New-York tribune., 1908-08-16
CAPTAIN P. C. HAMS
KILLS W. E. ANNIS
PUBLISHER Is SLIM BY
4RMY OFFICER.
Brother Holds Onlookers off at
Bdyside Yacht Club While Gen
erals Son Does Shooting

His wife and bystanders held at bay and un-
able to aid him, William E Annis the pub
Usher of Recreation" and other periodicals,
was shot to death by Captain Peter Cooper
Hams of the United States army son OF
Brigadier General P. c. Hains. the land
ing of the Baysde Yacht Club yesterday after
noon Annis shot shortly before o'clock.
and he died In the Flushing Hospital four hours
later The shooting is said to have followed
story OF alleged wrongs which Mrs. Hams told
her husband who brought suit last May for
divorce from her. Hams fired eight bullets into
Annis's body. while his brother. T. Jenkins
Hains. the author. stood by with an automatic
pistol like the one used by the slayer. and
threatened to kill any who dared interfere
When his victim had fallen back apparently
dead Captain Hams stood calmly and awaited
the onrush OF club members who would have
handled him roughly had it not been for his
brother who still kept guard with his revolver
and protected him until the arrival of the police
Mrs Annis. who was on the landing with sew
eral friends awaiting the arrival OF her hus-
bands boat rushed toward Captain Hams when
she saw him take the weapon from his pocket
but she was held back by the captains brother
Her screams and the sound of the shots caused
a wild scene on the yacht club landing, and the
Mortified men and women forced to stand
helples bv while the army captain inflicted
the fatal wounds.
CAPTAIN WAITED FOR ANNIS
Captain Hams and his brother were noticed
near the landing shortly before Annis came to
the float in his yacht. The captain who is at
tached TO the 18th Company, Coast Artillery
Corps, stationed at Fort Hancock New Jersey.
was in uniform and he attracted much atten-
ton.
7-ha ,suaI Saturday afternoon crowd OF
hes and their friends were in and about the
clubhouse when Annis returned to his boat,
after a short cruise. Hams and his brother
walked the string piece as the boat came
near and Annis was shot through the groin be-
fore he could leave the craft Captain Hams
s,r,nlv pronounced Annis's full name and then
fired AS the wounded sank back he
shouted to Hams:
You have made terrible mistake and be-
fore he became unconscious he remarked sew
eraI times to members OF the club: "Hains shot
me- but I don't know what for"
Neither OF the brothers hac ever been seen in
the neighborhood of Bayside until yesterday, and
It was apparent that they had carefully planned
the killing of Annfs. Among the witnesses, who
were within a few feet OF Annis when he was
killed were Mr. and Mrs Henry D. Rockwell.
of No $50 Sanford avenue. Flushing; Charles
Roberts and c. A Birchfeld. 1t was declared
that Thornton ]. Hains, besides having an auto
matte pistol had belt full OF cartridges around
his waist The Flushing police We're called i'm
nledfately, and the Hains brothers waited quietly
for arrest.
Yes I shot him" said Peter Halnes when
the officers arrived. Both of them we're held
TO await the result of Annis's injuries. and it is
probable that they will be charged with mur
der in the Flushing police court this morning.
In statement made Captain Ruthenberg.
of the Flushing police. Captain Hams admitted
that the shooting was deliberate He declared
that Annis I'D broken up his home and that
he and his brother had gone TO the Bayside
Yacht Club landing yesterday 10 punish him for
what he had done Neither of the brothers
showed any sign of nervousness General
Hams reached the police station Just before
midnight and was taken directly to see his sons.
He appeared to be overwhelmed by the tragedy.
and after a short conference with his sons de-
parted for the Hotel Astor. where he will live
temporarily Both brothers were held without
bail
General Hams at the Hotel Astor. said he
could not discuss the matter az length. but he
thought his was III complete possession
Of his mental faculties when he shot Annis-
When asked if he thought his was right,
General Aains replied that he thought his son
perfectly justified
He did right" said the General He would
not discuss the circumstances which led up
TO the Shooting but he strongly intimated that
he would defend his
Coroner Amber held inquest the body
of Annis late last night, and his report will be
filed with the magistrate this morning.
Coroner's Physician ". q. Frey performed an
autopsy on the body. and found that the eight
bullets which were fired by Hams had passed
entirely through the body. The bones of the
legs and arms were shattered by the bullets
which ere 40 caIbre and the size used by army
officers 4 duty in the Philippine Islands, where
Hains had recently been stationed. DR.. Frey
said that il was remarkable that Annis had not
died instantly.
SHOT ANNIS." WIRES HAMS.
Mrs Annis became hystericai from grief and
was cared for during the night by her physician.
Upon his arrival in the Flushing jail Captain
Hams sent a telegram his father, who is at
Fort Hancock. saying: "Hains shot Annis
Come the Flushing police station"
His brother T. Jenkins is well known in
literary circles. and is regular contributor to
many of the standard publications in the United
States His home is at No. 40 s6th street Bay /
Ridge He is said to have been the central figure
in a fight at Fort Monroe several years ago, in |
which I man lost his life.
Annis vas interested in several publications |
including Recreation and the. Burr Mcintosh
Monthly He lived with his wife and chill F!
dren at No. A. Clermcnt street. The Bronx. and
was one of the most prominent members of the |
Bayside Yacht Club
DIVORCE SUIT NAMED FRIEND.
CAPTAIN Hains's wife lived at No. 81 Crest
avenue. Winthrop. Mass. In June of this year.
Thornton J. Hains served her with papers in the |
IN brought bv his brother for divorce at that