Evening journal., 1908-12-22
HAMS DEFENSE
IS WORRIED
Testimony Of Mrs. AnniS
Makes Out Murder Charge
Against the Defendant
DEFINES HIM AS THE
PRINCIPAL IN CRIME

FLUSHING, l.. L. Dec. 22--Attorneys
for Thornton j. lIains spent an anxious
night and were very bus, to-day planning
to discredit the testimony given by Mrs.
william L. Annis. which more than any
thing else threatens 10 send the sailor
author to the electric chair for participa-
tion in tho murder Of Annis amidst the
scenes OF summer gaiety at the Bayside
Yacht Club August 10 last.
Messrs. Mcintyre, Shay and their as
sistants realize that Mrs. Annis In swear
ing that Thornton Jenkins Hams ran first
down the gang plank, prior to the shoot
ing. has at last brought the defendant
squarely within the law. defining him as
a principal In the crime No other Wit
nesses have gone so far. From all other
testimony there exists a hiatus between
the arrival OF the Hams brothers on the
dock and their presence on the doat prior
TO the commencement OF the shooting. But
this beautiful woman. wearing the out
ward evidence of mourning for the hus-
band shot down as he lay in the stern OF
his sailing boat. clad only IN a bathing
suit. and with no possible chance OF de-
! fense. had no compunction IN fixing the
details that Immediately preceded the
crime.
Il was greatly disturbed and worried, -
she said why should / not have care
| fully observed everything that happened.
feared for my husband"
Then forced 20 discuss what she said
piror 10 the crime when she saw her hus-
bands boat win the scrub" race. her
declaration was;
II asked everyone II they had noticed
my sweetheart win. 1 was glad. pone-
trated every corner OF the courtroom And
this last declaration coming fervently
from the tremulous lips Of this magnin-
cent appearing woman, clad I'm the widows
weeds. will go very far TO offset IN the
minds Of the jurors the declarations Coun.
sci Mcintyre. I'm the questions invariably
ruled out by the court. asking the eve.
witnesses II they do not remember hear.
ing Captain Hains say as he pumped lead
into the PROSTATE body OF his enemy:
"AnniE. you ruined my wife and pros
tituted her and tried to turn my children
against me-"
1--WE are certain that on this point Mrs
Aunis is mistaken declared Attorne'
MCINTYRE to-day. "she Is tho only persoi
that has said 20 and everyone else dis
agrees with her Not that she does no
think she IS telling the truth. She does
But she was so excited that she does no
know exactly what did happen at tha
time"
Everyone concerned in the defense wal
nervous to-day. with the exception of IN,
defendant. According TO the deputy sheriff
In immediate charge of him, he passe,
a fine night. ate a hearty supper when h,
got back to the jail yesterday. slept sound
ly IN his bed and partook Of everything
served him for breakfast this morning
The fact that Mrs. Annis gave strong tes
timony against him IN no way seemed I,
depress him.
Prior to the arrival OF Justice Crane
Thornton Hams had long and energeti,
conversation with his father Genera
Hams and his brother Major Hams. Boil
were plainly downcast and the defendan
did his hest to cheer them up. The gen
oral. however shook his head vigorousl,
as his son made remarks and indicates
plainly that he fully realizes the import
ance OF Mrs. Annis' story and the difn
; Guilty of gainsaying it.
just as Justice Crane took his seat At
atorney shay for the defense made the FOL
lowing statement:
AFTER O conference OF counsel we hav
decided 10 call as one Of our material wit
nesses for the defense a member Of IN
Bayside Yacht Club who was on the ioa
at the time OF the killing. I cannot Civ
you his name but ne VIII swear positivei,
that at no time during that afternoon wa
Mrs. William r. Annis ON the float an,
that Captain Hams was on tho foat an,
Thornton stili on the runway when th
shooting began"
Horriil l.. Downs. a member Of the Bay
side Club. who was in the club hous
when the shooting began. was tho frs
witness. He swore that his attention wa
attracted by noise and commotion on an,
dock and he ran down to it. When he go
on the float he demanded who did th
/ shooting and Thornton Hams told hin
1--WE are the men,"