The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-14
ACCIDENT OR Suicide.
Theory that Robert Ray Hamilton Killed
Himself.
New York World.)


New York World.l
Since the publication Of dispatch from
Bntte. Mont. in The World of Saturday. ten
dening to prove that there were one or more
bullet-holes in the body found in the Snake
river and supposed to be that OF no
bert Ray Hamilton. an Old theory
has been revived by some of his
friends in this city. The belief now
among MANY Of Hamiltons former ac-
quaintances is that he committed suicide, and
they profess never to have had any doubt as
TO his death in this manner. In proof OF TINS
il is said that the latest news from Butte Is
founded upon facts that have long been
known TO a few people, but which were sup
pressed in the accounts Of the finding OF the
body because they would only annoy the
family. and had no bearing upon the legal
questions involved in the settlement OF his es-
tate.
According TO the story which came TO the
World from Butte on Saturday. the first pub
lie announcement as TO the builet-hoies IN the
body. was made by an employee Of the Nc
Dermott Hotel in that city. He. II appears,
had overheard q statement made by guest
of the hotel last autumn. This was TO the
effect that while on his way from the
National Park last August to take train on
the Union Pacific he stopped at Sergeants
ranch and there saw the body. which he
learned had been taken from the Snake
river and which he was told was Hamiltons.
There were two bullet-holes in 1T, he SAID.
This traveller did not know who Hamilton
was but supposed lie was some ranchinan
who had been murdered or killed in brawl,
and without asking any inconvenent ques-
tions he proceeded on his way. While this
statement. rs to the bullet wound, was news
TO most Of HamiltOn's friends in this city. 1t
confirmed in the minds Of many of them sns-
picions which they had long entertained. The
theory of murder was put aside as ridiculous:
because all of Hamilion's property was found
with the body-his watch and jewelry, his
horse dogs, rifle and revolver, while nobody.
so far as known bore him i1-will or had
reason to put him out of the way
On the other hand, his friends say be had
made his will and prepared the legal means to
free his estate and name from the claims or
Eva Mann He was Of sensitive nature,
and kecnly fit the disgrace which he had
brought upon himself and his family. He
had considered plans for going away and be-
ginning life 1'an under II new name IN new
country. This however, was something
which Hamilton could only contemplate with
bitterness. according TO the statement OF an
old acquaintance of his who was seen yester-
day.
"Ie never could be happy away from New
York. said this gentleman, and the pros
pect of being ostIacised was more than he
could bear. Hamilton was essentially city
man. and that is one reason why look upon
this alleged hunting trip with suspicion. He
never went hunting before. and cared nothing
for n lonely sportsman's life. l may tell you,
by the way. that that scheme of ranch
he got largely from Theodore Roose--
welt. He knew Roosevelt well, and
listened TO many of his tales about
ranch life and mad read his books. He
admired ranch life perhaps IN the abstract.
and thought IT picturesque. But he stuck to
New York as long as he could. When all this
disgrace came upon him through the revela-
tions i'll the New Jersey court the scheme of
buying ranch opened a way to him of bury
ing himself from the world. He thought he
might come TO like the life and that he could
get a few old friends TO visit him there. so
he went in with Sergeant.
Now consider. said the Worlds informant.
"Hamilton's leaving the ranch alone 10 be
gone two or three days. He was the last man
in the world to derive any pleasure from a
hunting trip alone. and a. a matter of fact he
knew very little about hunting. When the
body was found in the Snake river it was seen
that it must have been in the water four or
five days, SO that he evidently went direct 10
the Snake river and killed himself. He wasted
no time after he left the ranch alone. Hamll-
ton evidently intended that it should appear
as if he were drowned. 80 as TO spare his fam
lily any further modification on his account"
Does anybody know that Hamilton killed
himself"
1T is known to those who discovered the
body, or, rather. they believe it, for. Of
course, nobody saw HIM die. II tho body had
been brought on here for burial the fact of
the bullet holes would have leaked out. II
may be too late now to discover from the re-
mains whetheror not there was bullet wound,
unless some bone was injured or there was
shot in the head There might easily be two
bullet wounds IN the body OF man who had
committed suicide
The disinterment Of the body is now looked
forward to by all the parties involved III the
case as likely to settle definitely many conflict
ing theories.