Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-08
was attempting to uso tho oar as a weapon
against his friend.

| against his friend
How HAIRS BEARS CONFINEMENT.
This is largely surmise, for Tony Hams has
kept silent throughout the time of his impris-
oument, and in the course of several arnicable
| interviews with TIE STAR's correspondent he
| has refused to say word with reference to the
! affair. This. he said, was in accordance with
I the advice of his counsel Since his arrest he
| has been confined in the county jail in the
rear of the court house. Sheriff r. X.
! Curtis and Tailor Miller have treated him
, with all possible consideration and his confinc-
mcnt does not seem to have seriously affected
him in any way. Col. and Mrs Peter c. Hams
| arrived at the Hygeia last week, and since then
he made number of visits to the Jail.
The circuit court in which the trial is being
, held, is presided over by Judge b. I. Gunter
of Accomac county, with Judge John Booker,
| former county judge. as clerk of the court. A
special venire jury of twenty men from the
upper part of the county has been called, and
| as the defense have but four challenges and the
| commonwealth none it is not likely that much
difficulty will be found in getting twelve men to
try the case. An attempt may be made to have
the trial further postponed, but one of the law
yers for the defense this morning said that he
did not see how this could be obtained and so
far as he could see the case would have to be
! gone on with at once.
The only changes that have been made in the
counsel are the addition of Senator Voorhees,
and Col. Nelson to the prosecution.
ask Gen. Voorhees, to take what
| ever part in the trial he may desire
and will extend to him tho usual courtesies.
Col. Nelson is not expected to take an active
today that he ID opposed TO Senator Voorhees,
| identifying himself with the prosecution.
OPENING TIE COURT.
Twelve o'clock WIS the hour set for the opeE-
ing of the court. Mr.. flanagan was among tine
fra 10, nrtI ba Ho in, fe,
minutes before noon and took seat
just inside :he rail that divides the
big square court room and separates the au-
'ilencc from the conrt officers. There a
sprnkiirg OF ladies in the audience that soon
Iiiei al. The available seats and standing room,
Mr. John J. Linuey Of Washington is the
official steuOgrapher, and among the inter-
ested spectators were Mr. Mauchin NiTer and
Mr.. Walker Willard # Washington. both
of whom may possibly be put Gu the witness
stand during the course OF the trial. The
tollirs of the bel on top of tue court house
| called III all the lawyers. and a few moments
| later the court WAC formally opened by the
| sheriff
| On motion Of Mr.. Montague. Senator yoor,
! hees and Nh. Lipscomb were admitted to rrac-
| tlcc before tue court, and on motion OF Judge
! Gocdo Mr.. Shillington also admitted.
! The clerk announced tAat the first case or
| the docket was the case OF the common wealth
/ against Thornton j. Hains, charged with MR.
| der. and the prisoner was ordered TO be brought
| III. Hains entered moment later, accom-
| panied by his father and mother. and the three
| took seats by the table i'll front OF the judges
| desk. Hams was well dressed rs usual, i'll u
| light summer suit His white necktio
but a little palcr than his face. and he did
not look IS well as at the previous hearing in
! July. After brief delay that was occupied
with some preliminary details, the witnesses
| for the commonwealth were called and all an
sweIed present but Col L. &. cambridge.
All .he defendants witnesses were on hand.
| Thornton Hams was then called upon to stand
| up, and with every eye in the room fixed upon
| him the young man was compelled to listen
| 10 the reading of the grand jury
| indictment. charging him with malicious and
telonious murder. The paper was long
| legal document and the ordeal was Il irving one
! for Hams. but ne stood 1t wel though his face
| showed signs Of considerable nervousness. The
| silence was intense, not sound being heard
| but the monotonous reading of the indictment,
| laden down with legal terms.
| Beng called upon to plead to the charge OF
murder Hams plead Not guilty" in clear
| and audible tone of voice.
SELECTING THE JURY.
The court then proceeded to select jury
from the panel of twenty William C. shep-
herd and b. L. Sealey were accepted without
delay John Williams, William L. Young. A.
| W. 1opham, I. X Landrim, Elias Todd, W
| W. Chillis ard I. +. Davis were accepted.
! A. c. Wade was excused on account Of having
| expressed an opinion.
! john Thomas and L. G. Emory we're ac-
! cepted.
George ". Watts had an impression, but did
no: think it would bias his Judgment. His
eligibility was argued by Judge Goode and
Messrs. Montague and Lipscomb. The latter
spoke at some length and ably on the legal points
in the matter of selecting Jurors, maintaining
that the one in question was clearly eligible
Judge Gunter decided him to be a competent
! juror and be took his sent with the others.
Z. W. Neville, G. T. Jones, Z. J. Gilbert and
| E. G. Philip were accepted. making up the
necessary complement OF sixteen.
/ The defense were allowed four peremptory
challenges 70 reduce this number to the de-
sired twelve, aud Judge Goode requested that
| they be excused for while in order to con-
| slider the situation. Hams left the room to
consult with his lawyers. 1t had taken less
| than an hour to obtain jury.
| The defense returned and excused Shepherd,
Young, Todd and Philip. The jury as &C.
cepted was sworn by fours to faithful per-
| Torrance of their duty, and they were told to
| look upoU Thornton Hams, who rose to his
| feet while the indictment against him was read
| again by the clerk of the court.
RECESS TAKEN.
| A little after o'clock a recess was taken