Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-23
HAMLIN TRIAL IS DELAYED
Court at Grand Island Takes Vacation
for Arb5r Dav.
MOTHER TESTlFEs OF DAUGHTERs DEATH
Articles Of Dress Worn by Rachel
Engle Are introduced In Evil
dence by Attorney
for state.

GRAND ISLAND, April 22.-(special.)-
Both sides in the case OF the state against
John Hsmlin for the murder Of Rachel
Engle were ready to hold a session today,
Arbor day, but It was agreed that neither
had any rights to waive, and no session
was held, court adjournlng to Tuesday
morning at II o'clock. The state has so
tar put on only three witnesses, two Of
whom were Mr.. and Mrs. Kent. the step
father and mother of the girl The third
was Miss Lillian Durham. who was walk
ing down town with Miss Engle on the
night she was shot. but who did not see
the shooting nor the man who did 1t, hav-
ing been at the moment walking behind
Miss Engle and the shot coming from their
rear and side.
Mr.. Kent's testimony was substantially
the same as that given at the coroners
inquest. 1t related the facts OF Hamlin
having been his employe, boarder at his
nome man Of unobjectionable behavior
In every respect previous to the shooting;
of his notification on the night of August
OF his stepdaughter being sick, the treat
ment given her and the care and her sub
sequent death on January A.
Mrs. Kent, the mother Of the girl, testi-
fed on direct examination that the best OF
care was given the daughter during her
long confinement to bed after the shooting
After the removal Of Rachel Engle from
the hospital to their home a trained nurse
was secured, Mrs. Kent having the other
household duties to look after. This nurse
was almost continually in the home, board
ing there. The unfortunate girl needed
much attention, for the reason that she
was paralyzed from the waist line down,
the line at which the bullet entered and
10 halo he
forming their natural functions without
artificial aid. Every attention possible,
however, was given her
Cross Examination.
Attorney Prince, for the state, here
asked for the production of the dress worn
by the dead girl on the night of the shoot
Ing. and it was sent for, the cross-examina-
tion proceeding with the understanding
that the dress could be later produced.
On the cross-examination counsel for
Hamlin made its first serious attempt to
establish its line OF defense. Mrs. Kent
was asked IL upon one other occasion, while
endeavoring to aid the girl, Mrs. Kent had
not broken catheter during the process
Of its insertion. She stated that she had
and had Immediately informed the doctor
over the phone Attorney Thompson went
into lengthy and explicit examination Of
the position of the girl and the manner in
which the glass tube-about eight inches in
length-was broken. Mrs. Kent declared
that while she was supporting the girl with
one hand and arm and reaching for a YES
sci with another there was an involuntary
Jerking OF the limbs, resulting in the break
ing of the tube.
LAS a matter of fact, don't you know
that you broke the tube?" finally inquired
Mr.. Thompson.
Clothing in Evidence.
II did not" Indignantly replied the wit
ness.
Attorney Thompson explained to the wit
ness that while some of his questions
might to her sound impertinent, they were
not intended in that way. Later the wit
ness testified that the daughter, realizing
the fact that the tube had been broken
said to her mother that she could not help
II, that there had been an involuntary
movement OF the body.
On redirect examination the clothing worn
by the unfortunate girl was introduced
As the mother unwrapped the package, a
white shirt waist, showing the rent Of the
bullet, a corset cover and a pink striped
The articles of apparel were the states
first exhibit. Mrs Kent was thereupon ex-
cused from the witness stand.
All the witnesses are excluded from the
court room until they shall have testified
The court room contains a large number
of spectators at each session.
A sister Of HatnliD and her husband are
here from Rock county attending the trial.