The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-12
Panhandle Section Stirred
to Depths Over Killing
of College Youth.
BIZ NEA Serrice

BIZ NEA SerUice
AMARILLO, Tex, June IA real
life tragedy with story as mixed
and dramatic as a moving picture
scenario, will get its review at the
hands of twelve Texas citizens
here, beginning Thursday, when
ex-Judge R. H. Hamilton, prominent
in legal and religious circles in
Texas for thirty years, goes on trial
for the murder of Tom Walton.
Tom Walton was a 21-year-Old
college student-Judge Hamilton's
son-in-laW. His marriage to Ham
ilton's 17-year-old daughter Theresa
was the offense for which Hamilton
killed him. 1t will be up to the jury
to decide whether, all things con-
sidered, that was sufficient reason.
Not in years has this part of
Texas, the Panhandle, been stirred
by a criminal case.
Young Walton was popular in
Amarillo, where he lived with his
father, a travelling salesman, and
his mother, church worker and
the prOprietreSS Of a hotel
A large fund has been raised here
by public subscription to assist in
the prosecution Of Judge Hamilton,
and two outside law firms have been
employed to help District Attorney
Ed w. ThomersOn.
Defendant Is Prominent
Hamilton, in turn, is very wide
ly known. He once was presi-
dent Of Howard Payne Baptist
college, and has served as a mem
Der of the appeals commission of
the. Texas supreme court. Like
his victims mother, he has long
been an active church worker.
The story Of the tragedy, re-
vealing a conflict of loves and am
billions almost theatrical in their
effect, is strangely like the story
of the moving picture, "Coquette,"
in which Mary Pickford is now ap-
pearing. Only the climax in the
plot is different.
Walton met Theresa Hamilton at
the University of Texas, at Austin,
where both we're students.
Their romance dated from last
Thanksgiving, when both fell in
love. Theresa has said since that
her father knew Of the romance in
January, and told her that he would
not object to their marriage if they
waited until they had finished col
lege.
Marriage Anglers Father
The two did not wait, however,
In February they we're married.
Judge Hamilton found out about it
and was extremely wrathy. Walton
knew it and was worried.
In May the boy left the Uniyer-
sity and went home to ask his
mother what to do about it.
Hamilton had picked out a
million dollar son-in-law, and when
Theresa married me he was mad,
he said.
Mrs. Walton was confident that
everything could be smoOf ned out.
Go and talk TO Judge Hamil-
ton, she advised her son. "3e is a
reasonable man-he'll be sensible
about it.
So Walton went to Hamilton's law
Offices and asked for an interview.
Shot Down in Office
When the stenographer an
nounced his presence, Hamilton
walked straight into the ante-room
and shot him dead with a 45-caliber
revolver.
Il had to protect my family" he
said afterWard.
From this, it was inferred that
some variation of the "unwritten
law" would constitute the former
judges defense at his trial At
the inquest, however, Theresa took
the witness stand, described the ro-
nance and said that she and Wal
ton had not been intimate before
their marriage.
Following that, Hamilton's law
partner, H. G. Hendricks, and other
friends, testified that Walton had
made open threats against Hamil-
ton. Now it is expected that Ham
ilton will set up a plea Of self-de-
tense.
Theresa will be a defense witness,
instead of being called by the state,
as was originally expected.
Warrington Pastor Dies