The struggle in the state court was going on during all the time of the taking of the testimony in the federal court, and intensified the excitement attendant thereon.  Miss Hill was in constant attendance before the examiner who took the testimony, often interrupting the proceedings with her turbulent and violent conduct and language, and threatening the lives of Mr. Sharon’s counsel.  She constantly carried a pistol, and on occasions exhibited it during the examination of witnesses, and, pointing it at first one and then another, expressed her intention of killing them at some stage of the proceedings.  She was constantly in contempt of the court, and a terror to those around her.  Her conduct on one occasion, in August, 1885, became so violent that the taking of the testimony could not proceed, and Justice Field, the presiding judge of the circuit, made an order that she should be disarmed, and that a bailiff of the court should sit constantly at her side to restrain her from any murderous outbreak, such as she was constantly threatening.  Her principal attorney, Tyler, was also most violent and disorderly.  Judge Terry, while less explosive, was always ready to excuse and defend his client. (See Report of Proceedings in Sharon vs.  Hill, 11 Sawyer’s Circuit Court Reps., 122.)

Upon the request of counsel for the complainant, the examiner in one case reported to the court the language and the conduct of Miss Hill.  Among other things, he reported her as saying: 

“When I see this testimony [from which certain scandalous remarks of hers were omitted] I feel like taking that man Stewart[1] out and cowhiding him.  I will shoot him yet; that very man sitting there.  To think that he would put up a woman to come here and deliberately lie about me like that.  I will shoot him.  They know when I say I will do it that I will do it.  I shall shoot him as sure as you live; that man that is sitting right there.  And I shall have that woman Mrs. Smith arrested for this, and make her prove it.”

And again: 

    “I can hit a four-bit piece nine times out of ten.”

The examiner said that pending the examination of one of the witnesses, on the occasion mentioned, the respondent drew a pistol from her satchel, and held it in her right hand; the hand resting for a moment upon the table, with the weapon pointed in the direction of Judge Evans.  He also stated that on previous occasions she had brought to the examiner’s room during examinations a pistol, and had sat for some length of time holding it in her hand, to the knowledge of all persons present at the time.  After the reading of the examiner’s report in open court, Justice Field said: