Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-24
Which Led to the Shoot
ing Of Annis by Aains
viii Follow Introduction Of
Letter Written by Thornton.
Sensational Statement BY Capt.
Peter About the Murder.

Flushing, N. Y, Dec. 23.-Nearlng tho
close of it's case against Thornton j.
Pains as a principal in the killing Of
William f. Annis, who was shot down
by Captain Peter Hams last summer.
tEe prosecution today produced let
ter written by the defendant which
opens the way for Thornton Hams
lawyers to bring out the incidents In
Capt. Hams marital relations. which
preceded and brought about the death
of the publisher. The letter was writ
tnn last June by the defendant to Ju-
liam Ripley, president Of publication
Of which William E. Annis was mama
ger. and in it the writer characterized
Annis as rascal and 'scoundrel,"
and declared that he had him on
criminal charge for betraying his
brothers wife.
District Attorney Darrin offered this
letter in evidence as preliminary to
the testimony of Mr.. Ripley concern
ing o second letter from the defendant,
which the witness destroyed. Justice
Crane would not permit Mr.. Ripley to
testify concerning his recollection of
the contents Of this second letter.
"Ihe Introduction of the first let
ter" said Mr.. Mcintyre tonight.
"raves the way for us to show what
events in Capt. Hams life with re-
spect to Mrs Claudia Hams brought
about the estrangement with his wife
and the shooting of Annis."
Policeman Eugene FELTON, furnished
a bit of sensational testimony this af-
tornoon when he said that during tho
coroners inquest Thornton Hams
turned to him, and. after bitterly
character.ing Annis, declared
81 would go down to hell to get him
and kill him over again"
District Attorney Darrin told Jus
tice Crane just before the adjournment
OF court today that he hoped to finish
his case either tomorrow or Saturday.
1--WE have not shown our hand yet.
said Mr.. Mcintyre, chief counsel for
Hairs, Wednesday. and twill not until
the states case has ended.
"When our side has been heard,
there will be different light on the
subject. Material points in our case
have been developed from the cross
examination of all the states witnesses
who testified that they We're on that
float A surprise is coming when the
defendant seeks to be heard
The long daily sessions of the court
have proved exhausting to counsel and
Justice Crane has practically given up
the plan of holding night sessions.
Herman Himmel. lawyer and men,
Der of the Rayside Yacht Club. took
the stand as the first witness. He did
not see the shooting but went to the
float Immediately afterward.
"T heard the defendant talking to
some of the club members on the float.
/ told the policeman in the defendants
presence that "he is as guilty as the
other Capt. Hains). He held or the
others while the shooting was going
on. The defendant said, 4 know l did
and that I would have done the same
thing had 1 been in his place
Mr.. Mcintyre gave the witness a
severe cross-examination and wanted
to know why he had declared the de-
fendant guilty when he was a lawyer.
had only hearsay information. Mr..
Kimrl,el said he had no reason to doubt
what he heard after hearing the de-
fendant say he was sorry for what oc-
Cured The witness heard one shot
while, he was in q bath house and wnen
he stepped out on the porch he heard
81 succession of shots during which ne
hoard woman scream.
John A. Clark colored. sailing mas
ter of The yacht Lavina a., which was
rnooret tn the Bayside Yacht Club
docks, testified:
81 was in n yawl when I heard the
shooting. A few seconds after the first
shot I heard several more shots. The
sails obstructed my view, and all l
saw was Mr.. Annis falling overheard
and someone pulling him out of the
water"
Under cross-examination Clark said
he was with John Tonning. the miss
ing boathnan, about four weeks ago, In
Manhattan. They had lunch together.
Tonning had written his address in q
memorandum book which Clark car
RED. On redirect examination. Clark
said he did not know where Tonning
was now.
Clark was excused, after he had said
that he had sat in Annis' boat while
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