For those of you not familiar with this case, Linda Hamilton was being harassed by a truck driver. All she did was show him she was armed. The truck driver was able to call the police before she could, and to make a long story short, the judge threw the book at her. I just found out that she's dead, and I'm angrier than I have ever been in my life, and for a number of reasons. But for the grace of God this could be anyone of us. She found no peace in life after that, maybe now she can rest. May the Supreme Being hold and comfort her family. Below is a comment from a friend of hers.
Linda Hamilton, RIP
# Saturday, June 25, 2005
# Springfield Republican - Linda Hamilton, 1946 - 2005 - an obituary. Full text:
SHELBURNE FALLS - Linda L. (Malone) Hamilton, age 58, of Shelburne Falls, died Monday June 13, 2005 at home. She was born on Aug. 17, 1946 in Chicago, IL and grew up in Rochester, NY. She worked as a nurse anesthetist at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford and at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. She graduated from Baystate Nursing School in 1968. She is predeceased by her father, Sydney Watson. She leaves her mother, Flora (McKinnin) Watson of Rochester, NY; her husband, Russell Hamilton of Shelburne Falls; a son, Brian Malone of Springfield; a daughter, Kathy Malone of Chicopee; a sister, Elizabeth Herbert of Rochester; a granddaughter in Vermont; 2 nieces, 1 nephew, and several aunts and cousins in California. A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 24, 2005 at the Grise Funeral Home, 280 Springfield St., Chicopee from 4-6 p.m. Donations may be made in her memory to Lorraine's Soup Kitchen, 35 Center St., Chicopee 01013. Published in The Republican from 6/22/2005 - 6/23/2005.
I talked with Linda's husband, Russ, a week ago Thursday (June 16). He told me that she killed herself. I've been waiting to see the public announcement before saying anything. As you may remember, I met Linda and Russ at a rally at the North Adams, Massachusetts courthouse on April 11, 2000. I have chronicled her case since then at billstclair.com/LindaHamilton. I haven't seen Linda or Russ in quite a while, though I've been posting occasional articles. But I care about them. I sobbed for a while after talking with Russ. I didn't go to the memorial service. Russ told me that Linda didn't want a service. Guess her daughter decided to have one anyway. Well, funeral services are for the survivors, not the dead, but I wanted to honor Linda's wishes. I'm not angry any more. Just sad. But I wrote the following letter, which I intend to mail soon, after I get some ink for my printer.
25 June, 2005
Alfred A. Barbalunga
Presiding Justice
Pittsfield District Court
24 Wendell Avenue, P.O. Box 875
Pittsfield, MA 01202-875
Mr. Barbalunga:
In late January of 2001, you found Linda Hamilton guilty, at a bench trial, of assault with a dangerous weapon, for the "crime" of holding her licensed handgun in her hand against her steering wheel while escaping from a crazed truck driver. You were quoted in the Berkshire Eagle as saying to her, "With the right to bear arms comes a responsibility. You acted irresponsibly. You are not the kind of person who should carry a gun." Bullshit. Linda used her handgun for precisely its lawful purpose, to defend her life. She fired no shot. She didn't even take it out of its holster. Any decent judge would have laughed the charges out of his courtroom. I gave her a medal. You convicted her of a crime.
Linda Hamilton killed herself on June 13, 2005. Her obituary appeared in the Springfield Republican on June 22 and June 23. She had been fighting the travesty perpetrated by you and other members of the Massachusetts "justice" system since her trial began in North Adams back in April of 2000. Linda worked as a nurse anesthetist. Your conviction tossed her nursing license in the garbage and took away her livelihood. Shame on you, sir. Shame.
I doubt you really care about what happens to the people whose lives you rend asunder. But I had to let you know about one good person for whom you dug a grave.
With a judge's robe comes a responsibility. You acted irresponsibly. You are not the kind of person who should sit on the bench.
Sadly,
William W. St. Clair, Jr.
Linda Hamilton, RIP
# Saturday, June 25, 2005
# Springfield Republican - Linda Hamilton, 1946 - 2005 - an obituary. Full text:
SHELBURNE FALLS - Linda L. (Malone) Hamilton, age 58, of Shelburne Falls, died Monday June 13, 2005 at home. She was born on Aug. 17, 1946 in Chicago, IL and grew up in Rochester, NY. She worked as a nurse anesthetist at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford and at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. She graduated from Baystate Nursing School in 1968. She is predeceased by her father, Sydney Watson. She leaves her mother, Flora (McKinnin) Watson of Rochester, NY; her husband, Russell Hamilton of Shelburne Falls; a son, Brian Malone of Springfield; a daughter, Kathy Malone of Chicopee; a sister, Elizabeth Herbert of Rochester; a granddaughter in Vermont; 2 nieces, 1 nephew, and several aunts and cousins in California. A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 24, 2005 at the Grise Funeral Home, 280 Springfield St., Chicopee from 4-6 p.m. Donations may be made in her memory to Lorraine's Soup Kitchen, 35 Center St., Chicopee 01013. Published in The Republican from 6/22/2005 - 6/23/2005.
I talked with Linda's husband, Russ, a week ago Thursday (June 16). He told me that she killed herself. I've been waiting to see the public announcement before saying anything. As you may remember, I met Linda and Russ at a rally at the North Adams, Massachusetts courthouse on April 11, 2000. I have chronicled her case since then at billstclair.com/LindaHamilton. I haven't seen Linda or Russ in quite a while, though I've been posting occasional articles. But I care about them. I sobbed for a while after talking with Russ. I didn't go to the memorial service. Russ told me that Linda didn't want a service. Guess her daughter decided to have one anyway. Well, funeral services are for the survivors, not the dead, but I wanted to honor Linda's wishes. I'm not angry any more. Just sad. But I wrote the following letter, which I intend to mail soon, after I get some ink for my printer.
25 June, 2005
Alfred A. Barbalunga
Presiding Justice
Pittsfield District Court
24 Wendell Avenue, P.O. Box 875
Pittsfield, MA 01202-875
Mr. Barbalunga:
In late January of 2001, you found Linda Hamilton guilty, at a bench trial, of assault with a dangerous weapon, for the "crime" of holding her licensed handgun in her hand against her steering wheel while escaping from a crazed truck driver. You were quoted in the Berkshire Eagle as saying to her, "With the right to bear arms comes a responsibility. You acted irresponsibly. You are not the kind of person who should carry a gun." Bullshit. Linda used her handgun for precisely its lawful purpose, to defend her life. She fired no shot. She didn't even take it out of its holster. Any decent judge would have laughed the charges out of his courtroom. I gave her a medal. You convicted her of a crime.
Linda Hamilton killed herself on June 13, 2005. Her obituary appeared in the Springfield Republican on June 22 and June 23. She had been fighting the travesty perpetrated by you and other members of the Massachusetts "justice" system since her trial began in North Adams back in April of 2000. Linda worked as a nurse anesthetist. Your conviction tossed her nursing license in the garbage and took away her livelihood. Shame on you, sir. Shame.
I doubt you really care about what happens to the people whose lives you rend asunder. But I had to let you know about one good person for whom you dug a grave.
With a judge's robe comes a responsibility. You acted irresponsibly. You are not the kind of person who should sit on the bench.
Sadly,
William W. St. Clair, Jr.
![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
