Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-16
Seemingly Has No Apprehension
As to Outcome Of His Trial
For Killing VIM. r. Annis.
SURE JURY WILL ACQUIT HIM.
Defense Will Claim That Drawing OF
Revolver Was Act of Defense
And Not One Of. Ofrense.

Flushing, l.. l., Dec. 16.-Thornton j.
Hams calmly watched N court today
the construction Of tic states evidence
to prove the charge that he was a
principal with his brother, Capt Peter
G. Hams, Jr., in the killing of William
Il. Annis. The jury box was filled last
hight and adjournment taken until to-
day.
The direct testimony of the states
tie time but the cross-examination will
likely occupy three or four days. Az
has been outlined. Hams counsel Will
endeapor to show that the defendants
drawing OF his revolver was an act of
defense and not of olfense. Tie CEN
trail figure in today's case was the APP
pearance of the states chief witness.
Mrs. William Z. Annis. who saw her
husbands life taken. The recital of
her story on the witness stand is likely
to be the strongest card in the states
s case. III
Thornton Hams has seemingly no
apprehension Of the outcome OF the
trial. Ee said this morning that he
had no doubt that the jury would ac
Quit him, and declared that his story on
the witness stand would not only free
KIM. but would open the doors for his
brothers. release Gen. Peter C. Hains
sat with the defendant during the trial
and frequently during the case father
and son conferred on some point in evi-3
dence.
Justice Crane has mado it clear to
counsel that the taking Of testimony
must move with the same expedition as
the examination OF talesmen The jury
VIII not hellocked up during the trial,
or at least until all the evidence has
been submitted.
Reports that the prosecution has
tampered with one Of the witnesses for
the defense have met with prompt de-
inial by the states attorney.
Counsel for Hams said today that it
might be necessary to discharge the
automatic revolver with blank cast
ridges in the courtroom to demonstrate
the rapldity with which the shots ar,
fired that it would have been impos-
sible for the eye witness to prevent
Capt Hams from firing more than one.
shot, The witnesses alleged that had
not Thornton Hains nterfered they
would propably have saved Annisf life.
Counsel states that the automatic re-
volver fires six shots In less than two
seconds. Justice Crane, when court
opened, excluded all witnesses Of the
tragedy from the courtroom. On a mo-
ton OF Dist. Atty. Darrin, Justice
Crane said he would not permit Mrs.
Hams, mother of the defendant to sit
beside her son during the trial. The
order does not exclude Mrs. Hains from
the courtroom.
Special prosecutor White outlined the
case for the state, and stated what:
evidence would be submitted He le-5
clared that seven months before the,
murder the publisher of the magazine
Recreation had received letters from
Thornton Halns expressing deep seated
animosty toward employees OF the mag
azine and toward Annis, who was in
charge Of its advertising department.
Mr.. White said also that Hans again
wrote to the publisher of Recreation
two months before the murder, express
ing aninus against Annis. After de-
scrib!ng the location of the Bayside
Yacht club and recounting the prepare
tons of Annis for an afternoons pleas
ure on the water, MI. White detailed
the arrival of Thornton J. Hams ana
his brother.