Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-21
JEALOUSY ALLEGED
MURDERER MAKES CONFESSION
TO DETECTIVES.
Says He Would Rather Be Hanged
Than to Go to Penitentiary
for Life

murder committed last night William
Walter Hamilton, colored, about thirty
years old, is charged with having strangled
his common-law wife to death. Her name
was Lizzie Lyman, and their home was at
703 Washington court northwest
The woman's dead body was found on the
bed in her home this morning and the MUIR
derer had gone. Two letters which the
man had written in a book were found in
the room. In one of these letters was
confession. but it failed to say how he had
committed the crime
Three hours after the police started the
investigation Hamilton returned to the
neighborhOod of his home after trip to
Hyattsvflle and was arrested by Policeman
Walker He was taken to the sixth pre-
cinct station, where he told the story of the
crime without showing any sign of excite
ment remOrse. About the time he WAS
telling his story Deputy Coroner Giazebrook
was performing an autopsy on the body OF
his victim only a few feet away.
Lieut.. Moore, Detectives Horne, Father,
Hewlett, Warren and Muller, and Police
men Walker and Osterman listened to his
confession. He said he was perfectly sober
and thoroughly understood the
quences of his act when he choking
the woman with his hands. and afterward
when he used stock tie about her neck.
What did you think would be the conse-
quence?' he was asked.
I'D rather be hung than to be sent to the
rententiary for life he added, for then
l would have everything off my mind, and
the sooner it is done the better"
The Letter of Confession.
The book in which Hamilton had written
the letters was found in the room by Star
reporter Hamilton had spread the open
book across an open trunk. where 1t would
necessarily attract attention. There were
no marks of violence on the body, nor could
any bloodstains be found and until this
written confession found the police
could not be certain that the woman had
been murdered. In one letter, evidently
Intended for Lizzie Lyman's mother. he
asked that the woman take care of Stella,
the child of the dead woman by her former
husband. This letter reads:
Dear gramama, l have did this through
Jealousy and now she is out of the way of
everybody so you can take care of Stella
and L hope that some day you will meet us
In heaven for she made me do it. If she
mad not lived over in Miss kelly's, drank
beer and whiskey with those men, she
would have been here today but she did
not do as l told her to do. but I am sorry
FOR it, but that amt doing no good for she
Is dead and will never return to this world
She will never give no other man no more
trouble or you either. Look in the tray of
the trunk and get the life insurance papers
and send them to the company and let
myself l did not want to do it but she
would not listen at me, but l could have
done better than that; could have left her.
but l loved her and the sooner she leaves
the earth the better off she will be and
also myself. You take all of these things
and keep them and if Stella lives, give
them to her. Yours truly
WILLIAM WALTER HAMILTON.
Born in August 1915 in New York city
n. Y.
Take care of Stella and do not let her
get some jealous man for her company If
you do she will be the same way"
Alleged Letter From Lizzie.
The other letter referred to reads:
Dear mother, 1 have come to my stand
point at last, for 1 loved Walter dearly. but
he listened to someone else before he lis
tened to me and now he is satisfied. hope
that he will be with me as I am going on.
Do not let the police get him for If had
done as he said it would have been all
right, but 1 did not do it. Take care Of
dear Stella for / long to see her. When
she came yesterday evening it was too late,
for had passed into a sleep never to wake
up again in this world but to wake up in the
other. Please do not think hard Of Walter
1t is not his fault but my own fault and he
deserves a good woman. He did all he
could for me but l did not know how to
treat him. Now / am going and I hope
that he comes too for 1 do not want him
left behind me for some one else to have
Give my love to Miss Washington and my
best love to you and Estella. Yours truly.
LIZZIE LYMAN.
Born in the year of 1877. Died in the
month of June 90 1904
Sought to Create False Impression.
The second letter. which purported to
have been written by tie woman, was the
first one Hamilton wrote n the book At
that zine he evidently had an idea that he
no b.t 7
committed suicide. Then he concluded that
kill himself, but could not muster sufficient
courage to infiict death wound
1t was between and o'clock yesterday
when the crime was committed Hamilton.
who WAS employed as driver by a local
butcher worked all day yesterday. A week
ago he told the woman that If she did not
remain away from the house of Miss Kelly,
Il neighbor, he would Kill her. Thinking he
would find her in the neighbours house yes
terday he returned home about noon and
again shcrtly after O'Clock. Annie Payne,
colored, who occupies the upper floor, heard
one blow struck and then ali was quiet
During TIE night Mrs. Payne discussed the
case with her daughter and expressed the
fear that Lizzie was dead. The child,
Stella, called at the house about o'clock
tt see her mother. She had a dress pattern
and told Hamilton she wanted her mother
&c have ker dress made by Sunday.
TN take the goods Hamilton said to
the child. but If you get dress made by
your mother by Sunday, I'll know it."
The child left the Dress goods and re-
turned home after she was told that her
mother lad gone down the river Mrs. But
Ter, mother of Lizzie Lyman called to see
her daughter this morning. She reached
the house about o'clock. Hamilton had
then been gone more than an hour. After
she went away Mrs Payne again discussed
the situation with neighbors and sent for
q policeman.
Hamilton's Statement
In his statement to the police Hamilton
said he reached home about o'clock yes
terday and questioned his wife as to where
she had been. He said he told her she
mad not been shopping, but had been at the
house of the neighbor. When he first be-
came violent the wife said her mother was
going to visit her last night and she would
tell her about his treatment of her.
Your mother may come here" Hamilton
told her, but you will never remember
telling her anything
Hamilton then went on in q cool and de-
lberate way to tell how he grabbed her by
the throat and choked her into insensibil-
ity She came to, he said, and spoke to
him. He told her she would not talk to
any more men and renewed the assault
upon her throat This happened In the
kitchen, and when the woman had lost
consciousness he cut off her clothing and
carried her to the bed room The heavy