Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-08-20
HAMS CRAZED
BY GRIEF MAY
Be DEFENSE
EMOTIONAL INSANITY
PLEA FOR BROTHERS
Coroner Jury Finds AnniS Met
Death at Hands of Captain
Hams, Aided and Allotted by
7, jenkins HainS.
IBy Morning journal Special Leased wlreI

IBy Morning journal Special Leased WIrel
New York, Aug. 19.--After being
out twenty-five minutes, coroner's
jury tonight brought in a verdict that
William f, Annis, who was killed last
Saturday at Bayslde. l.. l., came toI
his death as the result of pistol shot
wounds inflicted by Captain Peter c.
Hans. jr., U. S. A., aided and abetted
by Thornton jenkins Hains his broth
er
1t was believed the jury would rem
der its verdict without leaving the
room, but the jurors remained out for
more than twenty minutes.
When the Jurymen filed into the
room and the foreman announced the
verdict there was a demonstration.
A crowd gathered around Thornton
jenkins Hains and began to question
him as to the tragedy in which he
played such an important part. He
was asked if he felt justified in hold
ing a crowd at bay with revolver
while his brother shot down Annis.
Before Halns could reply John f. Me-
Intyre, chief counsel for the brothers,
rushed to his side and shouted;
! mo, no. don't answer that ques-
i ton"
Only two witnesses were called,
They were Charles H. Roberts of
Flushing, who testified that he was
standing on the clubhouse float when
he heard the report of pistol shot
and saw Captain Hams in kneeling
position cling to the dropping body of
Annis as he emptied the contents of
his revolver into It. and Coroner's
Physician Froy, who testified that An
mis- came to his death from the bullet
wounds.
Mr. Roberts said that he would
have had time to interfere had not
Thornton Hains prevented him.
Mr. Mcintyre asked him If he had
noted the expression in the eyes of
Thornton Hains at the moment. but,
before the question could be answered.
District Attorney Darrin objected and
was sustained.
Prior to his giving his testimony Mr.
Roberts was asked to Identify the
prisoners. When he pointed out Cap
tain Hams as the slayer, the army Of
licer put his hands over his face and
seemed to be greatly excited. This
caused commotion in the court. for
he has heretofore remained wholly un-
perturbed apparently.
Before going out one of the Jury
men asked that additional witnesses
be called, but the coroner refused to
comply
Before the inquest, John f. McIn-
tyre, chief counsel for the Hans
brothers. made the following state
ment to the Associated Press reporter:
I'm answer to the statement made
by Mrs. Halns that she was made to
sign confession while under the in
fluence of drugs, wish to say that
my clients and their distinguished
father have told me that there were
four witnesses present when the con-
fession was made, one of them being
a prominent New York lawyer. These
witnesses will testify at the trial I
am also told that Mrs. Halns talked
to several persons regarding the Incl
dent related to In the confession some
Itlme before she made the confession,
and these persons will also be wit
nesses.
when Captain Hams was called
back from the Philippines he ques-
toned his wife regarding rumors he
had heard about her and he became
convinced that his suspicious were
wrong. Later. ne said. facts developed
which made him demand the confes-
sion from his wife, and she made It.
Captain Hains denies that he sent
letters to Annis challenging him to a
duel Stories to this effect are alb
surd
what unbalanced Captain Hains
mind was the countercharges made bs
Mrs. Halns in a suit ghe filed in an
swer to his suit for divorce. Captain
I Hams believed the statements made
/ by Mrs Hains in the counter-sult were
dictated by Annis."
/ Major John Powell Hams also made
a statement 10 the Associated Press
before the inquest He was asked II
he thought his brother was Justified
, In shooting Annls without giving hin
! a chance TO protect himself
II can best answer that question bS
{ recalling an Incident that happened e
= me at Fort Riley" he said. II wa,
about to put on my boot one mornln.
when found snake In IT, I quickl,
drew my revolver and shot the snake
II Is the same with my brother.
J do not believe he should have gIver
lAnnls chance"
A Knowing what you do Of the case
G would you do the same thlng?" he wa
. asked.
n II most certainly would" he an
y swered cmphatlcally.
rs Il true. as the district attorne,
e says, that your brother Thornton j
d Hams lnstigated the shootlng?" h
d was asked.
!. mot at all. For a long time Thorn
o ton and myself have tried to dIssuad
o our brother from killing Annis. 70
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