Evening journal., 1891-01-26
s ROBERT Ray HAMILTON ALvel
A Newspapers Startling Theory That
He May Have Feirncd Death.

1 eSANAAh anu - Httit iDilZ Inc sun HuNfl4INi
} the theory that Robert Ray Hamilton ma,
still be alive. After reviewing the remark
, able story Of Hamilton's liaison with Evi
Mann, The Sun says. "Mr. Hamilton drop
ped completely out of sight until the pres
dispatches again made startling an
nouncement-that Of the death of Hamil
ton while on a ranch in Idaho. The brief
est possible announcement of his deasl
was made, and it came from intimat,
friends Of the family the news whcr
borne to his venerable and affectionate fa
ther, did not fall, apparently, like an over
whelming blow. 1t seems almost as il il
had been anticipated.
The body was not brought home, the
house was closed to all questioners. and ne
funeral notice was published until Oct q
thirty-four days after the reported death
for the reason, MS alleged, that Gen. Schuy-
ler Hamilton had been i'll for some time
and had not bad an opportunity to have
the notice published.
Under the pressure of constant inquiry
It was finally disclosed that in March last
Mr. Hamilton had made a will in this city.
ana that late in the summer he had invited
Mr.. Gilbert NJ. Speir, Jr., one of the exectl-
tors, TO visit him in the wilderness Of Ida
no. When Mr.. Speir arrived with another
friend, Mr.. G. j. Il. Moore on the 5th of
| September he learded, as he said, that
Hamilton's body had been found In the
Snake river three days before.
1T was reported that Mr.. Hamilton had
left his ranch Aug %, taking his horse and
dogs, and had gone hunting and fishing
alone, though he was unfamiliar with the
region. Strangely enough, he took with
him on his sporting trip his valuable gold
watch and number of letters and papers
regarding his litigation with his mistress
or wife. When on Aug. %, his partner,
Mr.. Sargent, came back to the ranch. he
was told that Mr.. Hamilton had gone hunt
ing and had not returned A searching
party was organized, and on Sept. / Mr..
Hamilton's horse was found. The next
day Mr.. Hamilton's body was discovered
and it was at once taken to his ranch and
buried, because, as Mr. Sargent saws he
once told me that he would rather be bur
led here if anything should happen
1T is a remarkable fact that the body
was found, not by Mr. Sargent, but by Mr.
J. o. Green son of Dr. Norvin Green. Of
the Western Union Telegraph company.
another friend Of Hamilton On his way
to the Yellowstone park he made detour
to visit Mr.. Hamiltons ranch, found he
was missing and joined in the search for
HIM According to Mr.. Green story. while
looking along the Snake river he noticed
Hamilton's body hidden under the over
hanging branches of "A tree. 1t appeared as
II It had been in the water four or five days.
but Mr.. Green says he was able immedi-
ateiy to recognize it; yet he particularly
identified the watch and papers.
Mr.. Green notified Hamilton's s relatives
at once, according to rhe statement tele-
graphed in the dispatches of Sept. IA last.
and then quietly went on and continued
ms hunting sport. Although, according to
this statement, the body was found on the
"a Of September, Mr.. Hamilton's father in
this city received his first notice Of his sons
death on the 18th Of Septemberl This was
brought 70 him by another son, and be was |
50 llttle Interested III it, according to the
interview printed at the time. that he could |
not remember the signature to the dis
patch
Two letters were forwarded to sinv
Sing, giving what purported to be the
facts in the case One was sent hv M,
Sargent to the attorneys il Mr.. Hamiitonis |
suit to annul the marriage with Eva Ham |
iltoni a marriage which his death annulledi
The second was sent Mr. Hanilt0n's
brother by Mr.. Moore II was brief but |
urged that Mr. Hamilton's body be not re /
moved. Mr. Moore said he knew that 4
Kay had expressed a wish to be buried /
here in Idaho Why this strange wish
lt - certainly most remarkable that Mr.
ltamilton's father did not receive prompt
and full information Of his sons death
and that friend Of the family should
nave waited two weeks to notify him and
thea sent no particulars excepting by letter
1t Is peculiar that instead of hastening
I'm "a Atn naltf tf.rlas,
reayed family, both Mr. Speir and Mr.
Moore decided TO remain some time M ~
ranch, and Mr.. Moore, in writing to the
brother of Mr. Hamilton, said they staid
because Mr. Sargent seems to want us to
Neither Mr.. Hamilton's father nor his
brother hastened to the west to bring the
body home, leaving it to be buried at the
ranch. As soon as Mr. Hamilton's death
was announced Mr.. Nollmer returned from
the west and produced the will, which was
presented for probate. As II
made no provision for the woman claiming
to be his widow she began contest on her
release from prison.
The lawyers retained in behalf Of the
estate wrung from her the admission that
she had sustained marital relations with d
drunken vagabOnd before She met Mr.
Hamilton, and that therefore her marriage
with the latter was illegal, and finally Oh
tanned her confession that the child she had
as iamilton's was neither bis
nor hers. Her case was thrown ont Of
court at once, and the surrogate decided
that she had no claim on Mr. Hamilton's
name or fortune Then came suggestive
Mr. Hamilton's Is win was again
for probate and the astonishinul
statement was made BY the surrogate that
inc evidence Of death was insufficient
Neither Of the two men who said they had
seen the dead body and recognized il was
present. One of them, Mr.. Hamiltonis
partner in the ranch, was said to be showed
up in Idaho; and the other Mr.. Green. was
~ Europe
"a commission was ordered to take the
testimony Of these two persons, and the
md is not yet If Mr. Hamilton Il not
lead, ne can now with safety return to his
lome and start in life anew. There are
hose who knew Robert Ray Hamilton
veil who have never believed for a single
moment the story Of his death. They be-
leye he foresaw that his only and readiest
way Of escape from most distressing
ituation was by hiding behind the shelter
u an invented death The tangle has All
leen sklllfully unraveled, and, If liyina. |
he way Of life for Robert Ray Hamiltonis
nee more Strengthened out before him.