Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-18
THE CASE OF rHoRNToN HAMS.
Some Facts About Him. His Career and His
Family Connections.

Family Connections
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
i am glad 20 see disposition on the part OF
TEE STAR not to sentence Thornton Hams both
to the gallows and afterward to eternal perdi-
don before the jury has had time to hear his
case. / have known the young man and his
family for years. Many of the recent dam
aging statements made about him are false.
The worse things ever knew about him were
these: First, he is something Of "snob;" Sec
ond. he came within five minutes of being in that
notorious drunken froic with Harry Martin.
the late Edward Hannegan and others, last
winter which Terminated in breaking into the
White House have nothing to say abOut the
poor dead boy except to pray for the repose OF
his soul l will say this. however. about the
rash youth who probably in self-defense nsed
the dangerous weapon he nor any other man
has a moral right TO carry: He Is not the devil
the papers OF the past few days make him out
to be. Moreover. be Is especially enti-
tied to Justice. If not mercy, at the
hands Of the Washington press. His grand
father, a resident of this city, whose brave old
heart is sorely wounded. has helped to make
some Of the proudest pages Of this nations his
tory. He Is in its highest sense. a Virginia
gentleman. His name shall not be written by
me here and in this connection 1t is enrolled,
where IL justly belongs. high on the list Of
those who made this country what it Is. For
nearly eighty years be has honored his state
and name and counts among his friends the
brsyest and the best who have lived since the
DAYS of his boyhOods friends, President and
Mrs Madison. Col Peter Z. Hams also neetis
praise III Washington from my pen. His
proud career in the army and at West Point
are matters of public record For years he has
had charge of most important works unoer the
government, and some of the improvements IN
this CITY attest his skill. ability and above all
his sterling honesty The new Aqueduct bridge
was designed and built by Col Peter Hams.
The Potomac fats improvements have been for
years under the control of Col. Hains. He has
handle. millions of dollars for this government
and has far accounted for every cent of it
IN fact. have heard men who worked under
Col. Hams complain that he was too careful in
making contractors do their full duty On the
other hand have heard Senators and members
who form the Potomac flats committee say that
if all the money appropriated for public works
was wisely expended as that handled by Col.
Peter c. Hams the results would be more
satisfactory and they would be encouraged to
vote for other appropriations Some of these
men were confederate generals, fought against
Col Hains in the late war and now among
his most enthusiastic friends. because they are
manly enough to appreciate courage. ability
and honesty, especially when conspicuously
displayed.
Perhaps a man deserves no especial credit
for being honest. but When one contrasts his
record with that of good many other people
not unknown to Washington contractors a
Washing tOnian At least ought to feel very kindly
toward the distinguished officer and gentleman
whose maynard son has dragged his stainless
name into the sensation of the hour,
The young man mother il one of the most
gracious and accomplished women III Washing
ton. She has stood this ordeal with wonderful
nerve. and often in her own infinite sorrow IL
heard TO express the deepest sympathy for the
'amily of Mr.. Hannegan- There are three sons.
One stood high at West Point where he re-
Gently graduated. and Is now AN officer in the
army. The other Is at the s. Naval Academy,
where he stands well. Ii is. to my mind. on its
face, impossible for the second son. Thornton
TO be the devil the reporters, thoughtlessly per-
haps. make him. j ADMIT II adds to the lurid-
ness Of the sensation. but it Is contrary to the
facts that will be brought out at the proper
time and place The truth Is Thornton Hams
Is al unusually clever and accomplished YOUTH
II will be proved that he did not kill his Young
friend. to whom he wac warmly attached in
cold blood or without prosOcation-
As to his alleged Hasons. they have nothing to
do with the case, though have reason to doubt
the truth of the whole story. Thornton did
work when he had 1t to do He has been sub
ject 70 melancholy moods when he was iIl-he
Is not a. strong as his other brother-and if he
had been removed from the allurements of
Washington society he would have developed
many sterling traits which are his by right of
Inheritance. That ultra exclusive set BUSH
IL all Iush He claimed to belong to
nothing OF TIE sort. A man with his environ
menj aut. aLtcstirnts has no need to resort to
nOusepss Of that kind
This Is written without the knowledge of his
relatives C
June IL, 1891