The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-27
DIsaRACnD BY HIS SON.
Col Hams and His Family Have to
Leave Washington.
Nrom the New York Times.

!
WASHINGTON, Oct. "a Some months ago
young man named Hains shot and killed
another young man. his particular friend,
named Hanuegan, in q boat at Fortress
Monroe. Hams was tried and amazement
followed his acquittal. Immediately return
ing TO Washington, Hams was soon reported
By the father of the murdered man, TO he
nersistently annoying him by what looked
| like atrociously cruel actions.
! The father of the man who killed Hanne-
| gan was Col. p. G. Hams. in charge of the
work on the Potomac fats and a man
whose reputation, personal and professional,
has been very high. He appears to have
been keenly distressed by the actions of the
| son, who had escaped a capital punishment
| by what might have been called a miracle
If il had not come through mlraculously
Incompetent jury, and also at the reports
concerning the conduct Of another son while
the murder trial was in progress at Hamp-
ton. Young Hams return to Washington
was a mistake, as was soon discovered, for
the treatment Of him became SO conspicu-
Ously cool that be at last left. aud it was
rumored that he had gone out of the coun-
try.
Last night it was learned that Col. Hams
had requested TO be transferred to another
field OF duty, and would go TO Portland, Me.
To-day the report that he is to leave Wash
lngton is confirmed, with the explanation
that it was not at his own request but upon
the judgment of the Presideut and the Sec
Rotary of War. With this explanation
comes batch of stories that make it Gp-
pear plain enough that an acquittal in court
does not always wipe out an otfense, aud
that the escape of the son hiss not saved the
family from the penalty that society has
decreed where jury made an Hcquittal.
1t was, says the Star, matter of some
doubt, after the trial, as to just what atti-
tpde the army society of Washington would
adopt toward thu family. Some of the
| officers merely held aloof, while Others con-
tuued their relations with the colonel and
his wife as before, but refused TO recognize
| the son in any way. There was no o3trac-
ism or unfriendliness; merely desire on
the part CT the army community to express
q Misrepresentation OF the continued presence
| OF the son in this vicinity.
| IAN might have gone well" said one who
Is well informed on Ehe subject, had it not
been for the position taken by Mrs. Hams
She insisted upon following the acquittal of
her son with sn effort to accomplish his
| complete re-establishnsnt into society, and
she gradually alisnatsd all of the sympa-
thesic ladies who call On her to show their
appreciation Of the state OF things"
A single incident is related apFopos of the
situation. The wife of an army officer called
on Mrs. Hams soon after the return Of the
/ family. and was disposed TO be cordial until
| her bOstess sent upstairs for her son. called
| him into the parlor, aud insisted upon in
| Producing him to her caller. Tne latter re-
| fusad 10 recognize his presence, and upon
| the INSTANCE OF Mrs Hains, she absolutely
refused 70 know him. This led to dramatic
scene OF excitement and, on its becoming
known among t1e army folks caused a
| gradual dlsc0ntinuance OF the heretofore
pleasant relations with the Hams family.
a short time ago letter was received by
the Secretary of War from Thornton
HaiEs, insoent and threateninz in its char
aoter. The writer SAID that since his trial
and acquittal there had bsen a systematic
course Of ostraclsm and insulting sights to-
ward his father and motaer by a certain
clique Of army officers on account Of the
Fortress Monroe affair, and be proposed that
It should Be- stopped. be demanded that the
secretary should take the proper steps TO
put az end to this persecution, and, he
/ added, IL nothing were done officially he
| would take the mater into his own hands
| ard put an end to i. himself.
Tns secretary, it is said, laid this ccmmu-
| nioeuon before the President at once, urg-
ing that steps be taken to prevent any
i trouble being made by young Hams Mr..
| Drummond, the chlef Of the secret service
| Of the treasury, was summoned. aud ne was
| instructed 10 have the young man carefully
| watched. Accordingly an agent of that
| bureau was stationed near the house, and
| Thornton Hams was diligently Swallowed.
/ The chief Of police. getting wind OF the
matter and not undersl anding it, set one Of
his own men at work to watch the de-
/ tective.
Soon after the talk at the white house,
the Sec etary OF War summoned Col. Hams
to him and showed him his sons letter The
officer was shocked and grieved when he
realized his sons folly. He assured the
secretary that the letter had been writtsaf
without his knowledge, and he added thas
be had been forced to the melancholy con-
olusion that his son was insane. He had
done all In his power to restrain him and
bad taken steps to have him leave,
the country. He then asked 10
be relieved from further dvty
in Washington in order that he
might get away from the scenes that had
become 80 terribly significant to him. The
secretary, it is said, told Col. Hams that he
had the highest regard for him, and would
aocede to his request.
Young Hams, it is understood, has gone
TO South America. His brother, Lieut..
John p. Hams, Third Artillery, has, at his
own request, been transferred from the
Washington barracks TO Fort McHenry,
Baltimore, and thus In short time the en-
tire family will have removed from Wash