Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-13
TWO FAMILIES IN GRIEF.
Son of Col. Hams shoots Young Ned
Hannegsn Through the Heart

Hannegan Through the Heart
But Trw PARTICULARS or rHr rnAolo AFFArR
NOW KSowS-roUSe uarSs CLAIMS THAT HI
ACTED IL srLT-DEyESsE-rHr TWO HAD BEEN
on Terms or THE GREATEST rSrrxAcl.
81 have shot Ned Hanneran. He threatened
to strike me-"
This was the FIRST intimation that Mrs.
Hams OF this city received that her con stood
responsible for the life Of his most
intimate friend. The telegram arrived
lass evening, addressed 70 Mrs Hains. the
wife Of Col. Peter c. Hams Of the engineer
corps Of the army in charge Of the Potomac
HATS Improvements. IL Was from her 500.
Thornton C. Hains. . young man well known
in Washington.
ANOTHER TELxaRAM.
A little later Mr.. Duncan Hannegau Of the
geological survey received Q telegram from
Fort Monroe telling him that his son was dead.
shot through che heart by his friend and
comrade from early youth. This was all
that the two unhappy families knew of
the shocking occurrence, aud but few more
details had reached them up 10 this afternoon.
Inc two families have always been on the most
intimate terms. and the friendship that existed
between the two Young men boand them the
news reached here, but Mrs. Hams telegraphed
70 MIN to return ut once.
WENT TO FORT MONROE TOGETHER.
Information has reached here from Fort
Monroe that the two young men arrived there
several days ago and were rooming together.
They went out rowing elast evening aud got
into quarrel. when Hams shot Haunesan
through the heart. The body was at once car
ried to the hospital to await the action Of the
coroner.
Hams went to Col. Frank, post commander.
and surrendered himself. He claims the shoot.
ing was done in self-defense.
Hains is about twenty-five or tweuty-six
years of age. and his friend had but recently
| reached his majority.
The families live short distance from each
| other, the home of Mr.. Hannegan being ut III
18th street, and that Of Col. Hams at 1924 JEFF
ferson place.
Hannegan was constant visitor at the
home OF Hams and was frequently the guest at
| the dinner table there.
He was very popular with the various men,
bers OF Col. Hams family and apparently was
made to feel as much at home there as he did
at his own house on 18th street. where he shared
suite OF apartments with his father, who ID
q widower.
WENT ON YACHTING TRIP.
For some time past the two young men
had been talking of taking a
yachting trip down the river together.
but Mr.. Hannegan objected to his sons going.
On Monday when he returned home he found
q brief note from his son saying that the two
had gone on this proposed trip, but it did not
say how long they expected to be gone. They
met with head winds going down the river and
| 1t took them seven days to make the
trip. They were seen together by friends at
they were ont in the yacht or in row boat at
| the time of the shooting and what Was the real
| reason that led up to the tragedy are not as
yet known here. The two boys had
never quarreled, far as is known,
though it is stated that Hams is OF rather an
ugly and quarrelsome disposition and has
given his father good deal Of trouble.
Edward Hannegan clerk in the general
land Office and a very steady and promising
young man.
MR.. HANNEGAN's STORY.
M. Hsnnegan says he did not approve Of his
son'sintimacy withHains and had vainly endeav-
ored to break it of. for he thought that the in
fuence brought upon his son was not for tue
best In conversation with a STAR reporter this
afternonMr. Hannegan said that SO far as be could
see the shooting was an unprovoked murder.
| but at the same time he hoped for the sake OF
young Hams and his family that there were
mitigating circumstances that would place the
matter in better light. He had the greatest
respect for Col. and Mrs. Hams. and even in the
moment Of. his bitterest grief he would not
utter mean remark about their son, and he
pltled them in their time of sorrow, which, he
said, must be well nigh as great as his own.
Last night as soon as he heard OF the shoot
ing he went to see Mrs. Hams, who was hyster-
ical and could not be comforted. The two, as II
were. shared their grief, and the stricken
father spoke words of comfort to the mother OF
the man who had taken from him his only son.
He does not know what action he will take In
the matter and will not decide until he hears
the full particulars.
Mr.. Hannegan is a large fine looking man
with white hair and mustache and as be talked
OF his dead boy tears flowed down his checks
and his strong body was shaken with his emo
ton. 1t was a sad sight and the lack Of bitter
ness when he spoke of young Hains
made 1t all the more impressive than il
would have been had he reviled him and called
for vengeance. Around the rooms, as a proof
that they were shared by young man, were
scattered letters and photographs aud articles
OF a sort that a young man accumulates about