Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-15
Sensational Attempt to Shoot
Attorney in Chicago Paral-
]els Brown Case
SOUGHT TO AvENeE WRONGS
Mrs. Thomas MetcaIf, of Denver, Fol-
lows Attorney HamitI Across Con-
tinent Seeking Vengeance - Former
Church Worker in Terre Haute, Ind.
Woman is Under Arrest.

Chicago, Jan. 15.-The case Of Mrs.
at Banker John r. Walshs attorney,
Sam r. Hamill, in the federal build
ing, parallels strangely in some re-
spects to the case of Mrs. Annie M.
Bradley, Of Salt Lake City, Utah, who
recently was acquitted in Washington,
D. c., after killing former United
States Senator Arthur Brown, also of
Salt Lake.
Mrs. Metcalf is former resident Of
Hamilrs home city, Terre Haute, Ind.
She and her husband, from whom she
is said to have been estranged, were
at one. time active in the work of the
same church there in which Hamill
is prominent member. She had.
since at different times called on law
yer's here with view of bringing le-
gal action against Attorney Hamill
for alleged wrongs which she claimed
to have suffered at his hands.
AS in the case of Senator Brown,
who had Travelled from his home city,
Salt Lake City, Utah, to Washington,
on an important legal mission and was
shot by Mrs. Bradley, who followed
him from Salt Lake, Mrs. MetcaH is
said to have followed Haniill across
the continent. Mrs. Metcaf is a native
of Denver and from that city she is
said to have trailed after Hamill to-,
New York, and from New York to
Chicago. She recently has been earn
ing living on the stage, appearing in
minor parts.
Mrs. Metcalf was arrested by Dep-i
uty Marshal Edward Northrup, who
was acting as bailiff in Judge Ander-
sons court. She was taken to the
Office Of United States Marsha. Luman
T. Hoy on the eighth floor where she
was held all night. Tho Commissioner
Foote was in the building until late
at night for the express purpose Of
granting her hearing, for some un-
known reason the district attorneys
office determined at the eleventh hour
not to arraign her.
In the meantime the woman refused
to talk about her strange action to
any one. At first she was hystericaL
When she had recovered she declined
to discuss her case. She would not
tell what motives prompted her at
tempt at tragedy. She refused to even
tell where she lived.
United States District Attorney Sims,
who returned from Washington today,
said:
"From what we have gathered, we
understand that the woman had
planned to shoot Attorney Hamill
while he was making the closing ar
gument in the Walsh trial, but was
misinformed to the day he was to
address the jury, and her plan failed
for this reason"
The secrecy observed by the federal
officers in reference to the affair is
said to have been due to fear on the
part Of government representatives
that in the event Of conviction OF
Walsh, the attempted shooting, occur
ring as 1t did close to the court room
where the trial was in progress, and
having interrupted the proceedings
temporarily, might be considered suf-
ficient grounds for reversal by the
higher court, by reason of having the
difficulty between Mrs Metcaf and
Hamill was a private dispute, and
had no connection with the Walsh
trial, and in his opinion the incident
could not possibly affect the trial.
Attorney E. c. Richer, Walsh's
counsel also issued statement rela-
tive to the shooting, on behalf OF
Hamill, in which he said the trouble
grew out of claim which Mrs. Met
calf believed she had against an es-
tate in st. Louis, and which she
wished to have adjusted by Hami1l.
In this connection. Richer said that :
Mrs Metcalf became frequent caller
at Hamills office during the last few
years.
Mrs. Metcalf waived examination
before United States Commissioners
Foote and was sent to Jail in default
Of $1,000 bail. Patrick H. O'Donnell
appeared as her attorney. Later the
woman said her name was Mrs. Be-
atrice Thomas.
Not known in Terre Haute.
Terre Haute, Ind, Jan. 15.-Mrs.