Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-02
BY ID. L. Hartley.

or bodily injury.
BY ID. L. Hartley.
Written exclusively for The Star and the
North American Newspaper Alliance.
AMARILLO, Tex, June IA slen-
der, smiling youth walked along the
second floor corridor Of an office build
ing here.
His mother, Mrs. Grace Walton,
manager Of a small hotel, had urged
her 21-year-old son. Tom Walton, jr.,
to 60 to the law ONCE Of Judge r. H.
Hamilton and tell him of the marriage
OF 17-year-old Theresa Hamilton, the
judges daughter, to Tom a few months
previously while both were attending
the State University at Austin.
Youth Had Expressed Fear.
To his mother and to clums Tom
Walton had expressed fear that Judge
Hamilton would shoot him If he went
to the lawyers Office that morning,
May 4. Yet Tom had smiled when he
spoke Of his fears.
ut is the right thing TO do, son."
Mrs. Walton had urged 1T is right
according to doctrine, Judge Hamilton
will be reasonable"
"All right, mother; you pray for me-"
Young Walton said lightly.
On the way to the law ONCE of
Hendricks g. Hamilton, the youth re-
quested two young man acquaintance
to 60 with him.
I'm afraid I'll get hurt" Tom said,
still smiling and therefore not con-
yincing his friends that he actually was
The friends declined, adding quips
about steering clear Of domestic
troubles"
In the corridor leading to the Hamil-
ton Office, the youth stepped into an
other suite and spoke a CHEEKY good
morning to q girl stenographer-a
friend.
Laugh at Death Quip.
well. I'm going in to have a talk
with Judge Hamilton" Tom Walton
said. IF you hear any shots you'll know
I've been shot"
walton and the girl both laughed.
It was a beautiful Spring morning, with
the sun shining radiantly.
Tom Walton walked directly across
the hall and turned the knob Of the
door Of the Hendricks & Hamilton
ofiees. He had no sooner closed the
door when four shots were heard.
Tom Walton was found on the floor,
face down. mortally wounded with three
bullets. Doctors said two Of the shots
had entered the youths back.
Tom was rushed to an operating table
at the hospital. There he lay. youth
Weighing about 1870: his height about
5 feet 8-with young muscles ripping
under the white skin Of his body.
Suddenly woman entered. She was
In her late 40s, perhaps close to so
years old. She wore neat, substantial
garments. A home woman, q woman
who keeps to the kitchen and to the
routine of housework, q woman OF pa
thence, one would say. A certain grace
Of features denoted character.
Dies without Speaking.
'trt is the boys mother" whispered
q doctor.
Mrs. Walton lifted the dying youth
In her arms. She brushed the black
hair with gentle strokes. She kissed
the lips.
ooh. my boy, mother can't let you
die this way" Mrs. Walton Sobbed.
"Just speak to me. can't let you 60
until you have said you forgive me-"
The mother placed one of the young
ing an embrace.
"Oh, my baby, my boy" she pleaded,
"tell me you forgive me-"
The arm fell away from the mothers
shoulders. The boy had died without
speaking q word.
st am to blame. It was all my fault"
Mrs. Walton insisted later.
Her pastor, friends from the church
where Mrs. Walton has been q loyal
follower Of the Methodist faith, in
deed, the entire population of the Texas
Panhandle country seemingly stand
ready to help. Men of the oil fields and
hated men of the cattle range
have expressed thier sympathy.
Judges Statement.
Immediately after the shooting. the
Hamilton hand n 44-caliber six-shooter
TO the sheriff, w. N. Thompson, who
happened to be in the building.
II would rather die than have to kill
q man." the crowd of oil and cattle
men heard Judge Hamilton say. But
I had to protect my family"
The slayer at once was surrounded
with q protecting wall Of lawyers-the
best ones in Amarillo In matters OF
criminal law and shrewdness Of court
procedure.
Judge Hamilton was released on a
500, 600 bond, and was returned to jail
four days later. when he was indicted
for murder. He was released on an
other sac, 600 bond a week ago, follow
ing a habeas corpus hearing.
All Asked to Aid Fund.
A $500 fund to defray costs Of spe-
cial prosecution Of the charge against
Judge Hamilton was raised the day
Walton was slain. Those supporting
the fund among the citizens Of ANA
rillo are unidentified. The collection Is
known as the TON Walton fund" and
citizens are invited to add to 1t by max
ing deposits at specified bank.
There are two large churches IN Am
r0fnnriSA a
large percentage Of the prominent cit
liens OF the flourishing little city. One
is the First Baptist Church. The other
is the Polk Street Methodist Church.
One of the leaders in the Baptist con-
sregation is Judge Hamilton, who set
tied in Amarillo three years ago, open
ing a law Office with Judge Hendricks.
Judge Hamilton is called Judge" be-
cause he once served on the Commits
sion Of Appeals Of the Texas Supreme
Court. He also served as assistant at
torney general of Texas.
While a student a. Baylor University
in the late '90s. Hamilton was among
the student leaders who administered
punishment to a student editor for an
alleged scurrilous reference to young
women at Baylor.
Family II Comfortably Fixed"
Mrs. Walton is an active member Of
the other large congregation In Anna
riIla. Sister Walter, as she Is known
to her church companions, has lived
life in strict accordance with the Scrip
lures.
The Hamiltons live In modest home
in q pleasant, but not fashionable. sec
ton. The family Of the lawyer, while
nos rich. is comfortably fixed"
Judge Hamilton's family comprises
his wife, a son, "Bobbie," 10, and three
daughters-Gail, 8; Helen, 81, and