User:Generalissima/Lynching of Will Hamilton

Rancher William Hamilton (c. 1877 – August 5, 1903) was lynched by a large mob in Asotin, Washington after the killing of Mabel Richards (c. 1891– August 2, 1903).

Background
William Hamilton was born in 1876 or 1875. His father claimed his "mind had been altered" after being run over by heavy machinery at the age of eight. In September 1903, two weeks prior to the incident, Hamilton reportedly attempted to rape his step-brother's eight-year-old daughter, although this was not reported to the police.

Murder of Mabel Richards
On August 2, 1903, twelve-year-old Mabel Richards was camping west of Anatone, Washington with her parents and two siblings. Her father, Robert Richards, was the sheriff of Asotin County. The Richards had camped in the area to escape summer heat, a common practice during the period. Around 9:30 in the morning, with her mother getting ready to escort her siblings to a Sunday school about a mile and a half away, Richards was given permission to leave early. She left the camp and departed down Farrish Mill Road. According to his testimony, Hamilton greeted Richards on horseback and inquired where she was going. After Richards responded, Hamilton grabbed and kissed her, then carried her to a thicket some distance from the road where he attempted to rape her. After screaming and begging to be let go, Hamilton forced Richards to promise not to mention the incident to anyone else. Hamilton did not believe Richards' promise, and attempted to choke her for several minutes. With Richards still breathing, Hamilton grabbed a dead pine sapling, about ten feet long, and struck her several times in the head, killing her. He left her body at the thicket, and gathered huckleberries in the area before departing.

Richards' body was found the following afternoon after an extensive search by the local community. The County Coroner, alongside the Prosecuting Attorney, summoned a six-member coroner's jury. They investigated the murder scene, before moving Richards' body to Anatone for further examination.

Trial
Hamilton, having been seen walking on Farrish Mill Road that day, was brought in for questioning as part of a large gathering of witnesses. With the jury working late into the night, he was one of three witnesses (alongside two deputy sheriffs) still present when most others were dismissed at around 2:30 in the morning on August 4th. Although he was not initially viewed as a suspect, one of the jury members learned of his previous attempted rape, and Hamilton was subject to several hours of questioning.