The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-20
WIFE HAD MADE
A CONFESSION
Facts Leading Up to Shooting
of AnniS by Hams Begin
ming to Develop.
C0RONER'S JURY VERDICT
BROTHER OF ACCUSED MAN
MAKES A STATEMENT.

New York. Aug. 19.-After being out
twenty-five minutes, a coroners jury
tonight brought in a verdict that VIII
liam E. Annis. who was killed last
Saturday at Bayside, L. l., came to his
death as the result OF pistol shot
wounds inflicted by Captain Peter C.
Hams. jr.. U. S. A. aided and abetted
by Thornton 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.
Demonstration in Court Room.
When the jurymen filed into the room
and the foreman announced the verdict
there was a demonstration.
A crowd gathered around Thornton
Jenkins Hams and began to question
as TO the tragedy in which he played
such an important part. He was asked
II he felt justified in holding a. crowd at
bay with a revolver while his brother
shot down Annis. Before Hams could
reply John F. Mcintyre. chief counsel
for the brother. rushed to his side and
shouted
-'Os nv NOh dAoNCl
Only Two Witnesses.
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 aptain Hams in a kneeIing posi-
ton clinging to the dropping body of
Annis. as he emptied the contents of
his revolver into ii. and Coroner's Ply
stefan Frey. who testified that Annis
came to his death from the bullet,
wounds.
Mr.. Roberts said that he would have
had time to interfere had not Thornton
Hams prevented him.
Objection Sustained.
Mr.. Mcintyre asked him if he had
noted the expression in the face OF
Thornton Hams at the moment but
before the question could be answered
District Attorney Darrin objected and
was sustained
Prior to giving his testimony NIr.
Roberts was asked TO identify the pris-
oners. When he pointed out Captain
Hams as the slayer the army officer
put his hands over his face and seemed
to be greatly excited This caused
commOtion i'm the court. for he has
heretofore remained wholly upper
turbed apparently.
Before going out one of the jurymen
demanded that additional witnesses be
called, but the coroner refused TO COM
ply.
Statement of Counsel.
Before the inquest John F. Mcintyre.
| chief counsel for the Hams brothers.
made the following statement to the
Associated Press representative:
In answer to the statement made by
Mrs. Hams that she was made TO sign
a confession while under the influence
of drugs. l 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 prominent New
York lawyer. These witnesses Will tes
tify at the trial. I am also told thar
Mrs Hams talked to several persons
regarding the incidents related in the
confession some time before she made
it. and these persons will be witnesses.
First Thought Her True.
| when Captain Hams was called back
from the Philippines he questioned his
| wife regarding rumors he had heard
| about her and ne became convinced
| that his suspicious were wrong. Later,
he said, facts developed which made
him demand the confession from his
VIE. anu SHE ildut IL.
Captain Hams denies that he sent
| letters to Annis challenging him to A
duel. Stories to this effect are absurd.
| What unbalanced Captain Hams
mind was the counter charges made by
Mrs Hams in a suit she fled in answer
| to his suit for divorce. Captain Hams
believed the statements made by Mrs.
Hams in the counter suit were dictat-
ed by Annis."
| Major John Powell Hams also made
statement TO the Associated Press be-
fore the inquest. He was asked if he
| thought his brother was justified in
shooting Annis without giving him
chance to protect himself.
! II can best answer that question by
recalling an incident that happened
to me at Fort Riley" he said. II was
J about to put on my boots one morning
when found a snake in II. l quickly
drew my revolver and shot the snake.
| II is the same with my brother: / do
not believe he should have given Annis
| a chance"
knowing what you do of the case.
would you do the same thing?" he was
| asked.
| II most certainly would he an
swered e.r phatically.
! rs il true. as the district attorney
saws. that your brother. Thornton
Jenkins Hams instigated the shoot
ing?" he was asked.
Not at all. For long time Thorn
ton and myself have tried TO dissuade