Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-09-15
A TRAGIC SEQUEL
To Recent Sensation at At
lantic City, N. y.
SAD END OF A TROUBLED CAREER.

Robert Kay Hamilton, the GRANDSON Oh
Alexander Hamilton and Principal In n
scandalous Sensation. Drowned i'm Vel
lowstone Park-The History of His on
{ Coiored Marriage and Legal Proceed
ing Resulting Therefrom-A False Heir
and Prospective viii Contest.
HELENA, Mont, Sept. 15.-J. o. Green,
son of Norvin Green, president of the
Western Union Telegraph company, re-
turned to Helena on Friday after a tour
of Yellowstone park. Mr.. Green says that
on Aug. %, while on his way into the park
from the Union Pacific. he stopped at the
ranch of Robert Ray Hamilton, the New
Yorker whose trouble with his wife at
Atlantic City. N. j., caused such sensa-
ton a year ago Mr.. Green says that Mr..
Hamilton had bought a ranch about two
months ago and made it an Quitting
place for park tourists. On his arrival
he found that Mr.. Hamilton had been
gone OH a hunting trip for five days. The
next day Mr.. Green and his party started
to hunt for Mr.. Hamilton. About thirty
miles from the ranch Mr.. Green found his
body in Snake river and his horse and dog
u sHOrC ulStduCe AWAY. MT. f1dI1tfiOu
was identified beyond all doubt by Mr.
Green, who had the, body taken to the
ranch and notified Mr. Hamilton's fam
lily.
A Career Well Begun.
Robert Ray Hamilton was born in New
York and was the son of Gen. Schuyler
Hamilton, a grandson of Alexander Ham
ilton. After graduating from Columbia
college and the Columbia Law school he
began the practice of law. He was elected
to the assembly in 1881 as Republican
from the Eleventh district. and was re-
elected in 1885, 1887 and 1885, He spent
much of his time In travelling. both in
this country and abroad, and was a MEM
Der of the Union League club, the Uni
versity club and the Tuxedo club
The Blonde Woman Appears.
About July l, 1882 Mr. Hamilton hired
rooms in the Noll cottage at Atlantic
City. He was accompanie by blonde
woman OF middle age, a nurse, and an s.
moths-old baby. On Aug. % there was a
quarrel between Hamilton's companion,
then known variously rs Eva Mann and
Mrs. Hamilton. and the nurse, Mary Ann
Donnelly. The nurse was seriously
wounded in the abdomen with Mrs. Ham
ilton's ivory handled dagger, aud Mrs.
Hamilton was arraigned in court upon a
charge of felonious and atrocious assault
Mrs. Hamilton was convicted, aud is now
serving a two-years' sentence in Trenton
prison. The nurse recovered.
Fooled with a False Heiress.
On Sept. Mrs Swinton, the so-called
mother of Mrs. Hamilton, and her son,
| Inohna Mann both of NH haH
locked up at New York city on
charges of conspiracy to defraud, told In
spector Byrnes that the baby Beatrice
Ray, whom Hamilton believed to be his
and for the sake of whom he had married
the woman, had been bought from a mid
wife in that city for $40. They said they
had had to try four babies before they got
one TO suit. During the examination of
the conspirators Mr.. Hamilton testified
Where He Made His Mistake.
He said in the Tombs police court that
he had met Eva four years before in q
house of disrepute in New York city, that
he had lavished money upon her aud that
he had finally marriedher for the sake of
the child she pretended was his Mrs.
Swinton and Mann were held for the
grand jury ann subsequently indicted for
conspiracy and grand larceny but the in
ulctments were Qudsneu. Ihat they had
profited by their association with Mr.
Hamilton, through his wife, was I'M
ubitable, but it was found impracticable
to establish the technical charge
Suit for Annuiment of Marriage.
On Oct Mr.. Hamilton applied in the
supreme court for annulment of his mar
riage on the ground of fraud. In the COM
plant Mr. Hamilton said his wife's
maiden name was Eyangeling l.. Steele,
and that they were married on Jan. IL
1889 His consent to the marriage, he
said, had been obtained solely upon her
false representation that she had given
birth to child of which he was the father
The complaint further stated that at the
time of the marriage the defendant had a
husband living although details of the
former marriage could not then be pro-
cured
Prospective Complications.
The case WAS lost upon a motion made
by the woman's counsel for a larger al
lowance than tuat which her husband con-
tinued to pay her. She wanted the money.
she said, to enable her to defend the suit.
being herself at a disadvantage in prison.
She did not get il. She had obtained up
to the beginning of 1889 $40, 900 from Ham
ilton. AS his wife she had an allowance
of 5000 year. As his widow she is like
ly to have difficulties in obtaining "A share
of his estate of some $4,000 year, for
there is not much doubt that the heirs
will continue to dispute the legality of
her marriage to him