The Washington times., 1908-10-28
Brother of AnniS' SLAYER
Says Wife Learned TO
Drink While at Post.
GOES TO THE FORT
AN INNOCENT GIRL
Major Declares She Became
Shameless Because Misguided by
Wives of Other Officers.

| NEW YORK, Get. 2S.-Bldming the
women Of the Fort Hamilton army
post for the alleged demoraiizatiol OF
Mrs. Claudia Hams. Major John j.
Hams has come to the defense of his
brother, Capt. Peter c. Hains. slayer
Of william E. Annis.
His story portr8ys Captain Haius as
devoted, trusting husband, driven
mad by the confession of his pretty
young wife. and unable to resist the
temptation 20 Iii the man responsible
for his misery,
As told by Major Hains, the story is
a gripping. convincing recital OF the
events leading To the tragedy In
connection with the diary letter of
Mrs. Hams to her husband. IN which
she wrote jocuIarIy of drumming
expeditions and 'booze" parties with
wives of army officers at Fort Ham
iltOn, the majors accusations against
these women of the post are expected
TO bring about some startling dis
closures.
"AIl the time that Peter was away"
said the major, those women at the
army post encouraged this misguided
girl 70 do wrong. The whole story OF
this tragedy is told in Claudia's down
fall. She became so depraved in
short time that she was shameless
about writing 10 Peter, telling OF her
drinking and smoking
Innocent Girl as Bride.
Beginning with the time when
Claudia Libby, innocent and BeautI-
ful, became his brothers vile, the
major tells OF the change that came
over the girl after her husbands de-
parture for the Philippines. Up 10
that time they had been the most de-
voted couple imaginable. Mrs. Hams
never drank or smoked, nor was in
discreet in any way.
But" says the major. the girl be-
gan 20 change and her letters began TO
include references 10 drinking parties
with men and women, cigarette smok-
ing and scandal that brought Hams
hastily back TO Fort Hamilton last
90n his return, Captain Hams would
not believe any of the TUm8Ts lie heard
about his wife and Annis. To qllet the
talk, he invited Annis TO dinner that
first evening and went with him on the
auto ride which eliminated IN Annls
arrest for speeding and his being Dalled
out by the captain.
Warned About Her Name.
Peter was only concerned then in his
wifes good name" declared the major
He was crazy about her, and refused
to believe anything wrong. The next
day he saw the general. and the father
told him not to believe what was be-
ing said about Claudia
Later he discovered that she had
been away for a week and had seen a
doctor, and that Annis had paid her
hotel bills then. And that night Peter
had another talk with Claudia. you
know he was just a sort Of home boy.
He could not think Of anything bEt
his wife So that night he asked If she
loved him, and she said. What a funny
Peter asked her then il she'd ever
kissed Billy Annis, and she said sure;
/ told you all about that
Why he said, you never tOld me
that
Loves BILLY" Annis.
Then he began to ask her about that
trip of hers and finally she broke down
and told everything. She said she loved
Billy Annis and did not care if he was
bad. She told Peter that she did not
love him any longer.
Even then Peter could hardly believe
her. He kept walking up and down and
pleading with her Little girl he would
say, you don't mean those things. Tell
me you're only foollng.' But she just
lay there and grew bored and yawneo.
She did not seem to care about Peter
at all. II finally dawned on Peter thai
Claudia meant what she had said ana
he sat there in that room wide awake
all night while she slept peacefully,
like child.
"The next day he went TO the gen
eral. God, father, he cried. Claudia
admits everything
Thornton His Nurse.
From that moment he seemed to be
gone. Thornton was a regular nurse
TO him from then on to the time Of the
killing Of Annis. Thornton was an
other family sort. I'm a bachelor you
know, but Thornton and his wife were
aWfully devoted he nearly went crazy
when she died. Peters trouble vert
right to Thornton's heart and a brother
never was a truer brother than Thorn
ton TO Peter all the time since May
And 1t all goes back to those DAYS
at the post when those women led
Claudia on. She was weak and foolish