Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-02

the prssldsnt might interfere With the sen-
fuI. Wh@ fsached the pri1on isst night
ma aoune a@ 5 3 Sas. i h s ns
religious dsvotions until the end"
Story Of the Crime.
Hamilton,s crime was the taking of the
life OF Mary Elizabeth Butler, colored, who
was also known az Lizzie Lyman. She had
left her husband and was living with Ham
iiton. When the latter returned to his
home. 703 Washington court. the night Of
June 20, 1904, he failed to find his common
law wife there. Waiting at the door lead
ing to their apartments, Hamilton met Liz
zie ana complained that she had been visit
Ing people in the court dfstasteful to him.
Others in the house heard the sound OF
Quarrelfng and a blow. but paid no atten-
ton to the noises, because the couple free
quently had engaged in altercations; but
that night terrible tragedy was enacted:
Hamilton knocked the woman down. choked
ing necktie about her neck and drawing
It until the flesh was cut.
The body was lifted from the floor to the
bed, and there until about o'clock the next
morning Hamilton rested. Several times
during the night his hand would be ex-
tended in order to ascertain IL there was
any sign Of life rsturnins ss Shorty o ANA aIs ef
the house. Before midnight, however, ne
had purchased q bucket Of beer and spent
the remainder of the time until morning
drinking the beverage and smoking cigar
cites. All this had been done after Ham
ilton had accused the woman of having
been unfaithful to him. Upon leaving the
named Matte Hill that he had killed Lizzie,
and had committed crime for which only
repentance would pay.
Murderer Returned to House.
Lizzie's mother was told that something
unusual had happened. and shortly after a
visit made by her to the house the police
were called in. They forced open the door
and found the body of the woman lying
upon the bed, as it had been left by Ham
ilton. 1t was learned by the police that
Hamilton had boarded q street car soon af-
ter leaving the house and started In the
friends. Before the coroner had reached
the scene to begin an investigation; how
ever. the murderer returned to ascertain
II the evidence of his crime had been dis
covered He made no effort to escape
when he saw the crowd of curious persons
gathered about the entrance to the court,
but walked into the alley. when he was
pointed out as the murderer and was
placed under arrest. Hamilton was taken
into the house. He showed no fear, and
frankly admitted that he had taken the
life OF the woman.
Evidence given at the first trial of the
murderer showed that ne had threatened
the life of the woman, 'if she didn't keep
out OF the houses Of the niggers." Lizzie
continued to visit her neighbors, and her
death followed The prisoner admitted that
he was not intoxicated at the time he
committed the crime; said he did not kill
the woman in self-defense, and that the
sooner he met his death in satisfaction of
the crime the better satisfied he would be-
Hamilton told his story of the crime in
about the same manner that an ordinary
man OF his standing would make the re-
cital of an affair In which he was not di-
rectly concerned. Despite the seriousness
of the case and the frankness of the pris-
oner there was nothing about his conduct
that suggested insanity.
Insanity, however, was the plea advanced
by counsel but 1t proved to be unsuccess-
full Because of legal technicality a new
trial was granted after the first conviction.
The second trial resulted in a verdict of
guilty of murder in the first degree and
the sentence of death was imposed. A stay
was granted for a short time in order to
give the condemned man the benefit of a
hearing by the Court of Appeals. The ap
pellate tribunal affirmed the verdict of the
trial court and the sentence was carried
into effect this morning.