The Washington herald., 1908-08-16

No criminal trial in the history Of the
peninsula of Virginia ever stirred resi-
dents of that famous and historic section
as did the proceedings following the s.ay-
ing OF young Edward Hannegaa by
Thornton B. Hams in Hampton Roads on
June Z, 1881
The case was fought out on a line Of
self-defense. although a woman figured
conspicuoUsly in the events leading Up 20
the homicide. Because OF the criminal
procedure obtaining in Virginia seventeen
years go and the fact that Hams based
his defense solely on the God-given right
to defend his life against an assaIlanr.
all evidence that might have been ad-
duced 10 develop a scandal was kept from
the Jurors.
The trial was conducted before Judge
Gunter, OF Accomac County. and Former
Judge John Booker was clerk Of the
court \ special veuire Of twenty men
was called. in order 70 select a jury
Jury Box Filled.
After hastily filing the box. The defense
made an attempt 20 have the trial post
poned- This was stubbornIy fought BY
/ representatives Of the Commonwealth.
who insisted that Hains was guilty OF
coId-bIOdded. premedHtated. and deliberate
murder. and should be brought 20 justice
/ at the earliest moment A lively TIT be
tween opposing counsel occurre on the
/ opening day OF the trial. and throughout
the proceedings the contendiag lawyers
/ came 10 the verge Of blows over personal
Z itles injected into the case
/ Senator Voorhes. who came as a specta-
tor plunged into the legal night az It's
. opening. and contrary to expectations
. took an active part in the prosecution
Admiral RobIey D Evans. who took the
+ Atlantic feet 10 the Pacific ocean vas
. the star witness for the prosecution the
shooting having occurred directly IN front
/ Of his home At that tine he was com
mandsr OF Fort Monroe
1 Help Help This man has shot ne,
. I'm killed" Then he fell back into the
I boat and disappeared from my sight
/ When this cry came. Hams scuIed
7 across the tide. going pretty fast While
the boat was going out, ! saw Halne-
I gar's knees draw up Two or three times
] above the E--wale Of the boat When the
. boat had gone l1a yards from the beach.
I Hams took in the s-ulliGg car, stepped
. forward. and shook the ru6de-- After a
while he walked back and sat down in
. the stern OF the boat He sat there steer
ling fO- three or four minutes and then
disappeared IN the bottom of the boat for
several moments. He again sat up. and
about this time the first breath Of a sQuaII
came. and he stood on on the sJsTboard
tack for the r.Praps-
Leaned Forward TO Shoot
The witness reiterated several times
lie did not see Hanuesan raise the oar
TO strike Hai-s. and that the slain man
was rowing steadily from the time he
was first seen until the shots were fired
Hams be said leaned forward 20
shoot down Ha7aeEan. and when the lat
ter called for help Hams scu-Ied away
from the shore"
Several other witnesses. an of whose
with the except.o nof that Of Aduira,
Evans son. gave evidence for the prose
cution
Lincoln Smith. a rouadic negro. was
the only witness besides the defendant
who testified HanneEa1 raised the car q
strike Hains.
The theory OF the prosecution was that
Hams and HanneEan. although friends %,
long standing. had had a disagreement
over a woman 70 whom both were paying
court. that they left Washington on a
pleasure trip on June s. that Mains emp.
tied Hanuegaus revolver signaling 70 q
Yacht. and later armed himself tool
Hanuegan out into Hampton Roads. and
/ after provoking a quarrel in midsJreau
shot him.
/ T-,s -,-osa----s0- z.z-err7-.7 .Ia- E1s7-e
sculled around in Hampton Roads hall
an hour with the body Of his victim II.
ing in the bottom OF the canoe.
The defense claimed that HanneEsn be
came enraged at Hams because the latter
refused 10 beach the government craft
and attacked him with a heavy oar
Hams. in order TO save his life. according
70 the theory Of the defense. drew nj.
pistol and fred two bullets into Hanne
J gans heart. killing him instantly
Admiral Evans testimony was attacked
because the defense claimed he was hos
tile 10 Hams on account Of family trou-
, bic.
On the stand Admiral Evans dramati
cally told the Jury Of witnessing ths
shooting in nidstream and the recita
was followed with keen interest by the
, great crowds which thrOnged the little
courtroom
He had several Tits with counsel fol
the defense He added an element OF
| picturesqueness 10 his statements BY de
scribing Hannegan's convulsive move
uents in the bottom Of the boat after
the first shot was fired According u
Admiral Evans. Hannegsn had both
hands on an oar.
After tw shots. he fell slowly back II
the boat. trailing the oar Hams stepped
{ back and held the revolver in his hand.
!, for a moment said Admiral Evans
In about a minute HanneEan put botf
hands over the washboard drew himself
up and called