The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-07-15

Hampton, Va. Special: The an
Aouncement from New York a few days
G to the effect that Thornton Jenkins
Hams had transferred all of his royal
ties on his literary works now selling
to his father, has made arrangements
for the rearing of his little daughter
and shipped aboard an unnamed vessel
as a common sailo under an assumed
name is CT special interest here, al
though h old residents. who knew
Tony Hams when he was prominent
at Old Point and in this vicinity are
not surprised n in fact 1t would re-
Quire something much more radical
than that on his part to create much of a
ripple here. 1t is known that his con-
nection with the recent killing Of Annis,
the magazine publisher, by his brother,
Captain Peter Hains, who is now in
Sing Sing for the crime, has proven a
bar to his future literary work under
his own name. 1t is therefore necessary
for him to set out anew and he has
started this by completely concealing
his identity n disappearing from the
many years.
Woman in tho Case.
1t was here in Elizabeth City county,
Virginia, that the most dramatic ca
reer Of this gifted and talented man
OF h world was enacted. His return
to the sea brings to the memory Of
many of h residents OF Hampton and
Old Point that August day. 10 years
ago. when his former friend. Edward
at Fort Monroe, as was Hams ia
ther, General Hams, met death at the
hands Of Hams, while they were both
In a small sailboat only a couple of
hundred yards from shore, which was
witnessed by no less q parsonage than
Poor Admiral D0hln- IL ~ kio.. -
captain in the navy. whose home was
at Old Point.
Hams and flanagan were young
men of about the same age and had
been fast friends. Only a few days be-
fore they had returned together from
boat. both Of them being excellent sail
ors. The news that Hannegan had been
killed by Hams caused a great SEN
sation not only in this section, but
throughout the country, especially in
army circles, both families being promi-
nent.
Although a young woman -of con-
siderable social prominence in army
and navy circles was known to figure
In the tragedy, her name was care
fully guarded and never appeared in
h publication at the time and was
not brought out at the trial. both the
defense and prosecution doing every
thing to suppress it.
Evans Saw Tragedy.
On the day of the tragedy the two
young men went out together in a
small sailing canoe and had been sail
ing for some time. Captain Evans was
sitting on his front porch overlooking
lower Chesapeake bay and part Of
Hampton Roads, when the boat came
the tiller steering. What conversation
took place could not be heard on shore,
and Thornton Hams 10 the only n
who really knows what was said. 1t
was evident to Captain Evans, how
ever, that they were Quarreling, and
fired twice with a mail revolver, the
second shot penetrating the heart of
Hannegan, who fell across the side Of
the boat, having risen at the first shot.
Hams pulled the body into the bottom
Of h boat and then proceeded to sail
about in the Roads for an hour and
q half before coming in to shore. When
he landed he proceeded Immediately to
the telegraph Office and wired t his
mother in Philadelphia that he had
killed Ed flanagan. He then sur
rendered to the authorities and was
taken to Hampton and lodged in Jail
to await indictment and trial.
Highly Sensational Trial.
In due time the Indictment was
brought in and the trial was the most
sensational that ever occurred in this
section of the state al well as In the
South. The best legalitalent to be had
in the East appeared on either side.
Fol- the defense were Captain John s..
Wise, of New York, and the Hon. John
Goode, head of the Virginia bar. Judge
Edgar E. Montague was the common
wealth's attorney and led the prosecu-