The Washington times., 1908-12-30
HAMS ATTORNEYS
AND COURT CLASH
Ruling Out of Testimony
BalkS DefenSe-QueS-
tionS Refused.
NURSE GIRL TELLS
OF ANNIS' VISITS
Cook Who Heard Confession Is
Restrained and Reproved
on the Stand.

FLUSHING. l. /, Dec. 30-With all
of his witnesses who knew anything
about the happenings on the Bayside
Yacht Club float August Is exhausted,
John F. Mcintyre. senior counsel for
Thornton Jenkins Hams, continued the
introduction of evidence bearing upon
Captain Hams family troubles and the
effect they had upon his mind This
testimony today came from the negro
servants who were employed at Fort
Hamilton and who had knowledge Of
the alleged visits OF William z. Annis
TO the Hains quarters.
Mcintyre got their testimony before
the jury by having them swear that.
when questioned by the captain after
his return from the Philippines. they
told him everything that had happened
at his house. Justice Crane interfered
time and again TO pin the witnesses
down TO facts. but each time they
showed the effects OF skillful coaching.
Cook Heard Confession.
When Minnie Rohne. the negro cook,
took the stand. Justice Crane simply
exploded. He declared that he did not
intend this witness should be led by
counsel; he was bound BY the rule Of
evidence to permit her to tell what she
had told Captain Hams, but that ne
would absolutely limit her testimony to
that. and If she was permitted to de-
part from that line of evidence he
would send her from the stand.
Mcintyre vainly protested
Witness corrected her testimony OF
last night to declare that she was mis-
taken when she said she had told the
captain OF Mrs. Hams alleged Iniscon-
duct on the day he returned from the
Philippines. She declared it was on the
following Sunday.
How do you know" demanded Nc
Intyre.
Because she made her confession"
Hold on, hold on" said Justice
Crane. This has gone far enough. I
believe that this witness is making this
statement for purpose and 1 will not
have it,
Il emphaticaIIy protest against bot,
this ruling and this accusation from the
court" declared Mcintyre. This state
ment absolutely prejudices my clients
case and / see no reason for II
The ruling stands declared Crane
EcIntyre then started to question the
witness about the alleged confession
Mrs Hams made to the captain. She
declared she listened to IL throue-f, a
crack in the bedroom door FTe demand
ed she describe the captains actions
while Mrs. Hains was telling her storv
and then came another explosion. Wit
ness started 10 rise and Justice Crane
snapped at her, "Sit down there. sit
down. Don't you dare rise Witness
will tell simply what she saw and heard.
There will be G,S-action here"
Nurse Girl Called.
- protest against this Injustice Of
the court" declared Mcintyre. sdvanc-
ing 10 the rail. lis face Iivid with rage.
I am refused the right to examine this
witness in a proper manner. and am re-
stricted and held down by the JUS
tice. I viii ask no more questions
Mr. Mcintyre sat and refused TO have
anything more to do with the witness.
Justice Crane then entered the follow
ing ruling:
The record in this case will show
that last night this witness. resortine
10 actions 10 emphazie the story she
then told. I am admitting what was
told to the captain because in the ewes
or the law II might have the same ef-
feet as the blow on the head There is
10 he no more action or asking OF
leading questions"
Darrin CrOsS-eXamined the witness
deN looping the fact that she had lis
tened to the alleged confession from her
own bedroom She declared she had
told her story to all of the members of
the Hams family, to each of the law
yers half n dozen times. and to several
newspaper men. She was then excused,
and Emma LaVelle. a former Hams
nursemaid, was called
She declared that she told him Of
Annis' visits while he was in the Philip
pines
Al sac recIted in detail the mee+fnes
between Mrs. Hams and Annis, the lat
ter=s widow came into the court room
and HOk seat She sat bolt upright
a scNnful smile on her lips, gazing at
the d9nwraCa fha stand
OnSe when the witness declared Mrs
JiaiIE and Annis quarreled she laughed
II told the captain his wife went out
WITH Annis and went to the mountains
wltE him. said the witness. ''I told
him that she stayed out all night many
times with him"
What did the captain do when YOU
He frothed at the mouth. wrunC his
han2s, grabbed me by the. shoulders
andy acted like a crazy man"
Now, about this quarrel between Mrs.
Haihs and Mr.. Annis. What did you
tell the captain?''
Annis and Mrs. Hains.
n told him that while Mrs. Hams
EMP Annis were eating dinner she asked
hi n TO go riding with her. He told
h9r he could not, as his wife had asked
fn TO take her to the theater- Then
bold him Mrs. Hams said, Amt more
u you than her?' He told her, Yes,
9sUdia, ! would go a thousand miles
1pr you, but I promised my wife I would
d. with her Mrs. Hains then lit a
knnis ran out of the house"
= Major John T Hams, brother OF 7. J.
Hams, was then called.
Major Hams testified that he met his
brother. the captain. June y last at the
Hotel AstOr.
Tell us what the captain said 20
yoU2"
Il extended my hand to him. He
grabbed it and shook il, but never said
a word I looked at him and he seemed
very strange to me. l saw that ne
was trembling all over, that his face
was drawn and his eyes staring. while