Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-09-10
The Hams Trial.

Ia the Halns murder trial at Hampton
yesterday svenlng Frank Taylor Evans, con
OF Commander Evans, lad Of 16 years, tes
tilted that be went down to the beach with
his father say ssilbost out in the bay !;
walked down to the drst jetty, from which
point the boat passed him recognized Haine
standing up In The stern soulling and Han
pegan sitting down rowing after they had
passed he came Of the jetty and started to
re]oln his father, who was probably 100
ya.ds away. When he had gone half the
distance he saw Hams fire two shoss at Han
neRsn. Heard some talking, but could not
distinguish what WAS said. On joining his
father be said :"Tony Hams bias o5ot Han
nesan." His father replied :"He shot moth
ink-a couple Of young blackguards show
Ing off"
The message which Hams sent to his faith
or vas then produced, which read as fol-
lows "HsnneRan attempted to strike me
glth an osr, and l shot him."
Mr.. HsunegsD, father OF the deceased,
then testified as to the eye OF his son, stale
Of his health and the position he formerly
occupied In Washington.
Mosa.a. Nevius end Willard, of Washing
.cn, both testified to the social relations ex-
is,ing setweeu Hams and Haunegan and
their relative physical merits
At this point this Commonwealth rested
the case.
Mr Goode, counsel for the defense, then
called thu courts attention TO the fact that
Lincoln Smith, who witnessed the shooting
snd whose pame appeared on the ndict-
ment. had not been called by the Common
wealth, and requested that it be done. This
led TO quits heated discussion, 10 which
Senator Voorhees,, Capt. Wise, Mr.. Goode
and Mr.. Lipsccmo participated.
The prosecution claimed that thsy had
pToyed thsir case without bile evidence. while
the defence maintained he was an eye-Sit
ness and should De called. After consulting
various au shorities MIR. Goode moved that
the court call the witness. which wss agreed
10 by tbs Commonwealth.
Lincoln Smith was then sworn. he is
small, active man, very illitersts. and ore.
ated considerable amusement By hia queer
answers When asked how OLD he was, ne
replied; ST am In my twenty-seoood." He
testimony was modified considerably from
shat given before the ooroner's inquest last
Jane. At that time he swore he saw Ken
negsn take On oar from tbe bottom OF the
boat aod strike Hams In the side. end that
he Yves sitting dow at the time; also tibet he
held the oar about In the middle. Yesterday
be testified that flanagan took the oar he
was rowing with from the side OF the boat
end struck at Hams, and that be held the
oar by the end and was not sitting when the
blow was struck. He could not cay that
Hams was struck by the oar
In the discussion which preceded the examine
ton the witness was referred to So q mau whom
one side didn't want and the other was afraid of,
and as he was On the Stand by order Of the court
both sides gave HIM rigid cross examination,
lasting over an hour. 1t ia doubtful whether
either side got any benefit from his testimony.
John II. beckham, Of Alexandria, testified that
he was employed on the yacht Cygnet belonging
to Mr.. John Panl Jones, Of Washington, in which
the two young men arrived in Hampton on the
evening of June IL. He said they visited the
Yacht the next afternoon with another gentle
man. whom they invited to go with them for
sail. He was also invited to accompany them,
but declined. The witness heard no disputes be-
tween the two men while on the yacht.
Col. Peter G. Hams, father Of the defendant.
was then placed on the stand. he verified trac-
ing from an official survey of the reservation,
showing the location Of the wharf, Jetties anu
residences OF the witnesses who hsd witnessed
the shooting. a sketch of the boat IN Tnlcn me
shooting occurred was also verified. ne tnen
gave an account Of the intimacy wnlcn naa e..
listed between the young men for some tiIle past
and the general condition OF MS sons hea'n,
which for the past five or 81 x years mas mol Deen
oaS rTh;s closed the evidence for the day.