The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-12-23
DOUBTS WORD
OF MRS. ANNIS
VIII Try to Impeach
Testimony.
COUNSEL FOR HAMS TALKS
Witnesses Present Evidence That
Is Damaging.
Baysiae ciab Members swear That
Thornton Hains Told Them Of
Having Planned to Commit
Murder.

the stories of the killing OF William
u. Annis. which have been told In the
trial of Thornton ]. Hams. was deyei-
oped today in the trial.
It was stated that the state would
take a week to complete It's case
william Knapp Beachside Yacht Club
member. was given a rigorous cross
examination after testifyinG that while
sailing toward the dock after the inn
profnptu boat race, he heard shooting
and saw Mrs. Annis run down the run
way.
II saw her move to the float" he
said, .she was stopped and she went
hack up the runway. some one took
her by the arm"
He could not see who stopped her, but
she was hidden by Annls' boat
! Mrs. Helen Il. 'Annis testified yes
terday that Thornton Hams turned her
back with q revolver.
John c. Stephens. another fellow club
member OF Annis. caused q sensation
when he testified that he heard the de-
PENDANT say, after the shooting:
Il came to protect my brother and
would have shot anybody who interfer-
ed"
Lawyer Mcintyre endeavored to shat
ter the testimony of Mr.. Stephens but
his evidence remained unchanged when
he left the stand.
Both the witnesses, Knapp and
Stephens, asserted on the stand that
there was a noticeable interval between
the first and subsequent shots fired by
Captain Hams at William r. Annis.
n. l.. Downs TestiGea.
Morrill, l. Downs. Of Flushing a Bay
side Yacht Club member. was the iirst
witness today. He was on the club
house piazza when the shooting took
place. Immediately after the shooting
he went TO the float.
Downs testified 'sths defendant had q
revolver in his hand and itfwAs cooked.
Captain Hams stepped forward, and I
ptIt my hands on his shoulders ard the
defencant said. nios this a matter for
She notice I then said to the defend
ant, Who are your and he said: I am
CAPTAIN Hams, son OF General Hams. %
the regular army
.'Then the real Captain Hains broke
in and said: 7 am Captain Hains and he
ts my brother then said that this
was a gentlemen's club and we could
not allow strangers to be armed. The
defendant asked his brother II he
should give the pistol up
Mr.. Downs said that Thornton Hams
then broke his revolver and handed him
the weapon. after which the defendant
took of his holster and belt which he
wore around his waist and turned that
over
On Characterization Mr.. Downs
made IT clear that the defendant had
first said that he was CAPTAIN Hams
and that Captain Hams broke in with
the renafk that he was Captin Hams
and handed che witness his card
The witness said that he did not hear
captain Hams say: "AnnIs betrayed my
wife and took her TO New York" nor
ala he hear Thornton Hams say: What
could I do? He is my brother"
Mr., Downs was excused and John @.
stephens. Of Flushing, Bayside Yacht
cIuh member and an eyewitness was
called to testify He was seated in his
boat when the shooting commenced. He
described the shooting saying there
was one shot an interval OF eight or
ten seconds, then several more shots
Mr.. stephens said Annis rose at the
frst shot and after the other shots fell
into the water.
Mr.. stephens said that on landing on
The ffoat he saw man who he pointed
out as thornton Hains. swinging pis-
fol and saying: 1.-THE first man TO move
a. n dead man" or words to that effect
The witness said that later on when
the defendant handed over his revolv-
er Captain Hams said: I'VE have fin
ished our business. There will he no
more shooting"
Argued with stephens.
Mr. stenhens gave the defense
aau,a ring blow in his testimony con-
corning the eonversation on the hoat
with the defendant.
II said 10 the defendant that ! did,
nat svmpathize with him. ana he re-
nfiea. IF YOU had a brother you would
Ssve nro4eeted him Irepiied that "
7 lad brother like that 7 would lock
rim up. and anyway In nv country
thev settle things like this with their
,srhe defendant said: 7 guess you
don't come from this country. Ny bro
tter is an army oflcer and in the
army we settle things this way
~ answered that whatever country
vou come from. you should not have
shot him down like dog. and the de-
fendant said: When you know all. you
win think differently. I was prepared
~ nrotecf my brother and l was pre-
nared to shoot anyone who interfered.'
.aDid YOU see Thornton Hams put his
Gun on the back of any female on the
hoat?'
@s.No."
Mr.. stephens was excused and recess
was taken,
Louis Harway. who sailed with VIII
lam e. Annis the afternoon he was
shot said that Annis and himself had
sailed around an hour before coming In
10 the fioat Harway said:
.Annis was in the stern near the till
Ter. As we approached the float. saw
Mr.. Roberts and Mr.. Birchheld Our
boat was stopped by Mr.. Birchheld. who
Iook mold OF the forestry / sat over
on the centerboard and let go the jib
sheet. J looked UP and found a pistol
pointed in nay face. I thought II was a
practical Joke. The pistol dropped down
ana a shot was fred under my left arm.
rhere was pause and some more
shots
"Did you hear anything said"
yes. heard the word Annis before
the shooting. little before the shot
was fred"
Gould you see the mans face who
fred the shot7''
Yes He was crouching down. hts
eft hand against the boom and in his
Fight hand he held pistol. could see
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