The Coolidge examiner., 1934-05-11
MOTHERS SUICIDE
REVEALS MAN NUDE
FOR SEVEN YEARS
Worry Over Finances and
Care of Son Thought
Cause of Act.

Waterloo. Iowa - Seven long
strange years OF lie which he lived
In seclus!on az the home OF his
mother ended here recently for Har.
~ Hamilton. thlrty-fve. when he IN.
locked the doors OF his carefully
guarded house TO admit physicians
who had come 20 investigate the
death OF his mother. Mrs. Cora
Norton. ff,y eight. who committed
suicide by hanging herself In the
woodshcd n, her home.
For seven years Hamilton had
talked 20 no one but bis mother.
During this period be lived in al
most "A complete state ~ nudity
only fcw - the closest friends Of
the family were aware thar the
modest and neat appearing home of
Mrs. Norton housed this recluse
who had shut himself or from hls
fellow towusmcn since 1907
Not until three days after he had
found his mothers body did the re-
cluse notify tho authorities
Hair Long and Unkempt.
His long matted hair extended
half way down his back. His kinky
and matted beard reached far down
his chest. rolled IN tangled mats
This was the scene that faced Or
benjamin O. Shook OF Spencervllle.
De KaIb county coroner. and Or.
John Showalier OF Waterloo as
they entered the house
At FIRST Hamilton was reluctant
10 discuss the strange event with
Doctor Shook and Doctor Showal.
ter. Finally Doctor Shook won the
confidence OF the man. Then he
told how be had gone In search OF
his mother when some one knocked
on the door. rs he never answered
the door himself. when he failed
10 End her In the house he walked
TO the woodshed which adjoins the
house There he found his moth.
er's body suspended from a beam.
Hamilton looked at her for n Few
minutes and then cut down the
body. lie dragged her from the
woodshed into the house and
through two rooms 10 the stairway.
lie wanted TO carry her 20 her bed.
he said. but was unable 20 carry
the body up the stairs so he left Il
face downward on the floor. He cut
the rope from her neck.
For two days he remained with
the body. He said he was study
ing "whA; there is 70 this thing"
II was because OF his strange be
liefs, his apparent inability 10 ac-
cept death as final. that Hamilton
failed TO call physicians or author.
ities He said he did not know
what 10 do. so he waited.
Hamilton presented a strange and
uneanny sight when he finally IN.
locked the door and admitted Doc.
tor Showalter. when the Waterloo
physician saw what had occurred
In the house be Immediately called
Doctor Shook Together they re
turned 10 the house.
PrIxsd PsJsnas Gone.
Hamilton wore no clothes. Around
bis shoulders was draped a scarf
that extended 10 his hips Around
his waist was bnckled narrow
leather belt TO which was fastened
small apron that extended about
10 bis knees That comprised his
complete wardrobe
An attempt was made 10 learn
why Hamilton did not wear clothes.
The only explanation he made was
that seven years ago be had a pair
OF decorated pajamas which be Ad.
mired- They finally were worn out
and since that time be has worn
nothing but his scarf and apron.
His body was unkempt and dirty.
Hamilton said that during the
seven years be had shut himself OF
from his fellow men that he had
done nothing but study what this
Is all about" He referred TO life
and death.
Hamilton formerly was a teller
at the First National bank In Fort
Wayne. He left that city 10 be
come a teller In the Leas bank here
In 1920. He also was employed in
a drug store here. having been
graduated from the school OF phar.
macy at the University Of Mlchi.
gan.
Doctor Shook said that apparent
ly worry over financial difficulties,
coupled with the strain OF seven
years Of devotion 10 her sons care
probably led Mrs, Norton to end her
life. He pointed TO the extreme
lengths 10 which she had gone TO
hide HIS condition avan hgs rras