Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-30
Two Witnesses for Defense IN Thorn.
Ton HaiQs Trial Offer Sen.
sationa| Testimony.
ONE FAMILY FRIEND; OTHER SERVANT
Alleged Orgies in Captain Hams
House, With Annis As Participant,
Rccounte d--Startlins Cetaiis- o.
Somcrsauits When Intoxicated.
ny Associated Press.)

Thy Associated Press.)
FLUSHING. \. y. Dc. 29.-Th"
defense Of Thornton j. Hams. in
,.icted with his brother Captain Peter
e. Hams. it,. for the killing of VII
liam r. Annis. called lw, wiinesss"
in today's session Of tn" trial 10
show certain alleged acts OF Mrs.
Claudia iiains. which the lawyers roy
the defense claim so affected Captain
Hairs that he became mentally I'M
balanced.
Samuel Chester Reid, Of Chicago,
4 friend o, the Hams family. swOre
that Captain Hams told him Of all
his martial misfortunes and that the
Captain evidenced signs OF being ir-
rational
Before the close Ct the days SEES
sion the defense called 20 the stand
servant in Captain Hams house
hold, Minnie Rhone. who related Ger
tain alleged incidents In which Mrs.
Claudia Hains and William r. An
mis- figured at the Hams home while
Captain Hams was in the Philippines.
Those incidents. the witness said.
she told to the caRtsin. on his rss
turn.
Told Of Alleged orcies.
She was still under examination
when court adjourned fer the day.
She said that Mrs Hams had d.
rlared her affection for Annis and toll
Of the alleged orgies held at the
Hams home at Fort Hamilton.
Samuel c.. Reid. building !nspec-
tor OF the United States training sta
ton at North Chicago was called.
The witness related conversation
he had with Captain Hams. who the
witness said. used such expressions
as My life is ruined and Il wish I
! was dead"
! Mr. Reid said: Captain Hams
said he went to Fort Hamilton and
found his wife. who wanted to know
why he had returned home Why
your repu; alton is at STAKE. l have
come from the utter end OF the earth
to save you have heard gossip
Of you and Annis The captain
said his wife ted him that the gos-
sip was ridiculous
I Wife Admits Love for Annis.
/ Mr. Reid said the captain stateo
he invited Annis to dianer to show
he dill not believe the gossip. The
witness said Captain Hams said his
father told him there were things 20
be investigated and that he Gap
tain Hains) again spoke TO his wife
and she replied Il do love Billy An
mis-
Mr.. Reid further testified: The
captain said his wife then told him
all. that she loved Billy Annis and
not him.
81 could MT understand said
Captain Hams. the nigh; before she
gave me her caresses and told me
that it was not so"
Witness said Captain Hams fire.
Gucntly expressed a desire TO lie and
said Thornton had been so good to
him.
Mr. Reid said the captain sighed
moaned and quoted from Kipiing
''vam9Ire." and said he never under
stood the poem before. but did 50
now
Reid was excused and Minnie
Rhoac. a ncgress. OF Washington, ID
: G.. took the stand She is the COOK
in the Hams household.
!, Startling Statement; BY witness.
The cook relaied the occurrences
in the Hams home. Of which she said
she It'd Captain Hams on his return
from the West.
/ The witness said Mrs Hams was
. :atoxu ed al the house with Nj An
! mis- and 'hs. the wife Of the army
capt. ain tr...I somersauits and Nr.
Annis smackei her.
! TIE cook said she told the captain
that his wife smoked cigarettes and
that she went out auto riding with
Annis and stayed away all night.
What did the captain do when
you told him thafv'
The witness jumped from her seat
AMI gave an exhibition Of how the