Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-16
Awaits Coming of Annis and
Shoots on Sight.
is ABETTED BY BROTHER
Victim Comes to Death From Yacht
ing Race.
HIS wIFE'S WARNING IN VAIN
Dying Man Says He Is Not the
MISREPRESENTATION Both
Under Arrest.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK. August 15.-Capt. Peter
Conovan Hams. 4Sth Company. Coast Ar
tillery. United States Army. accompanied
by his brother. Thornton Alexander
jenkins Hains. a magazine writer. went
to the Bay Side Yacht Club this afternoon.
waiting an hour until William f.
Annis, a member OF the club. came in
with his racing sloop. Then Thornton
Hams held the crowd back with a revol-
yer while his brother fired six shots from
a magazine pistol into the body OF An
mis-.
Then the two men gave up their revoi-
vers. Sitting down on the veranda Of the
yacht clubhouse, they waited for police
men to come.
Capt. Hams made an informal statement
to the police in which dhe says that his
wife, whom he is suing for divorce, has
been intimate with Annis.
The shooting was not the result OF any
momentary impulse but the elimination
Of a long pursuit
That Annis himself must have had
some knowledge that he was being hunted
is indicated by the conduct of Mrs. An
mis-. who was at the club when the trag-
edy occurred. She noted the coming OF
the Haines. Although they tried to throw
her Off the scent by asking questions
about real estate and talking with real
estate men about property in the neigh
borhood. Mrs. Annis was on the lookout
for her husband
When his half rater approached near
the landing float she ran down to the
shore and HISTORICALLY shouted to him not
to come in. Annis paid no attention to
her warning
Crowds Present for Races.
The usual Saturday afternoon races
among the members of the club were on
for this afternoon. A few Of the boats
were being tuned up just of shore The
clubhouse veranda was filled with mem-
| bers and wives and friends Automobiles.
bringing more members and guests, were
coming UP the road to the clubhouse A
| majority of the men and women present
were young people. There were few
children.
Annis, who was advertising manager
for Recreation Magazine. and lived i'm the
Malvern apartments at Al Claremont
avenue Manhattan. had come. early i'm
the morning. with his wife and his two
sons. William and Howard. aged about
nine and eight years.
Annis was to race his half-rater Pam
one OF the clubs lone design" boats i'm
morning putting her in shape. The other
members of the crew OF the Pam were
to be Louis Harway. resident at Bay
Side, and c. A. Burchfield
About half past 1 O'Clock Capt. Hains
and his brother drove up to the yacht
club from the railroad station In one OF
the public carriages. Capt. Hams was
In civilian dress. The two men stood
about for few minutes Apparently
seeing that, being strangers, their pres
ence was attracting attention. they walk
ed over to a group of members and ask
ed about property In the vicinity. re-
marking that they desired to secure q
place nearby.
Some one referred them to Burchfield
who was standing near, waiting for
Annis and Harway. who were out i'm
the Pam, to come in and take him
aboard.
Casually as they talked about desirable
building lots, Capt. Hains mentioned An
mis- name and asked IL he was at the
club. Burchfield said Annis was on the
water, but would be in shortly. And
Capt. Hams and his brother continued
the conversation about real estate.
About half past 1 O'Clock the Pam
neared the landing float. II already had
been pointed out to Capt. Hams as An
mis- sloop. The captain and hrs brother
sauntered down toward the pier.
Wifes Warning Unheeded.
Mrs. Annis ran ahead of them and
shouted to her husband. He did not
heed. The Pam drew up to the edge of
the float.
The half rater's mainsaU was between
her passengers and the score or more of
people on the float. Just she pulled up
to the edge. Capt Hains stepped forward
and his brother stepped back. Both drew
heavy guns from inside their coats.
Capt. Hams weapon was a magazine
pistol OF the latest design. His brother
carried an army Colt. Both were of large
caliber, about 40
Thornton Hams turned and covered the
crowd on the float. His brother lifted the
boom of the little sloop to raise the sail
out of the way.
Half a dozen men jumped forward
Thornton Hains put his revolver at the
breast Of the nearest. Burchfield, with the
words:
I'm running this business. If you in
terfere, 1 will shoot you
Capt. Hains, his left hand holding up he
boom and the sail Tapping about his face.
leaned forward and leveled his heavy pis-
tol. He first pointed ii at Annis' compan-
ion Harway. Seeing his mistake I'm time.
he quickly turned 1t toward the other man
and began firing.
Six shots Capt Hams fired In all. Each
one took effect. One struck Annis in the
groin. two in his abdomen. one in his right
leg, one in his left and one In his right
arm.
After the first shot, he grasped the mast,
gered to the float Then he toppled for
ward and fell into the water.
At the splash of the body falling into the
water Thornton Hams turned. Seeing
that Annis had fallen. he lowered his
revolver.
John Tonning. boatman employed by
the club, leaped at Capt. Hams. Gripping
his gun arm and holding it. he drew back
to strike him. Thornton Hams caught
Tonnings arm.
THAT all right" he said. Its all over
now"
Charles H. Roberts. who lives on Ash
street, waldheim, and another man pull
ed Annis body out of the water. Several
men carried ii to the clubhouse veranda
Pistols Are Surrendered.
Can't. Hams handed his pistol to one OF,
the members standing by. His brother
followed his example. first breaking the
breach of his Colt to show the cartridges
and calling attention to the fact that the
revolver had not been discharged.
Three or four of the club members
grabbed the two men. They raised their
hands, remarking that violence was un-