The San Francisco call., 1908-08-18
NEW EVIDENCE IN
ANNIS-HA|NS CASE
District Attorney Learns Many
Facts Showing Motive
for Shooting
HandCuffed, Brothers Are Taken
to Court Together for Their
Arrangement
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL


bearing upon the motive for the shoot
ing of William f. Annis. advertising
manager of a we'll known magazine, by
Captain Peter c. Hains Jr. which was
of more than ordinary interest came to
light today. District Attorney Darrin
has established that Captain Hams and
Annis were on such friendly terms that
they went automobiling together as
recently as May 20 last. Two women
were in the party and the police be-
lieve the women were Mrs. Hams and
Mrs. Annis. A motor cycle policeman
arrested the party for speeding on
Ocean parkway. The case was post
poned in court and is still on the calen-
dar.
The party was in Annis' automobile
and the police held Annis in 800 bail
Annis only had but $50 and the police
were about to lock him up when Cap
tain Hams stepped forward and handed
the prisoner four $50 gold pieces, thus
obtaining his release.
II have also been told by friends Of
Captain Hams and Annis that this
fiendship ceased after a talk Captain
Hams had with his brother, T. Jenkins
Hains," said the district attorney. Il
intend to have T. Jenkins Hams tried
as an accessory before and during the
fact, as 1 believe he is as guilty as his
brother.
LETTER STARTED TROUBLE
1T was his letter to Captain Hams
that made the latter hurry home from
the Philippines and question his wife
regarding her alleged conduct with
Annis, and it was T. Jenkins Hams who
prevented any one from stopping Cap
tain Hams from shooting Annis"
1t was learned today that it Will be
made a part of the states case against
Captain Hams and his brother that on
their way to the scene in a Bayside
hack they loaded their revolvers in
anticipation of the crime.
Among the states witnesses will be
Martin Skura, better known as Martin
Brown, hack driver, who meets the
trains at the Bayside station. Skura's
hack was taken at the station Saturday
afternoon by Captain Hains and his
brother, who alighted from the
o'clock train.
I'VE want you to take us to the Bay
side yacht club said Thornton Hams
The two men sat together in the rear
seat. After leaving the brothers at the
clubhouse Skura drove back to town.
Late that evening he discovered a cart
ridge box containing 81 cartridges in
the rear of his wagon. The cartridges
are 45 caliber and of the kind used by
Captain Hams in killing Annis.
WOMEN ARE FRIENDLY
Another remarkable feature of the
case is the friendship which exists be-
tween Mrs. Annis and Mrs. Claudio
Hams, Captain Hams wife Mrs.
Hams called upon Mrs. Annis yesterday
afternoon, it was learned today, and
remained with her until nearly mid
hight.
Mrs. Annis, who witnessed the shoot
ing of her husband, has been pros
trated since the tragedy. 1t is said
she has several letters written by Cap
tain Hams to her husband threatening
his life.
One of these letters, it is said, was
received by Annis the day before he
was shot. The letter warned him, it is
reported. that Captain Hams would
shoot him on sight. Mrs. Annis said
that she did rot believe Captain Hams
intended to shoot her husband, but that
he wanted to serve him with papers in
divorce proceeding. Mrs. Annis fre-
Quently entertained Mrs. Hams and
several times Mrs. Hams was taken on
automobile rides with Mrs. Annis and
her husband.
General Hams is in New York at
the Hotel Astor, where he can be near
his sons. He was asked today if lie
had seen his daughter in law and re-
piled that he had not He told of an
arrangement which had been reported
as existing, whereby Mrs. Hams could
visit her children every two weeks and
stated emphatically that he would not
permit her to take charge of the little
ones unless his son, Captain Hains,
agreed to let her have them.
General Hams declined to discuss the
shooting of Annis by his son, saying his
lawyers had advised him not to talk
about the case.
WIFE PLEADS FOR CHILDREN
Il wanted to see my children today"
said Mrs. Peter c. Hains Jr this even
ing at Highlands, N. j. 81 made the
trip from New York to see them.
have a perfect right to see my chill
dren," she continued. "They should be
with me. I am their mother, and 1
have the right to care for them. When
Captain Hams and his brother and his
father brought this terrible and untrue
charge against me 1 did not understand
what I was doing.
Il was afraid of the captain-deathly
afraid of him. He had beaten me in
his mad rage. His eyes were like those
Of wild man. His voice would choke
and he could, hardly speak. He would
not let me explain why he was making
terrible mistake. He would only
wave his arms in the air, pull his hair
and swear. He acted like a crazy man.
1T is hard to tell the story in a con-
nected way. I don't see why I should
tell it. but such terrible reports have
been circulated that I am justified In
branding them as false
Just think of having a terrible lie
thrown in your face, then of having
your husband beat you until your
arms, back, sides and body ached with
the awful blows.
Then this awful brother and stern
father calling you names-and such
names. / suppose I7did sign the paper
but I think woman would have signed
anything under the circumstances. Il
know l was so III that / could hardly
hold my head up when they brought
the paper to me.
Captain Hams should be punished
/ hope for my babies sake that he does
not die. but his punishment should be
heavy"
For the first time Mrs. Hams broke
down and tears streamed down her
face. She lifted her veil and displayed
a face of rare beauty. Her slender
form shook with emotion.
HAMS ONCE SLAYER
The district attorney was interested
stoday when he learned that T. jenkins
Hams had killed a man at Fortress