New-York tribune., 1908-12-17
MANIKINS ACT CRIME
DEPICT INNS MURDER
Hitness in Hams Case Kissing
Jurors Father Dead.

the criminal branch Of the Supreme Court in
/ Flushing when there reproduced in miniature
the yacht club pier float where. O August 15.
William E Annis shot death by Captain
Peter c. Hams, jr., while Thornton J. Hams held
the club members back with revolver From
pasteboard box little painted manikins were pro
duced. while a toy sailboat added to the realistic
effect of the exhibit
Directed by Edward Andrews jr.. the second wit
I ness who the stand most Of the day, the
manikns were made to show to the interested
jury and the spectators the relative positions of
the actors in the Bay Side tragedy. Joseph Shay. OF
counsel for the defence, manipulated the manikns
, and the toy boats, directed by the witness
Andrews.
It was demonstrated that Annis approached
the float in his catboat. Andrews stood in the bow
OF his sons small yacht and Thornton ]. Hams
Brchfeld and Storms stood above upon the pier
The witness knew nothing of the presence OF
Captain Hams toward whom his back vas turned
until heard a shot. when he sprang to the float
and ran toward Captain Hams. The latter was IN
a crouching attitude his left hand holding the
boom Of Annis's boat while he fired at him from
beneath the boom. He was confronted by Thorn
ton Hains. who aimed a revolver at him and pre-
vented him from passing.
No one in the room perhaps, outside the
ranks of the defence knew why John F. Mcintyre,
chief counsel for the defence interrogated Andrews
closely regarding John Tonning. the Swedish en-
pIoye Of the club. After adjournment Mr- Mcintyre
told Tribune reporter that Tonning. upon whose
testimony he relied greatly in his defence, had dis
appeared.
7 will find out tie cause of that mans disap-
pearance If I have to place the District Attorney
and every one connected with the prosecution on
the witness stand, said Mr.. Mcintyre heatedly
This man Tonnng the float when Annis
was shot. He assaulted Captain Hams, and Thorn
ton then protected his brother Tonning as An
drews testified, is six feet tall and weighs 200
pounds while Captain Hams is slight Of build and
light in weight"
Elmer S. White made the opening address for the
people, saying, in part:
Thornton Hains writer Of stories Of the
9es f5r ggnbcation. Among the magazines in
which his tales appeared was that known as Re-
and in charge of its advertising department. was
the deceased. William E Annis.
Hams. brother OF the defendant a captain in the
regular army Of the United States. In January,
seven months before homicide, letters express
ing deep seated aninositv toward employees Of the
Recreation magazine. and particularly toward
Annis were received by the publisher Of the maga-
zine from this defendant, Thornton j Hams
About the 14th day Of June, two months before
ton !. Rams against AtnlS vas isal eNlIesseQ
Recreation" gazne from this defendant. Thorn
ton J. Hams
After describing the arrival of Thornton Hams
and the captain at the clubhouse, Mr. White told
about Annis going in the boat for the Satur-
day afternoon races He described the crime thus;
When the boat vas about fifty feet southeast Of
fendant and Captain Hams, ran down the bridge
from the float. The defendant beckoned TO Captain
Hans. and they hurried down the bridge after
Brchfed. 10 and across the float, the captain TAX
ing up position on the extreme southerly corner
Of the foat facing Annls 5 oncomlng boat and the
defendant close to and little north Of him, fac
ing the people % on the fo5 foat, a.s-au,,. 49,.
IGg I a. ana t @ % T7reIi @ e fg a5t iret e
her 10 end % he of anrsIn Fains Win his Tiebt
hand, drew from holster concealed in his left
Cin deadly weapons the acme Of human invention
loaded with magazine fun Of cartridges knelt
boom! nea: me mast I2E'efea as tace a trlhe pc
Nal f,re the isto toward Anns stt3n in his
said 'Annis," and fred: The bathing suit Of
defendant drew revolver of 2s-calibre. loaded
b, i5 nd s+iii ' fac tbe neoIe an h o AN S
extended the revolver with his right hand toward
As the voice of deaths messenger rang ont of
started toward to stop the deadly work Menac
ing with his revolver each one who started to in
persisted in efforts defendant while his
by its terrific velocity-through the defenceIess
body Of the unarmed Annis. addressed himself to
To Birch6eld he said: Keep back; Keep back,
He He knows %at he is s,o Pe And as & &Bchied
fere or you VIII get tho same thing Terriisd
he said keep of KeeT on or iii kill you and
he said stand back, am running this affair"
and Andrews jumped back.
ing: The first man to make a is a dead
Mr.. Downs. a club member rushed from near
the clubhouse 10 the float and demanded to know
who did the shooting. and If they had him. This
defendant said Yes; he is here Stand back,
Get the police, This is affair for them
Downs again deman nded know who did tho
shooting. Captain Hans said he did II and there
would he more shooting. Downs then INQUIRED
Of those standing by II Captain Hans had been
searched. and started 10 search him for further
terposed ana ordered him to stand hack-tbat tn.
, affair for the police. Downs turned on him
I and demanded to know who he was md what he
doing with the revolver He himself then
claimed to be Captain Hams. Downs reached for
his coat to discover any badge. but he said. NO
. of the army Then Captain Hams interposed
said he was Captain Hams and gave his card to
Downs.
The first witness. George Y. Skinner surveyor
grounds for the District Attorney Two other wit
nesses Herbert Funke and Frederick O. Ieavitt
both members Of the club. were examined before
Andrews. who had heen temporarily excused was
recalled
After telling OF the firing OF the first shot Mr.
Andrews said
Il jumped OF my sons boat and started toward
Captain Hams Thornton Hams pointed his pistol
al me and sald
stand back, I'm running his affair"
Il ST. pred back and the shooting contjnua
anuis fell into the
"Afterward Thornton seated on a boat and
Captain Hains walked up and down. They were
talking with some one, and Thornton was smoking
a pipe ten fifteen minutes after the shooting
Nj Stevens a club member, said t. Thornton
Hans We don't DO things that way in my coun-