Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-09
RAY HAMILTON ALIVE.
At Least 30 His Lifelong Friend, A. O.
Howard, Declares.

HE MARRIED EVA TO SAVE HIS FRIxSps IN TIE FEW
| THE REPORT or HIS DEATH TO BE SPREAD BE-
CAUSE He FxARED THE WITNESS STAND.
The Philadelphia Times. which some days
ago announced on the authority Of Q close
friend of Robert Ray Hamilton that the latter
was alive and In Australia, printed yesterday
another interview with the same friend, who
afirms the truth of his former assertion aud
goes at length into the reasons which influenced
| Mr.. Hamilton in allowing the report TO be
| spread that he was dead. The friend in ques-
ton il A. o. Howard, until recently an officer
] of the coast survey in Philadelphia. He says
that Ray Hamilton married Eva Mann to save
! his political friends from exposure. His simu-
| lated death WAS for the same end, but Mr.
Howard does not show very clearly the con-
nection. Mr.. Howard said that he had letter
| from Hamilton dated San Francisco. October 3.
| 1890. In this letter Hamilton spoke of going
| to Australia On Saturday Mr.. Howard told his
| story to Times reporter.
''Mr. Hamilton il alive and WE'LL He is not
in Australia, however. and II matters which are
of vital importance TO him move along In the
groove which he has marked out he will return
| to New York within three months. His exact
location cannot make public. At least six Of
his friends know where he is and are in con-
slant communication with him. My late visit
to New York was to arrange some matters OF
business in which he is Interested"
After referring to Hamiton's acquaintance
with Eva Mann in the spring Of 1856 be con-
tinued:
Hamilton seemed to be infatuated with the
woman from the first, and often visited her.
He gave her large sums of money and paid all
the expenses of her European trip. At that
time he was member Of the New York Assem-
bly,, and when that body was in session during
the years 1887 and 1885, abe accompanied him
to Albany, and they lived together. Hamilton
introduced her to his legislative friends, and
their house was the resort Of many Of New
York leading statesmen.
EVA HEARS STATE SECRETS.
There were frequently disgraceful orgies
enacted there, and much champagne was
drunk. When men are under the influence of
liquor they say things which would otherwise
remain unsaid. Eva Mann became acquainted
with many state secrets, and being q scheming
woman, she boarded up this knowledge to Use
for her own advantage later on. Robert Ray
Hamilton, in his Legislative capacity posed as
reformer, aud was considered by the people
of New York as the embodiment of all that was
pure in politics He had his vulnerable points.
however, and the woman found them. do
not attempt to defend him and do not blame
her, as she is born adventures. The knowl-
edge that she possessed herself Of during those
nights of dissipation in Albany was used after
ward to good advantage. Ray Hamilton was
proud man and very sensitive man. He was
conscious Of his weaknesses and he regretted
them. When he found how completely he was
in the tolls of his INSCRIPTIONS companion and
listened to the threats that she made if he did
not accede to her demands, is it any wonder
that he forgot his high social position and
made her his lawful wife?
Ray SACRIFICES HIMSELF.
,pt ~
that he did this, for Eva Hamilton had in her
possession letters and other documentary evil
dence which, if made public, would humble to
the dust the heads of many New Workers who
now stand before the world a. the emblems Of
morality and virtue. know that she used this
information to coerce Hamilton into making
her his wife, because he is loyal to his friends,
and while he might have defed her and faced dis
grace himself he would not bring disgrace upon
those whom he esteemed II any sacrifice to pre-
vent it we're possible. What these secrets are
and whom they involve am not at liberty to
say, but many a man in New York breathed
freer when he heard that Robert Ray Hamilton
was dead.
1T was because Of threat of. Mrs. Hamil-
tons to make certain disclosures that would
affect the prospects OF prominent New York
politician that Ray took her to lower California
the February after they were married. On that
Hateful Monday in August, 1889, when the in
furiated woman stabbed Nurse Donnelly, she
and Ray had been drinking heavily and had
quarreled. She had threatened, he had defied
her, and the result, had the Donnelly woman
not interfered, might have been fatal to him.
No man knows how keeniy he felt the disgrace
that was brought upon him, and II was to seek
oblivion that he went to that lonely ranch in
Neg Perces county, Idaho.
TO ESCAPE rHE wIrNxss STAND.
"While he was there he was, OF course, in
constant communication with his friends and
with his attorney. Through them he learned
that Eva Hamilton had threatened to make
things hot for him and certain others high in
New York politics as soon as she was released
from the New Jersey state prison. It was in
moment of desperation that the stimulation of
death was thought of and carried out. OF
course his relatives and friends were prepared
for the thing beforehand. 1t was the fact that
they did not show the surprise nor eyince the
grief that would be natural under the eircum-
stances that first led newspapers and afterward
the general public to question the fact of Mr..
Hamiltons death.
1.-The purpose for which he simulated death
has been accomplished. He was afraid that
when brought face to face with Eva Hamilton
| in court she would either make startling rev.
elafion herself or have questions put to him
when he should take the stand that would add
further to his own disgrace and bring disgrace
upon others. 1t was not altogether cowardly
instinct Of self-preservation that prompted Mr..
Hamilton to do what he did. He desired to
save his friends. He has done 3d. and they
know it. 1t is probable now thst the whole
wretched scandal viii die out Arrangements
have been made within the last few days which
will eventuate in q settlement of the difficulty
to the satisfaction Of all parties. 1t may be
possible that Mr.. Hamilton will for some time
remain in his present hiding place. He may
come back to New York, mingle with his friends
and trust to time TO live down the scandal"
1T il said that Mr.. J. o. Green, son OF Dr..
Norvin Green of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, who is now in Europe, win make
affidavit that the body found by him in Snake
river. Idaho, was Mr.. Hamilton's," said the re-
porter.
He will do nothing Of the kind" was Mr.
Howard's emphatic reply. ''Mr. Green is Q
gentleman Of the very highest character and he
will not perjure himself l am sure that he
never said that he bad positively identified the
body as that of Robert Ray Hamilton. ANY
way you can say from me that 1t was not his
body"
Whose body was it?"
THAT question I decline to answer, but il
was not Robert Ray Hamilton's."
WHAT ID SAID OF HOWARD
Naval officers in Washington say that Howard
was at one time ward room boy for Lieut..
Pittsbury on the coast survey steamer Blake,
but that he was subsequently discharged. He
is spoken OF az braggart with q mania for
newspaper notoriety. The idea that he was
axar init friend ~ De- u.-~sl.o- =.