evidence He had gone to the hotel to
cover the case. There he saw Ham
ilton and Bennett. The latter was ex-
cited, and historical, and acted as if
he had been drinking Witness was a
talked with him at once. He testified as
follows:
Il proffered my services to Hamilton
and offered to do anything I could for
bin. I added that while things looked
bad for him. he would better cheer up
Then asked him if he did it. He said
I don't know whether did or not He
was all OF and that he was up against
it, or something like that. I said Is
that your knife?' No. he said''
The witness denied that he had al
vised Hamilton to say nothing about the
case. After he had given his evidence
as above, County Attorney Boardman
said: The state rests
Court was then adjourned till 10 a m
tomorrow, in order to give the defense a |
LITTLE time n a ifs