Perry County KYGenWeb

Charlotte Daily Observer
31 Aug 1915
Charged with Murder Wealthy Widow and Forging a Will

Jackson, Ky., Aug 30.—After four witnesses had testified for the State today the preliminary hearing In the case of Mrs. Mamie Hamlin, daughter-in-law of a former Attorney General of Illinois, who Is charged with having poisoned Mrs. Polly Davis, a wealthy widow, was  postponed  until noon tomorrow.

Mrs. Hamlin also is charged with having forged a will which purport­ed leaving  her $40.000 from estate of Mrs. Davis.

The   four witnesses   were   Mr. and Mrs. M A. Moses, Dr. John Hobbs and  Christie Clemons, all of Portsmouth, this county. where Mrs. Davis lived. Mr. and Mrs. Moses kept a boarding house, where they said Mrs. Hamlin stayed According to their testimony. Mrs. Hamlin came to Portsmouth June 10 and left on June 20 They said she claimed she lived In  Perry County,  Kentucky, and that her mother was a cousin of Mrs. Davis. She visited Mrs. Davis every day while she was alive After Mrs. Hamlin's departure they found poison In a valise left by her at the board­ing house, they testified.

Mrs. Hamlin claimed to have found  the will shortly after her return to Portsmouth on July 26, after Mrs. Davis' death, and she offered Moses $1,000 if she would sign the will as a witness, they declared The will they said had only one signature, that of Mrs. Clara Meyers of Charleston, WV.

Doctor Hobbs described the last Ill­ness of Mrs. Davis and said her death was due to poisoning.

Christie Clemmons testified that she worked for Mrs. Davis and that the latter was afraid of Mrs.  Hamlin

Mrs. Meyers who is alleged to have signed the will, and who is held connection with the case, is expected to testify tomorrow.

Transcribed by G. Marcum
17 Aug 2008