The evening world., 1908-11-12
''Poor Thorny Has a Great Big Heart and
Peter Was Weak-Bereft Of His Mind"
Declares the Aged Mother.
By Pose TiI1ofson.

charged with killing William f.
Apnis are mentioned.
Would you have any difficulty
guessing who the little, sad-eyed
woman is?
Doubtless not. She is Mrs. Peter C.
Hams. wife OF the retired army officer
Gen. Hams. and mother of Capt. Peter
c. Hams ir. and T. Jenkins Hams. &C
eused OF the murder
1t would he impossible. were you to
meet her. TO keep your heart rom go
Ing out to her. TO keen yourself from
hoping that it isn't true and that the
laV will give her back her two boys
For all the world bows to mother love.
Believes in Her Boys.
II the gentle. slight figure in black is
bowed IL Ia not from shame; she be-
ieves In her boys, and It is longing for
them, praying through the silent
watches of the night that they he freed
and srevInS at their Imprisonment. that
has made her shoulders dToop and her
eyes ready tn overflow ut a word.
But she is brave as she is true, Her
husband and sons have given their lives
20 the service OF their country. She
has the unf'inching hardihood. the stole
fortitude Of true daughter of the reSi
ment. Despite the lines Of suffering. her
face beams with love and tenderness
Mrs. Hams has a face that bcspeaks
Intelligence as we'll as sympathy. Her
high, broad forehead. framed by sill
very hair. is as noticeable as her firm.
sad mouth and strong chin. Never
ha-
OF !ndomitab!e will and power except
under stress of emotion.
1t was while she was on her way
TO Washington with her four grand
chiidren-:hree baby sons of Capt. Pc
ter c. Hams tr. and the little daughter
OF T. jenkins Hains-that 1 met her. II
was sad little group that had come
up from Fort Hancock. AZ the landing.
a. Wall street. as she leaned heavily on
the arm OF Gen. Hams, She gave way to
her emotions momentariiy.
Defends Her Sons.
Seeing the food OF tears the newspaper
men stepped back. but she quickly re-
covered. braced herself for the ordeal.
s:d called them back.
Il Just want to say a word for my
boys" she said softly. II feel that
must let the world know that my boy
Thornton is not the man to do wrong,
and my poor boy Peter was weak. be-
rett OF his mind. When people under
stand It they will not blame my boys"
She abandoned herself TO her grief
again, and was hurried to the Pcnnsyl-
>vania station in Jersey City. where she
was composed enough to resume.
the pet name she gave him during his
babyhood. "Only his mother knows
what great big heart he has. They
are hard with him. do not understand
why he has been so maigncd II they
only knew him as l do they would know
he never put Peter up 20 such a crime.
He never did It.
' He has always been most afrec-
tionste father and husband. and ho, as
we'll as Peter. was always domestlcated
and devoted. L cannot understand why
he is made ont 10 he such f'end, when
in reality he Is the most noble and gem
erous OF men. Why. do you know wha,
he did rot more than two years ago?
Took friend who was destitute to live
with him, and paid all his expenses for
over five months, and that at n time
when he had but little money himself.
Generous and Kind Hearted.
Thornton has always been generous
and kind hearted, and 1t is only his
kind. good nature which has placed him
In this terrible position to-day.
Gen. Hams and l had begged him TO
look after Peter. Peter is our baby
you know. md We were all afraid he
Il l,t,,,
discovered the-well-the change that
had come into his home. 1t was our
wish that Thornton should he with
Peter always, and now by my solicitude
for one child have placed my other
boy where / cannot help him. am
broken hearted. Oh. l did not mean to
break down again" cried the grief
stricken mother, as the tears rushed
into her eyes, and she furtIvely wiped
them from the sight of her little
charges,
Peter Sd, a sturdy little blond haired
chap of seven. with the air and bearing
OF tiny soldier. Rugged a teddy bear
lat the face OF the little fellow was
serious. as II he had already realized
the shadow upon his life. For his
father he continually asks, according to
his nurse. but Peter Sd and his two little
brothers apparently were already ac-
cnstomed 20 the absence OF their
mother. for they have never inquired as
to her. Hamilton and Jack. two radi-
sntly happy tiny tots OF four and one
ana half respectively. laughed and
gursled with delight at their introduce
ton to tho reporters. while Mollie, the
three-year-old motherless daughter OF
Thornton Hams. seriously considered
each newcomer from the depths of her
Pullman chair.
II am brave as rule" continued
Mrs. Hams, smiling through her tears
for come from family taught 10
face dlsaS face front. My father,
Admiral John Thornton jenkins, was
on Farrasut's staf and was noted for
his bravery. so ! should not give way
70 my sorrow.
Mother Has Suffered.
But what l have suffered no one
knows, Il is terrible. the agony OF a
mother with two sons she IA powerless
to aid. The outcome? Oh. my dear.
syery one knows as much about that as
] do. can only hope and pray for
- best. II u all can do. But In the