The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-21
THE HAMMoND-JERsEY MYSTERY.

SOME POINTS WORTH TAXING INTO coNs1DERA-
TON.
To rnE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Will you permit one Who for your generous criti-
cisms OF her professional merits is indebted 10 you
for many favors, space in your columns say q word
In justice to tho memory Of departed fricndP
quote from your editorial in tho issue of the 18TH
following your statement that the Cuba arrived Mt Port
Royal either the 9TH or 9th OF December 1875, Mrs.
Jersey having died board that sh p The csth and
mr. Hammond having returned to his home in Rock
land county December TO-
Starting from Port Royal on either the 9Th or 9th,
therefore he fDr Hammond, had ample time 10 reach
Rockla.d county by the 10TH lie gave on his re-
turn that he had been Alabama which seemed saio
enough in view Of ms precautions, ana would agree
happily II he had been seen On Southern train BY any
person that knew him."
do not dispute the correctness OF tho dates given
by you. On the contrary they form the basis OF the
remarks which have TO offer upon this sad and mys
FERROUS For more than year previous to the
period which those dates point tho trip Of DR. Ham,
mond Alabama had been the frequent subject OF con-
vcrsation and correspondence between us / own an
estate OF between 200 and 3 900 acres near Montrom
cry Ala. the practical working of which I had
long since desired TO have the advice OF a
Hammond who, with high profession stand
ing combined sound, practical Judgment
upon all matters appcrtanlng 10 agricultural pursuits
al last consented 10 70, and started from his home as
I am informed, on the morning OF the Goth OF Novcm
Der have the most positive and absolute proof that
he spent between two and three days my estate.
Hc conferred with my manager slept IN the house on
the plantation took exhaustive survey the entire
place and subsequently advised with regard to lis
cultivation, giving the most minute drccuons MS 10
the which certain parts Of the land by
him and well known me. could be put Now, IL no
landed at Port Royal on the earliest OF the days you
point TO, day STILL how could he have
~ ade the trip from there 20 Alabama stayed there
from two to three days and be back IN New York on
the morning OF the 10th OF December ne Is shown
10 have been. by overwhelming evidenced
II remember right he told me that he stayed for
half n day In Atlanta, either coming going and
probably the books OF some hotel the railroad
ton may contain the name OF Gerard u. Hammond
which probably would be viewed BY you as evidence
quite as reliable OF his presence there as .thourh no
had been seen southern tour by any person that
knew him. Perhaps your widely circulating paper
will cause the hotel keepers OF Atlanta 10
examine their books, and by naming tho date which
they ind tho Doctors name entered assist You IN
coming to correct conclusions search OF the hotel
registers Montgomery may bring hight the further
fact that he stopped there also his or
turning from the plantation. But that he visited tho
latter there the rcmotcst doubt and " his quit
OF the atrocous deed imputed to him is determined by
you ~ proven by the fact that, owing TO the dates
given by you. he could not have gone TO Alabama, he
must naniiestly, bc innocent
The closing words OF your article say:sSuicidc IN
such circumstances Is confession" Dr. Hammond did
not commit suicide The Coroncrs inquest held al tho
request hts family. after most searching invcstga-
ton by three physicians. relieved hts memory of this
rcproach. CHARLOTTE THOMPSON. Fruit Grove.