Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-20
HAMS BROTHERS
HELD TO BLAME
cOR0NER'S JURY OUT TWENTY
MINUTES
One of Accused Men Is Asked by
Crowd if He Believed Himself
Justified = Lawyer Pre-
vents Answer
By Associated Press

By Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Aug. 19.-After being
out twenty-five minutes, a coroner's S
Jury tonight brought in a verdict that
William E. Annis, who was killed last
Saturday at Bayside, L. l., came to ms
death as a result of pistol shot wounds
inflicted by Capt. Peter C. Hams, Jr,
u. S, A., aided and abetted by Thorn
ton Jenkins Hams, his brother.
1t was believed the jury would render
its verdict without leaving the room,
but the jurors remained out for more
than twenty minutes. When the jury
men filed into the room and the fore
man announced the verdict there was
a demonstration.
A crowd gathered around Thornton
Jenkins Hams and began to question
him as to the tragedy in which ne
played such an important part. He was
asked If he felt justified in holding
crowd at bay with a revolver while his
brother shot down Annis. Before Hams
could reply John F. Mcintyre, cher
counsel for the brothers, rushed to his
side and shouted:
mo, no; don't answer that ques-
ton"
Only two witnesses were called. They
were Charles H. Roberts of Flushing,
who testified that he was standing on
the club house float when he heard the
report of a pistol shot and saw capt.
Hains in a kneeling position clinging
to the dropping body of Annis as ne
emptied the contents of his revolver
into him, and Coroner's Physician Frye,
who testified Annis came to his deatn
from the bullet wounds.
Mr. Roberts said he would have had
time to interfere had not Thornton
Hams prevented him.
Mr. Mcintyre asked him If he had
-. H. he
Thornton Hams at the moment, but
before the question could be answered
District Attorney Daring objected and
was sustained.
Prior to his giving, his testimony
Mr.. Roberts was asked to identity the
prisoner. When he pointed out Cap
tain Hams as the slayer the army OF
ficer put his hands over his face ana
seemed to be greatly excited. Tnis
caused commotion in the court, for he
has heretofore remained wholly unper-
turbed apparently.
Before going out one of the jurymen
demanded that additional witnesses be
called, but the coroner refused TO
comply.
Before the inquest John F. Mcintyre.
Hams counsel, made the following
statement to the Associated Press:
I'm answer to the statement Of Mrs.
Hains that she was made to sign a
confession under the influence of
drugs, I wish to say that my clients
and their distinguished father have
told me that there were four witnesses
present when the confession was made,
one of them being a prominent New
York lawyer. These witnesses will
testify at the trial. I am also told that
Mrs Hams talked to several persons
regarding the incidents related in the
confession some time before she made
the statement and these persons will
be witnesses.
Questioned His Wife
when Captain Hams was called
back from the Philippines he question:
ed his wife regarding rumors he had
heard about her, and became convinced
his suspicious were wrong. Later he
said facts developed which made him
demand the confession from his wife
and she made it.
Capt. Hams denies that ne sent let
ters to Annis challenging him to a
duel. Stories to that effect are absurd.
What unbalanced Capt. Hams mind
was the counter charges made by Mrs.
Hams in suit she filed in answer to
his suit for divorce. Capt. Hams be-
lieved the statements made by Mrs.
Hams in the counter suit were dictated
by Afinis."
Maj. John P. Hains made a statement
to the Associated Press before the in
quest. He was asked if he thought his
brother was justified in shooting Annis
without giving him a chance to pro-
tect himself.
'I can best answer that question by
recalling an incident that happened at
Fort Riley" he said. II was about to
put on my boots one morning when l
found a snake in it. 1 quickly drew
my revolver and shot the snake. 1t is
the same with my brother. I do not
believe he should have given Annis a
chance"
knowing what you do about the
case. would you do the same thing?"
he was asked.
'I most certainly would" he an
swered emphatically.
as it true, as the district attorney
says, that your brother Thornton Jen-
kins Hams, instigated the shooting?"
he was asked.
mot at all. For long time Thorn
ton and myself have tried to dissuade
Peter from killing Annis for the sake
of our gray-haired father and mother.
Out of consideration of them, our
brother restrained himself, but finally
the strain became too great and he
acted. Peter would have killed Annis
sooner had 1t not been for this"