Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-16
Mrs. Minnie Hamilton's Sensa-
tional Story duplicates DIR. w.
C. Carr, Now of Denison
WHITE GIRL WEEDS CRIPPLE
Mrs. Hamilton, of Dow City, Claims
Or. Carr Induced Her to Marry Col
ersd Barber in Order to Save Him
self From Dissrace-said Hamilton
Could Not Survive Operation.
Special to Times-Republican

county is that of Mrs. Min
ME Hamilton, aged 10 years, the white
wife of r. P. Hamilton. aged So years,
q colored barber with but one leg, of
Dow City, Iowa. She created amaze
ment in the divorce court with II SEN
sational story given to substantive her
petition for legal separation. Her hus-
band, q short negro with coal black
hair and heavy mustache. occupied
q chair on the opposite side of the table
and contested the case. In the lap OF
Mrs. Hamilton sat n bright faced, hap
py boy. not quite years of age--her
son. The custody of this child, Russell
Hamilton, was the real contention in
the controversy. Each statement Mrs.
Hamilton made to Judge Wakefield
seemed to be a sensation and the court
attaches and reporters strained their
ears to listen to one OF the most I'M
usual divorce cases they ever had
heard.
Mrs. Hamiltons story implicated
DIR. w. c. Carr, physician formerly
located at Dow City. but now a resi-
AOII VI AICIlASOI, 1OWd, u lew lHllCS
from Dow City.
At the tender age of Is years Mrs.
Hamilton testified she had been
ruined by DR.. Carr. when she had
gone to his office to procure medicine
for her mother. Six months later,
she said DR.. Carr persuaded her to
marry the negro, r. p. Hamilton,
barber, who was the owner of some
property and who at that time was
Ill and awaiting an operation for the
amputation of his leg.
Forced Into Il.
CDR. Carr kept at me and talked to
me about marrying Hamilton" said
the young woman on the witness
stand, until finally agreed to marry
him. The doctor told me that If 1
married Hamilton I would never have
to live with him because he was go
ing to die and would come into
possession of his property; besides it
would give me a family name for
my child. I married Hamilton on
January 10, 1901, at Dow City, and
on March 81, 1901, little over two
months later, my boy was born. Just
as soon as the ceremony for the mar
lage was performed turned around
and left Hamilton. For several
months I would have nothing to do
with him. He got better after the
surgical operation and demanded of
me that live with him because
had ma. j him. I then went and
lived .im for about two years.
"HaJ n began to drink and gam
BILE q chen abused me. He has
threatened to. shoot me. DIR. Carr told
me to come to Sioux City and live for
six months SO that could ask for
a divorce here instead of at Denison,
and rather than have me ask for the
divorce in Denison he paid my way
to Sioux City and has sent me money
here. Another man, friend Of DR..
me money. I have been working as
have worked at other places in Sioux
City"
Separated Last Spring.
The womans testimony was given
In response to questions asked by the
H. c. Saunders representing
her and M. j. Sweeley representing the
husband. The principals in this un-
usual case lived together until last
spring. During the summer both lived
at Dow City, the wifc%at the home
Of her father and motl, r, Mr.. and
Mrs. John Lawrence, and Hamilton
taking care of the little boy in his
own rooms. His wife wrote an oc-
casional letter and demanded money
from her husband, but he wrote to
her that she would receive no money
unless she came after it.
II would not go near him." she said
on the witness stand.
What did you mean by writing him
q statement of this kind?" asked Mr..
Sweeley, as he read sentence from
one of her letters written on blue pa
per, which the attorney held before
him. The sentence in effect told the I
colored husband that if he would not
send her little money he might go
to a warmer climate, tho couched in
palmer words.
II knew what he wanted to get me |
down there for and refused to CO."
she answered, that's why" and she
nodded her head emphatically to add |
to her statement.
Negro on Stand.
When Hamilton took the witness
|
pointed questions by Mr.. Saunders.
Didn't DR.. Carr pay you money
to marry this girl?" the attorney
asked.
mo, sir" was the quick response,
II don't have to make my money by |
being paid to marry people," and the
toyed with his crutch which |
he held in one hand.
Your wife says she went to your
house only once in while to see the
baby after the separation. Is that
true?"
Hamilton said she had made quite
long visits at the house.
Mrs. John Lawrence, mother of
Minnie Lawrence Hamilton, also tes-
lifted in the case. Mrs. Lawrence's
husband is a laboring man at Dow
City. The mother-in-law is stout
woman and evinced a great deal OF
interest in the proceedings. She edged
N with few words of additional in
formation occasionally, when it was
not her turn, just to help out. She
said that Hamilton was drinker and
! gambler, when she finally took the
stand, and seemed glad Of the
chance to tell about 1t.
Preacher Testifiss.
Rev. James M. Baker, pastor of the
Reorganized church Of the Latter Day
Saints In Sioux City, also was a wit
aess, testifying that when he resided