Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-30
HIS SONS DISGRACE.
COLONEL HAMS AND his FAMILY
HAVE TO LEAVE WASHING TON.
Tho Young Mans Actions After HIS nc
quittai Of Murder-An Insoient Le'
ter 20 Secretary Proctor.
fNcy York 1'imes.l

Some months ago Young man named
Hams shot and killed another young
man, his particular friend, named HAN
neean. in boat at Fort Monroe. Hams
UNA tried and amazement followed his
accuittal. Immediately returning 70
Washington, Hams was soon reported oY
the father OF the murdered man to be
persistontly annoying him by what
looked like atrociously cruel actions.
The father of the man who killed Han
negan was Colonel p. c. Hams, IN
charge of the work on the Potomac Hats,
and a man whose reputation, personal
and professional, has been very high.
He appears to have been keenly dis
tressed by the actions OF the son. VINO
had escaped capital punIshmens
bv what might have been called
n miracle If it had not come through
miraculously incompetent Jury, ana also
at the reports concerning the conduct OF
another son while the murder trial was
in progress at Hampton. Young hainss
return to Washington was mistake as
WAS soon discovered, for the treatment
OF him became so conspicuously cool
that he at last left, and it was rumored
that he had gone ont OF the country.
TO LEAVE WASHINGTON.
Last night it was learned that Colonel
Hams had requested to be transferred 10
another field OF duty, and would go to
Portland. Me. To-day the report that
he is TO leave Washington Is confirmed,
with the explanation that it was not AZ
his own request, but upon the Judgment
OF the President and the Secretary OF
War. With this explanation comes
batch of stories that make 10 appear
plain enough that On acquittal IN court
does not always wipe out an offence, and
that the escape of the son has not saved
the family from the penalty that society
has decreed where jury made an ac-
quittal.
IT WAS, SAYS the star, matter OF some
doubt. after the trial, as to just what at
titude the army society OF Washington
would adopt toward the family. some
of the officers merely held aloof, while
others continued their relations with the
Colonel and his wife as before, but re-
fused to recognize the son III any way
There was no ostracism or unfrlendli-
ness merely desire on the part OF
the army community to express disap..
probation OF the continued presence OF
the son in this vicinity.
"All might have gone well, said one
who is well informed on the subject,
chad it not been for the position taken
bv Mrs. Hams. She insisted upon FOL
lowing the acquittal Of her son with an
effort to accomplish his complete re-
establishment in society, and she gradu-
allv alienated all OF the sympathetic Ia
dies who called on her to show their APP
probation Of the state of things.
AN INCIDENT.
A single incident is related dprOpOs
Of the situation. The wife OF an army
officer called on Mrs. Hams soon after
the return Of the family, and was dis
posed to be cordial until her hostess sent
up-stairs for her son, called him into the
parlor. and insisted upon introducing
him TO her caller. The latter refused to
recognize his presence. and, upon the
insistence OF Mrs. Hams, she absolutely
refused to know him. THIS led to dra-
matid scene of excitement, and, on ITS
Incoming known among the army-folks,
caused gradual discontinuance of the
heretofore pleasant relations with the
Hams family.
A short time ago q letter was received
bv the Secretary OF War from Thornton
Hams. insolert and threatening IN Its
character The writer said that since
his trial and acqulttal there had been a
systematic course of ostracism and IN
sulting sights towards his father and
mother by a certain clique of army Oil
GERS on account of the Fort Monroe az
fair and he proposed that it should be
stopped. He demanded that the Secre-
tary should take the proper steps to put
an end to this persecution, and, he added.
if nothing were done officially he would
take the matter into his own hands and
put an end to it himself.
HIS son INSANE.
The Secretary. it said, laid the COM
munication before the President at
once, urging that steps be taken to pre-
vent trouble being made by young
Haines. Mr.. Drummond, the Chief of
the Secret Service of the Treasury, was
summoned, and he was instructed TO
have the young man carefully watched
Accordingly, an agent of that Bureau
was stationed near the house, and
Thornton Haines was diligently
Swallowed. The Chief-of-Police, getting
wind Of the matter and not under
standing it, set one OF his own men at
work to watch the detective.
Soon after the talk at the White
House the Secretary of War summoned
Colonel 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 written without his
knowledge, and he added that he had
been forced to the melancholy con-
clusion that his son was insane. lie had
done all in his power to restrain him,
and had taken steps to have him leave
the country. He then asked to be re-
lieved from further duty in Washington
in order that he might get away from the
scenes that had become so terribly sig
nificant to HIM. The Secretary. it Is
said, told Colonel Hams that he had the
highest regard for him, and would ac-
cede to his request.
Young Hams, it is understood. has
gone to South America. His brother,
Lieutenant John =. Hams, Third artil-
lery, has. at his own request, been trans
ferred from the Washington Barracks to
Fort McHenry, Baltimore, and thus in a
short time the entire family will have
removed from Washington.
SFLFlSHNESS WELL REWARDED.