HAMILL, Frank Thomas

Hassayampa Miner (Wickenburg AZ) Friday, September 1, 1916, p 1 Prof. F. Hammill Murdered By Boys Thomas Hammill, according to a report recently printed in the Los Angeles Examiner was murdered on his homestead near Twin Falls, Idaho, on August 21. Prof. Hammill was principal of the Wickenburg schools during the school year 1912-13 and is well and favorably remembered in this vicinity. According to the press report his remains were taken to Ligonier, Penn., for interment. The telegram bearing the news to Wickenburg, which was printed as above stated under a Twin Falls, Idaho, date line is as follows: Professor F. Thomas Hammill, vice principal of the Carson, Nevada, schools was found murdered on his homestead near here today. Two boys, aged eleven and twelve years, have confessed to what is declared to be one of the most remarkable stories of desperadoes in criminology. Harold and Linn Lovelace, brothers, are held in custody here awaiting trial charged on their own confession and the verdict of the coroner's jury with the murder of Professor Hammill. They were robbing Hammill's house when Hammill returned, and shot him with his own rifle, loaded with soft-nosed bullets. The shot penetrated Hammill's right eye and horribly mutilated his head. The boys then took Hammill's horse, wagon, money, provisions, and gun and started on a wild ride, covering 120 miles and lasting six days, when they were apprehended. They had eight guns and revolvers which they had stolen from ranchers along the way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Twin Falls Weekly Times (Twin Falls ID) Thursday, August 31, 1916, p 3 Prof. Hamill Much Respected In Home Town Death Great Shock To Relatives And Friends Besides Wife and Parents, Nine Brothers and Sisters Mourn His Tragic Death--Married Less Than Year That the shocking murder of Professor F. T. Hamill brought grief to many hearts outside the community in which he lived in the summer time, 45 miles south of Twin Falls, and also in Carson, Nev., where he taught in the public schools, but in his home town, is shown by the following account from the Ligonier Echo, Ligonier, Pa.: "Prof. Frank Hamill, who had been principal of the public schools of Carson City, Nev., the past three years and formerly principal of the Ligonier public schools, and a son of Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Hamill of Fairfield township, was shot on his ranch near Twin Falls, Idaho, possibly Tuesday of last week and was found Thursday. A telegram was received Thursday forenoon announcing the sad news by B. I. Mathews, secretary of the local Masonic lodge, of which Professor Hamill was a member. Mr. Mathews informed Dr. Hamill of the murder of his brother, and after a consultation with the parents, a telegram was sent to the Masonic lodge officer at Twin Falls to have the body shipped to Ligonier. Dr. Hamill also received a telegram from professor Hamill's wife informing him of the murder, she being on a visit to her parents, at Oaks, ND, and a reply telegram was sent to her to come to Ligonier to attend the funeral. Mrs. Hamill, her brother and sister, and Mrs. Walter Fox, a friend, arrived in Ligonier Monday. The news of his murder was a severe blow to his parents and brothers and sisters, especially his mother, and a shock to this community, as Professor Hamill had a host of friends in Ligonier valley who mourn his sad death. Was Principal Of Schools "He taught school as principal of Ligonier schools during the term of 1906-07 and again in 1911-12. He was very successful as principal of our schools, but was not an applicant for re-election in the fall of 1912. Taking a trip West, he made application and was elected principal of the Carson City, Nev., public schools, which position he held up to the time of his death. He was about 33 years of age. Less than a year ago he was married to Miss Jessie Mitchell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mitchell of Oaks, ND, and for their wedding trip they came East during the holidays of the past season and spent about two weeks visiting relatives and friends in the valley. He owned a ranch in Idaho and it is supposed that he was roughing it on the ranch during his vacation. "Professor Hamill graduated at Indiana normal in 1906 and at Bucknell university five years ago, and afterward received a second degree from Bucknell. "Professor Hamill was one of a family of ten children. Besides his widow, he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Hamill, and the following brothers and sisters: Dr. C. A. Hamill of Ligonier, James S. Hamill of Fairfield township, Miss Ruth, a teacher in California; Jack, a medical student at Ann Arbor; Miss Jane, a nurse in Uniontown hospital; Mrs. Hill Hartman of Derry; Paul, Eugene and Miss Mary, at home. "An inquest over the body was held Monday of this week and a shipment of the body was made Tuesday morning. The funeral services will be held in the local United Presbyterian church at 10:30am next Friday, Saturday or Sunday, depending on the time of the arrival of the body in Ligonier, conducted by Rev. A. L. Kenyon, pastor, with interment in Valley cemetery. All his brothers and sisters are here excepting Miss Ruth, who will arrive this evening from California."