East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-09-25
SOME CRIMES IN FASHION, SOME NOT

Dame Fashion Is filled with the
American spirit of expansion. No
content with presiding. over the des.
tlnies Of IDEAS in millinery and dress
OF manners and conventions In social
Intercourse, she has now extended
her sphere TO include the domain OF
crime.
There can be no doubt of II. 1t Is
time of fashions in crime. Former
ly the man or woman who defied the
law pleaded guilty or not guilty tC
misdeeds named In the statutes. Muir
der, adultery, theft, these ugly names
we're the terms that clung in the pub
lie mind.
But the adroit modern lawyer OF
today has learned a new and useful
trick. He knows that these are ugly
words, that they linger in public
thought and help to bring odium on
his client. Therefore the introduction
of a host of new terms meant to soft
en- the crime.
The eloquent Delphine Michael Del
mars in the Phaw trial, introduced one
of the most catchy of these depar-
lures in the nomenclature Of crime.
When the pampered young Phlladel-
phia millionaire walked up behind his
helpless victim that night on the ro4
of the Madison Square Garden and
pulled the trigged that sent the
dao JaoIipu huIIato into tho hodv NJ
Stamford White. ii was not, accord
ing TO Mr.. Delmas, a murderous in
stinct that moved him. Instead he
was victim OF brain storm.
The phrase was first actually used
or the stand by one of the experts
hired by the Thaw side but 1t is said
that 1t came from the brain Of Mr..
Delmas, who also in that trial origi-
mated the almost equally memorable
term of "dementia Americana" These
two terms proved the progress that Il
generation has wrought i'm softening
:hc asperities Of crime.
When Ned Stokes shot down Jim
Fiske in the Hoffman House, he had
the same motive that animated Thaw
Jealous love for a woman that both
had known Put there was no brain
storm" or "demcntia Americana" in
this case. The lawyers spoke of II as
murder" and on the other side as
self defense" They were still only
versed in the terms that appear in
Blackstone.
dual Insanity"
a few weeks ago the brothers, Pc
ter c. Hams and r. jenkins Hams.
went down to the Bayside club and
shot and killed william e. Annls,
who is accused of being the paramour
Of the wife of Peter c. Hams. the
beautiful Claudia Hams.
There was every evidence OF care
ful preparation reaching back for
months. The husband was in the
Philippines during the time that the
alleged intimacy between AnnIs and
Mrs. Hains was in progress. a letter
from T. jenkins Hams summoned
him home.
First, I'm the presence of witnesses
he forced his wife to make a confess |
sion before a lawyer, in which she |
admitter her guilt with Annis.
Then began the plan of revenge on
Annis. The brothers studied his |
movements till they found out II was
his practice TO go weekly out to the
BaysIde Yacht club to take part in .
sailing races there.
Then when Annis had drawn go |
near as to beyond all chance of es-
cape or rescue, the brothers threw off
all Disguise of their purpose
Walking to the cnd Of the slip and |
holding the boat fast. Captain Hams
riddlcd the body OF Annis with nine
bullets while his brother in hand,
stood guard and threatened to shoot
the first man who interfored. The
act achieved, the brothers handed over
their rcvolyers to the clubmen and
walked up to the porch, quietly seat
ed themselves in comfort to await the
police.
In every detail the crime was pre-
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