Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-08-01
Murder of Gen. W. II. Ramman.

In our issue of last week we gave a
short account of The murder of Gen W. II.
Hamman, a native OF this county, At Ne"
Birmingham, Texas. We have since re-
ceived fuller accounts all going to show
th t Gen. Hamman was folly and coward
~ murdered. From the Calrert Courier,
paper published at his Old home in Texas,
We give the following:
RusK. Ten, July II -Gen. VIM. II.
Hannah was shot and instantly killed
this morning at 10 O'Clock by 5. I. COoney,
on The streets of New Birmingham. Gen
Hammau had inst arrived on the morning
train AMI was passing C"oney's grocery
store on the opposite side of the street,
when CoOney fired with shot gun, not
over six feet. After the first discharge
of the deadly weapon the General wheel
ed. facing his assailant, with hands mp
lifted. uttering some imprecations unin-
telligible TO those who witnessed the af-
fair. In five minutes he was dead, being
shot fatally in many places in the head
and breast.
His wife was coming to meet him, be-
ing not many yards from him when the
tragedy occurred. This trouble grew out
of certain suits for defamation of charac-
ter of Mrs. Coouey brought by Cooney in
the county court of this county against
General Hamman.
General Hamman is well known
throughout the state as a lawyer of ability
and as the greenback candidate for gov
ernOr against O NJ Roberts IN 1880.
Ia; raoidanoa of ahOuf 30 wars
in this county no man In 1T was better
known or liked than Gen. Hannah.
The remains were shipped here Tues
day and inferred in the city cemetery iol-
lowed by one of the longest professions
ever seen here. Our business men closed
their doors and business was for the time
suspended.
After the funeral ceremonies a large
meeting of friends was held at the city
ball at which the following resolutions
were unanimously adopted
Whereas, we have heard with profound
sorrow of the tragic death and untimely
end of Gen. VIM. II. lIamman. who was
killed on the streets of New Birmingham,
Texas ON the 14th inst.
Therefore, Be it resolved by citizens of
Robertson county, where Gen. Hannah
lived as an hOnOred citizen for more than
twenty FIVE years.
That in his death the State of Texas has
lost citizen of rare mental ability and
sterling integrity, the bar of Texas one of
its most able members and society one OF
its most genial and polished associates.
That we tender to his bereaved family
onr heartfelt sympathy, and request that
the secretary of this meeting furnish
them COPY Of these resolutions.
That the papers of Robertson and
Cherokee counties, and the Galveston
News he requested TO publish these reso-
lutiOns. ). w. MCNUIT,
w. /. PURDOM,
SCOTT FIELD,
G. p. SALTER,
Committee.
From private letter received here VIC
learn that the cause of the shooting was
as follows: Gen. II amman and wife were
boarding at hotc in New Birmingham,
but owing to the vile conduct OF lot of
the boarders, women as we'll rs men, he,
with a number of decent people left the
house, and publicly denounced the cor
rupt and immoral practices Of this corrupt
crowd. To cover up their foul conduct
they brought suit against Gen. Hannah
for SANDER. lie was beating them in the
coSrts and showing them mp in such a
manker that the foul crowd determined
to murder him TO cover up their beastly
conduct. This was done, Gen. Hannah
being shot from across the street and be-
hind. The writer states that the murder
er was at once hurried to the shelter Of
the penitentiary as he would have been
lynched in a few hours.