The Washington times., 1908-11-01
Says She viii Testify
Against Husband If At
tackS Do Not Cease.
TORRENT OF ABUSE, 4"
SHE CALLS STORIES
Declares Articles Are PUT Out to
Stir Up Public Sentiment in
Favor of Hainses.

BOSTON. Oct 3l.-An ulumatum vas
issued tonight by Mrs Claudia Hams
90 the attorneys for he- husband and
brother-mIaV. directing them TO stop
the torrent Of abuse" recently poured
upon her through the newspapers OF
accept the alternative Of having her as
a witness against them ~ their coming
trial for the murder Of William L. An
mis-.
In an interview the accused wife said.
ct have always felt that. although 1
have been deeply wronged by my hus-
band. acting under the influence Of his
brother. I am stlu his wife, and ii would
~ unseemly for me to reply TO news
papers. since my replies while dispTOy-.
ing the charges against me- must neCeS-
sarily take away the only chance my
husband has for his life. But there is
"a limit beyond which patience is no
longer a virtue. and my power of Ell
durance may not be strong enough 10
ho!i back my indignation
Urged to Be Witness.
Many Of my relatives and friends are
urging ne TO become witness ia the
approaching murder trial, regardless OF
Ire injury the telling of the full truth
would cause my husband and his broth
e.. Whether 7 do So or not will depend
upou my ability 20 stand this torrent
of abuse,
Ever since the shooting of William
T. Aunis by Captain Hams. the news
papers have been fun Of irresponsible
statements issued on behalf Of Captain
Hams and his brother, attacking my
character. The reason for these state
ments has obviously been that they
were the only means by which the two
brothers could Justify themselves in the
eyes Of the public and manufacture pub
llc sympathy in the community. from
which the jury before whom they are
TO be tried is To be drawn.
ITO all these charges have attempt
cd under great prJvOcatiOn 10 main
tain dignihed silence and have.
think, succeeded i'm doing so except SO
far as my friends have persuaded tne
20 make brief replies to some particu-
larry malicious and scandalous stories.
Advised by Lawyers.
81 haveaIs0 been advised bymy lawyers
that my proper course as a HuEant IN
The divorce proceedings forbade rush
ing into print and trying the case IN
the newspapers and that while the pub
LEGATION of false accusations against me
undoubtedly did me great injury, vet
my course was to remain silent until
tile facts should be brought out in
court.
THE recent interviews and statement
on behalf of the defense including the
publication Of forged letters. garbled
and incomplete extracts from letters.
and unsupported stories of irrespOnsi-
bile servants, have demonstrated the
fact that my husband and his brother
feel compelled to resort TO every means
iu their power to blacken my character
In the attempt 10 save their own lives
Under the most favorable circum-
stances. I am bound 10 be the most
unfortunate sufferer from this tragedy
Only Reason for Printing.
The desperate strait TO which these
men Gnd themselves reduced and the
unscrupulousness Of their conduct ap-
pear not only from the falsity Of the
charges but also from the fact that the
alleged letters and unfortunate state
ment now being issued, my lawyers tell
me, would not be admissible in evil
dence in the murder trial even # true
and THAI therefore, the printing of them
in the newspapers is their only chance
10 get them before the people
Il believe. however, that the severity
and volume Of these attacks upon me.
instead of turning the tide Of public
sympathy in their favor. have already
disguised the public with the whole
case and that their unmanIy policy will
result i'm a still stronger feeling of
sympathy for me and If continued, will
lead to disbelief in any statements put
forth in the interest Of the accused
men"