The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-15
RAY" HAM|LT0N's END.
The Central Figure in Big Scandal
Drowned in Snake
River.
Reputed Father Of a Bogus Babv
Which Cost His Wife
Ten Dollars.
Now the Woman Ii in the Penitanti.r,
and tho Man ID in the
Grave.

Mr.. j. O. Green, son Of DR.. Norvin Green
of the Western Union Telegraph company,
who has been in this city for a few DAYS,
gives the particulars Of the drowning of
Robert Ray Hamilton. Of New York, in
Snake river, near the southerly edge of the
Yellowstone Park in the latter part of Au-
gust. The strange part of the affair is that
thus far not word of news about it has
appeared in any newspaper. The locality
is remote from telegraph or railway sta
tions, and Mr.. Green, who made the discov-
cry, has communicated with no one except
the family, until he arrived in this city
As will be remembered, Hamilton was the
leading figure in the biggest social scandal
in New York in recent years.
Early in August Mr.. Green and party of
friends came west on hunting trip. They
came over the Utah d Northern and left the
road at Beaver Canyon on the Idaho line.
They started east from there with pack an
imals, following the Snake river, until they
came to rancho in which Hamilton had
purchased half interest, intending to
make it an Quitting station for hunting
parties from the park. He had been in the
country several weeks and was making
arrangements to locate there. When Mi.
Green and his friends reached the
place they found that Hamilton had been
missing for four or five days. He had
days hunting trip, and not returning it
was supposed that he had continued his
trip farther than he had intended. Mr..
Green made up party and started out to
search for him on the 23d of August. They
went along the Snake river until they
I'D ,tv,kn
the ranch when Mr.. Green noticed tree
hanging near the river. They forded the
stream and found HamiltOn's dead BODY in
the water partly concealed by the branches.
He had evidently been drowned while ford
ing the river, and from all appearances the
Mr.. Green recognized the body at once, as
he had known Mr.. Hamilton personally fer
years. In the pockets of his hunting coat
were found several letters, some of them
from his attorneys concerning the divorce
suit now pending, and others relating to the
His watch, which had not run down,
indicating that he might have been
drowned at that hour. Further down the
stream his horse was found grazing with
part of an antelope tied to the saddle which
was reversed: The dog which was with the
horse had eaten part Of the antelope. Mr..
Green took the body to the rancho and left
with his party for the park. They separa-
ted few days later, Green coming to the
Northern Pacific and thence to Great Falls
and on to Helena. He left Friday night for
the east. telegram from New York
leaves no possible doubt as to the identity
of the body. While the family was in
formed of the affair it seems that the east
ern newspapers have learned nothing of it.
Tho scandal IN, xub;ch Rohork Ror Hawaii
ton became involved was one Of the most
sensational of the age. Hamilton, who was a
great grandson of Alexander Hamilton, was
one of the most fashionable set in New York.
Several years ago he married Eva Mann, q
woman with whom he had been on intimate
terms. Some time after she presented him
with girl baby. which she said was the
fruit of their union. Mary Ann Donnelly
was engaged to care for the child, which
was christened Beatrice. In August of last
year Hamilton. his wife and his baby,
Nurse Donnelly, Joshua Mann and Mrs.
Swinton, the latter's mother, were stopping
at a cottage in Atlantic City, the great New
Jersey seaside resort. Mann had been Mrs.
One night Mrs. Hamilton and Mary Ann
Donnelly got into quarrel, which resulted
in the former cutting the nurse with
knife. Mrs. Hamilton was arrested. Then
Inspector Byrnes, of New York took
hand in the matter. He began
to work up the records of
Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Swinton and Joshua
Mann. He learned enough to satisfy him
self that there had been some kind of con-
spiracy, and arrested Mann and his mother.
The latter broke down and confessed that
the baby Beatrice was not Hamilton's child.
Neither was it Mrs. Hamilton's. It had
been bought for $40 from midwife during
Hamilton's absence from home on pro-
longed trip. Hamilton had at first shown a
disposition to stand by his wife in her
trouble with the nurse. But when he
learned how he had been deceived in regard
to the child, he abandoned Eva to her fate,
and brought suit for divorce. This suit is
still pending. Eva Ray Hamilton was tried
in New Jersey for her assault on Nurse
Donnelly and received sentence of several
years in the penitentiary. She is there
now. though efforts are being made to have
her pardoned.
HO! Sixth Ward Democrats.