Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-04-21
Tells of Warning Received While
Witness in Omaha.
IN COURT HOUSE
Tells Reporters of 0minous Words
from Stookmen.
VETERANS WILL TAKE A HAND
Survivors of Fort Phil NeRrney,
Comrades of slain Man, Are to
Aid Authorities in Inveati-
gntiOn.

II It shall be made 10 appear that the
mysterious murder Of o. +. Hamilton at
Mullen, Neb about two years ago, is the
result Of a conspiracy because OF his
alleged activity in unearthing the land
frauds there, the government viii take a
hanG- in hunting down and prosecuting his
murderers
At the beginning Of the land investi-
cations in Thomas and Hooker counties,
which later resulted in the conviction OF
Rev. George c. Ware and for which no
served one year in the Grand Island jail
and paid fine OF $1,000 It was o. f.
Hamilton, a lawyer and real estate man of
Mullen, who gave the first hint of land
frauds being carried on in that locality.
Luclen V. Wheeler, in charge OF tho secret
service men of the Land department sent
to Nebraska to look into these alleged
frauds went to Mullen and had an inter
view with Hamilton. Hamilton did not
care to act conspicuously in the matter,
but from his knowledge of the situation
gave number Of valuable clues, which
loter exposed the whole conspiracy.
| As a result. Rev. George @. Ware, prosi-
dent OF the l. B. u. Ranch company; Frank
W. Lambert of Davenport Neb., and Harry
Welsh of Davenport. Neb., were indicted
for conspiracy to defraud the government
out of large tracts Of land in Thomas and
Hooker counties. Welsh and Lambert
pleaded guilty, but Ware stood trial and
was convicted.
Feeling Early in Evidence.
! Prior to the conclusion Of the Ware trial
in 1905, some Of the friends OF the de-
PENDANTS at Mullen began to make 1t un-
comfortable for o, r Hamilton, and he
telegraphcd to the United States authorities
at Omaha that his life was in danger, and
he had been threatened not only in the
destruction OF is own life, but Of all his
property.
An investigation was made OF the mat
ter by the government and while 1t was
shown that threats nad been made against
Hamilton, the parties at Mullen held cut
the idea that the threats we're mere jokes
and that Hamilton had been unduly scared.
During the trial Of Ware. Hamilton had
been summoned as witness on the part
OF the government, but when he reached
Omaha, It became plain that he was labor
ing under a violent nervous strain, and
manifested a dlsncnation to give any
valuable evidence for the government but
what little testimony he did give was
really in favor of the defense.
Hamilton told a newspaper man who
was reporting lne LIldl lhdL MS Ire nhu
been threatened by some live stock men
interested in the aequittal OF Ware, on
three or four occasions in the federal
building. This information was eommuni-
Gated to some OF the secret service of
ficials and Hamilton was assured of the
protection of the secret service officers,
and was given it,
Ware was convicted February "a 1906.
He appealed the case, but the appeal was
denied, and Ware entered upon his SEN
tence December is, 1906, and finished 1t the
following November Welsh served his
three months sentence earlier In the year.
but Lambert, who is a witness in other
cases, is still under $4,000 bonds. His
case is yet to be disposed of, as he has
not been sentenced.
Hamilton Expressed Fear.
While he was In Omaha during the Ware
trial, 0. f. Hamilton renewed the acquaint-
ance Of two of his old comrades of the
Eighteenth infantry, and to them he fire.
quently expressed the fear that some OF
the people up about Mullen would get
him yet"
Contrary to what some Of the Mullen peo-
pie said at the time, o. f. Hamilton was
absolutely fearless. His courage had been
tried in many engagements with the In
dians in the Sioux Indian war OF 1865.
eliminating In the tragedy Of the Fetter-
man massacre In Decemoer, 1866, and In the
wagon box" fight of August 2, 1871. He
was a member of Company H. Second
battalion OF the Eighteenth infantry. At
the close of his military service ne settled
in Nebraska, locating tinally at Mullen.
Mr.. Hamilton had written his Omaha
comrades that he greatly desired the re-
: union OF the Fort Phil Kearney survivors
to be held on the Fetterman massacre
ground near sheridan, Wyo., July II, 1907
lie had engaged to meet the Carrlngtou
party enroute to Sheridan. either al Mullen
or Alliance
1t was but a week or two before the de-
parture OF the Darlington party from
Omaha that Mrs Hamilton wiote to sam
uel Gibson and 5. s. Peters OF Omaha, two
OF the Darlington party, that Mr.. Hamilton
had disappeared, put thar She hoped that
6 he had come on down to Omaha 10 meet
? the Darlington party ane accompany 1t 70
: sher. dan.
I This was the last that had been heard OF
a Hamilton until his dead body wes recovered
( from It's rough grave IN the stock yards az
q Mullen last week.
b 1t is the intention Of the Fort Phil Kear-
!, ney Survivors association to take a hand
q in running the murderers OF Hamilton 10
. = earth.
s AT the Sheridan meeting In July. 1907.
h the comrades Of Corporal o. r. Hamil-
4 ton were deeply disappointed at his non.
IS appearance and none more 80 than Genera
g H. b. Darlington, who knew him intl
d mat ~, There was no suspicion at that tim,
y that Hamilton had met with foul play.
a Veterans 10 Take Hand.
i The Fort Pail Kea. ney Survivors associa.
N tion has already taken steps TO interest
Q the government in the apprehension and
4 punishment OF Hamilton's murderers, bui
e should the government find that II has ne
Jurisdiction In the matter. tho association
will assist the state authorities In bring