Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-17
killing of her husband and is under
the constant care of physicians.
Gen. Hams at Work for Sons.

Gen. Hams put up at the Hotel Astor
yesterday after long conference with
his sons in the Flushing police station
Capt. Ruthenberg had brief talk with
the general, but he would not go into any
details Of the tragedy that concerned the
motive. He refused to say what his sons
told him.
spent the d-.y in efforts to help his sons
out of their predicament. He returned to
the hotel at 0 o'clock last night
Il ask the public to suspend judgment, -
have to make at this time. When our
side of the case is heard the public will
understand the act Of my son.
de swung himself onto street car
There could be no doubt that the general
felt the confidence he expressed His man.
ner seemed rather to support his sons in
their act than to hint at any regret or
shame.
The Hams are fighters, particularly the
father and the older son. T. Jenkins The
younger son. who did the actual killing
of William E. Annis is of a more nerv-
Qus type-slight in build, wearing glasses
to assist his eyes. and his fingers show
the stains of heavy cigarette smoking.
He might be guided by impulse. one
might say. or by the force of stronger
man.
"Unwritten Law" the Defense.
No hint whatever has been given as to
what the defense will be aside from Gen.
Hams wish that judgment be suspended
until all the facts are known" This
would seem to indicate that an attempt
will be made to justify the murder on
some sort of ''unwritten law" theory.
No suggestion has been made that in
sanity will figure in the trial, although
at least one of the policemen who have
had to do with the case expressed his
surprise at this.
He may not be insane said this Of
ficer, speaking of Capt. Hams. but I
don't like the look of his eyes. He looks
to me like a nervous wreck.
1t is clear from Gen. Hams attitude
yesterday that the thought of an insanity
defense would be repugnant to him and to
his sons. They have every apparent con-
hdence in the justice of their cause.
Statement by Mr.. Darrin.
District Attorney Darrin said in discuss
ing the fixing Of bail for the two men:
Both brothers are unquestionably
guilty of murder in the first degree.
Thornton Hams is as guilty as Capt
Hams. who fired the shots.
There Is no mystery attached to the
crime. 1t is a plain murder. Just what
defense they may present, of course.
cannot say, but it strikes me they will
have difficulty in making a defense of
any kind that will stand In law. They
can't plead impulse or sudden insanity, as
Ihaw did. for the act was apparently de-
liberately planned for hours. if not days
or perhaps weeks, ahead. Talk of bail for
either of the men is simply out of the
question and would not be considered for
one moment.
Il will be ready to present the case to
the first fall grand jury. which convenes
In October, and will plan to have the
trials take place during the following
month Of November.
Concerning the story of Capt. Hams
alleged wrongs. do not think 1t would
be proper for me to discuss that phase
Of the tragedy. Neither will venture an
opinion concerning the chance OF Capt.
Hams taking the witness stand and at
wrecking Of his home by the murdered
man. Questions Of that sort can only be
settled at the trial"
Annis' Body Taken Home.
Annis' body, in which Coroner's Physi-
clan Frey had found eight bullets. was
removed yesterday from the undertaking
shop of Ebert Hallett, in Flushing. to
the Annis home, at Al Claremont avenue.
Manhattan.
Harvey Rockwell, who was entertaining
the Annises before the yacht race. and
whose wife has sheltered and cared for
Mrs. Annis since the murder, took her
home. with her two sons, in his auto
mobile.
Mrs Annis at the time was in such a
state of complete collapse that not only
was she not permitted to see the body OF
her husband, but her condition required
the services of physician. Several friends
throughout the day and night and COM
pleted arrangements for the funeral. The
funeral will take place tomorrow evening
at O'Clock from the family apartment
None Of the friends of the widow was
authorized to make any statement on her
behalf, and none would say what, II any,
legal advice she had had or would obtain
AS matter of fact from the time she
left Flushing yesterday morning until late
last night, she was in no condition to en-
ter into a serious conversation regarding
the tragedy or her own affairs.
One of the men who was present at the
house and had known Annis since boy
hood. and his wife nearly as long. said
that in spite of the charges made by
Capt. Hams, which were known to Mrs.
Annis. she had had the utmost confidence
in her husband.
Mrs. Annis Frustrated.
One of Mrs Annis' friends said last
trated with grief.
I'VE all knew that there was trouble
between Annis and Capt. Hams. espe-
begun in June" added this friend. But
we blamed it entirely on T. Jenkins Hams
We never believed that Capt. Hams would
do such dastardly act as to shoot de-
fenseless man, who had often entertained
him."
Coroner Amber Of Flushing said yes
terday that he probably would hold an in
quest Wednesday. 1t is likely he will call
several witnesses of the shooting. and one
of them may be Mrs. Annis. 1t developed
yesterday, when the earlier excited stories
Of bystanders were Strengthened out, that
she was within fifteen feet of her hus-
band when he fell into Little Neck bay
from the yacht club float with his fatal
wounds.
: Eight Bullets Pierced Annis.
An explanation of Annis' wounds were
given yesterday by DR.. Horace Houghton
who first went to his assistance. and DR..
Frey. the coroner's physician. DR..
Houghton. who saw the body after the
autopsy. said:
1T was the worst case of bullet wound
ing l have ever seen. There were eight
shots fired and they produced sixteen
holes in the mans body. No bones or
tissue could stop those powerful 40 cali
Der balls.
''Annis' stomach, his groin. his side. one
knee and part of one arm were literally
torn to pieces. 1t was amazing that he