Perth Amboy evening news., 1908-12-16

STARTED IN
HAMS CASE
Jury Box Filled Yesterdayand
Prisoner Expressed His
Satisfaction With Men.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN
OPENING SPEECH TODAY

Flushing, L. l., Dec. 16:-Elmer
5. White, assistant to District Attor-
ney Darrin, began the opening ad-
dress to the jury when the T. ].
Hams case came up this morning.
He began by describing the situa-
ton at the Bayside Yacht Club and
the surroundings, where the tragedy
occurred; of the visit of the defend
ant to the scene accompanied by his
brother; how he took a hack at the
depot and passed the regular stage,
after which Thornton Hains told the
driver to get back of the stage; and
that he said to his brother, We've
got him now"
He said animus existed between
Hams and Annis because the latter
was manager of publication which
would not accept Thornton's stories
He then described the shooting
and how Thornton Hams kept back
the crowd with a revolver while his
brother shot Annis. He demanded
that the defendant be convicted of
murder in the first degree.
Hains. whose life Is at stake on the
indictment charging him with aiding
In the murder of William e. Annis. ar
editor, said of the jury:
They are all good men and quail
fed to pass carefully upon the fact
presented. They are men of my choice
and / feel that the jury will acqui'
me when the evidence is put i'm
The opening address for the prose.
cution was made by District Attorney
Dsrrin, who said he would prove that
Peter Hains shot Annis to death while
Thornton Jenkins Hams held of the
eyewitnesses with a drawn revolver
and that Jenkins Hains had prior
knowledge of Peter Hains' purpose.
He called Jenkins Hains murderer.
He told the whole dramatic story of
the killing of Annis at the Bayside
Yacht club and then brought witnesses
to testify to the shooting.
A unique feature of the trial is
tank of water and model float and
catboat in miniature replica of the
scene of the shooting, which is placed
on miniature stage in front of the
witness stand. Iron mannikins, repre-
senting the principals in the affair,
theater to illustrate actions and posi-
tions taken in the tragedy by Hams
and the witnesses.
Mrs. Annis, widow of the victim,
came to the courthouse In answer to
subpoena to testify for the prCsecu-
ton. She was accompanied by Mr.
and Mrs. Charles A. Birchfeld, who
were close friends of Annis.
Birchfield is member of the Bay
side Yacht club and was On the club
house float when Annis came up in a
boat and Captain Hams opened fire on
him. Birchheld was one Of the men
who started forward to the assistance
Of Annis and was halted by the re-
volver leveled at the people on the
float by Thornton Hams.
Thornton Hams will take the wit
ness stand in his own behalf He is
confident that no jury will convict
him of the murder Of Annis after the
part he played in the tragedy is made
clear. AS matter of fact he regards
the present proceeding as a farce.
This is simply circus to me-" he
said. 'It seems joke that I should
be here on trial for murder when all
the world knows it was not l, but my
brother, who fired the shots that caus-
ed the death of Annis. How can any
twelve men say killed Annis? There
is no doubt in my mind as to the out.
come of the trial l shall certainly be
acnuitted