The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-28
HAMILTON HAS GONE
The Defaulting Odd Fellow
Jumps His Bonds.
STUNNED BY HIS BROTHERS
Cot on by the Order and With Prison
Staring Him i'm the Face, He
Disappears Suddenly.

Robert Hamilton, ex-secretary OF the
relief committee of the Odd Fellows.
charged with enforcement. is the last
name TO be added TO the list Of bond jump
ers. Some persons think that he may
have killed himself. fully realizing the dis
grace he had brought upon himself and
bis family, but in all probability he nss
simply skipped out ard left the men who
came TO his rescue TO pay for their expert
ence in helping friend in trouble.
The truth Of Robert Hamilton's doings
as the custodian OF the relief committees
money for over three years will show that.
while he told q PosT-IyTELLIeEScER re-
porter tina: be had been given no oppor-
tunity to straighten out his accounts. In
reality he had been i'm portuned frequently
To settle, given every advantage one could
ask for and in return damned every body
connected with the committee and the
order in general, refused to turn over his
books and, as one of the committee
admitted last evening. put every
obstacle in his power in the way OF the
special committee appointed four months
ago 10 expert the books. 1t was this
trouble that caused Hamilton TO lose his
position as constable in Judge Osborn's
court, and when the members of Olive
Branch Lodge, No. 4, /. O. o. F., inyesn-
gated the matter, Hamilton, the noble
grand of the lodge, was expelled. despite
the fact that be threatened TO make the
men sweat for it."
After Hamilton was arrested he b d
great trouble in getting men who would
sign the $3.50 bonds that gave him his
liberty. pending q preliminary examina-
ton. Finally X. c. Crawford, out OF the
kindness of his heart, told Hamilton that
he had considered him an honest man and
hated to see him lie in Jail If the amount
of the deficit was only $s6 Hamilton did
not tell Mr.. Crawford that the deficit ran
into the hundreds OF dollars, but did all
he could to get him to sign the bond.
George Tinto finally consented to help
Hamilton out of his trouble, and signed.
The next morning Mr.. Crawford told
Justice Humphrey that he understood
that Hamilton was short $500 instead OF $50
and thought he had better surrender him.
Hamilton. however, played on the feelings
of the kind old man. and finally persuaded
him to stay the delivery of him to Jail.
Hamilton, in the meantime. had tried to
get l.. w. Bonney 10 go on the bond, but
Mr. Bonney refused.
Hamilton Was now getting desperate,
and commenced hunting after Albert
Bryan, the chief officer of the relief COM
mittce, to see how he could get out of the
trouble. Last Sunday morning the relief
committee held a meeting in GeTmania
hail. on Front street, in relation to Hamil-
tons shortage. As the members went into
the building Hamilton stood at the foot of
the stairs. but they did not speak to him.
He stood there crying, when Bryan came
along and asked him why he did not go
before the committee. Hamilton replied
that IL would do no good, but added that
he was willing to go oyer his books with
the committee and see what the exact
state of affairs was. Although there was
no formal confession, his words were
equal to one. and a letter he gave to one of
the committee was on the same line.
Bryan told him ne would place his propo-
sition before the meeting, and let him
know Monday morning at 10 o'clock what
would be done in the matter. The COM
mittee heard the message from Hamilton,
and decided by a unanimous vote that il
did not want anything more to do with
Robert Hamilton"
The next morning Hamilton was at
Bryan's office on Front street, near Pike,
at o'clock. As he entered he excused
himself for being early, and showed that
he was anxious by getting down to bust
ness at once. well" said Bryan, "the
committee decided not to have anything
to do with you, and has rejected your
proposition TO examine the books" The
decision was . blow to Hamilton, but he
shut his teeth and was silent Bryan told
him that there was no animosity on his
part. bat as an officer of the committee he
had sworn out the warrant Hamilton re-
piled that he did not blame Bryan and &C
knowiedged that il he had taken his
Organ 81 advice in the beginning, instead
of lighting him. the scandal would never
have come before the public. Then he
walked out of the Office gritting his teeth.
He returned home al 1 O'Clock in the
afternoon. told his daughter that he
would be gone until 2 o'clock. He has not
returned and what has become OF him is a
matter OF conjecture. 1t was not thought
that he had skipped until yesterday morn
ing when his case was called by Justice
Humphrey. Spectators and witnesses
were on hand, but no Hamilton. An hour
passed, and the justice, on motion of
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Bass, de-
clared the bond forfeited and issued bench
warrant for Hsmilton's arrest. Constable
Van Horn went 10 the fugitiye's house
and found bis daughter there alone. She
had been kept in ignorance that her father
had been arrested and supposed thas be
had simply gone away for day or so. He
told her after his arrest that he might be
called away for a short tine.
Mrs. Hamilton is st present at Linton.
near Portland. where she has been for
some time. She has always been held in
high esteem by her Seattle friends. and Il
is thought that sue is ignorant of the
trouble her husband IS in.
The theory Of suicide Is based on re-
marks Hamilton made at different times
about jumping into the bay IL he did no,
get bondsmsn. This is refuted In part At
the beginning by note he wrote saving
that he WAS too much Of coward to kin
himself Us also thought OF the disgrsra
his daughters would feel a: knowing their
father was = seli-marderer. The matter
Of finding Hamilton, II he j. alive. ha.
been placed in the hands OF Sheriff
NOolery.
IsTEIIIsKSoER reporter last night regard
iag the actual Shortage in Hamilton's ae-
counts. and said;
"In justice 10 Hamilton | would saw
thai, While the report sa0ss that his books
exhibit shortage % $50, he Is not short
that amount | should sAy soc 10 $50
MAS nearer correct know 81 some IN
stances where be paid out money that !.
not credited 10 him On hts books -
"Dt1 be have an opportunity 10 settle -
sAAA BEurtArR1 him ~.