Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-22
POINT Of DRAMATIC
INTENSITY IS REACHED
Widow Of v. E. anniS Testii|eS For
The Prosecution Against
Th0rNtON J. Hams.
WAS A HARD DAY EoR The DEFENSE
ct Close Of Proceed rgs. Prisoner De-
ieeted and Careworr - Witness
Nearly Fa:nts on Stand-Oeciares
Thornton Urged Brother on-Viso-
rcus Cross Examination BY Defense.
(Bv Associated Prcss)

(By Associated Prcss)
FLUSHING. y. Y. Dec. 2l.--lh"
trial of Thornton J. Hams r"ach""
tn. climax o. dramatic intensity 20
day when Mrs. Hrlrr r. Ahnis. widow
OF William T.. AnniS. III 4 dcllhrrat"
rectal ln-1 N f.: yearly 'h:"" hours.
,ic:"r"I tIIr killing of her hu.'aN!
As H.. yat at tho tiil"r of his boat.
h Captain Peter {. Hams. IT.
-. Ann's nearly tainted few
ni.lutti btfyrr her examination was
concluded.
she yway"L il ilrr chair. but Qulck-
!" recovered alter drinking a glass oi
wac: and smelling. a vial Of salts.
Hard Day for Defense
Il va; 4 hard day for The defense
ard cuu:.&"l f., Hams was tXhaus'-
cd from III" arduous cross cxamlna-
ton which was directed toward III"
States witnesses in an effort to
shake their testimony.
Thornt.a Hams lost muc1 OF the
easy npn-chalance that has charac..
rerized his manner in previous ses-
sCns.
When led from the court fh's
evening by Two deputy she-iffs. III"
prisoner appeared detected and care
worn.
CARRIED in a black cloth SUI and
wearing a vide hat. thot cast n
shadow over the upper part OF her
face Mrs Annis made an lmpresciv"
figure on the witness stand as she
tcld in quiet tones her story Of Au-
gust ID a. the Bayside Yacht Club.
Thornton 6eckoned Brother.
Several points Of evidence added
dramatic interest to the trial. When
Annis' boat came alongside the fioaF.
the widow testified, Thornton Hams
beckoned to his brother and led tn"
way down the runway. The shoot
ing followed within few moments.
Lawyer Mcintyre sought to dis
credit the "beckoning episode which
the State asserts proves that the au-
thor induced the army captain to com
mi: the crime. and kept Mrs. AnniS
Oh the point under cross examination
Tor nearly half an hour Hams
counsel developed that Mrs. Annis
had rot told District Attorney oar
rim tina: the defendant had bechoEc
10 his brother until last week.
Il ran down the runway and Thorn
ton Hams pointed his revolver Al
me. turned 20 90 back and a'
pressed the weapon against my back
saving You get out of here or YOU
will go the same way I ran up
the runway and looking back saw
nv husband fail into the wafer.
said Mrs Annis in relating n"r story.
and his new evidence the lawyer
for Hams struggled vainly TO L.
credit.
Other Witnesses.
The other Witnesses Today w"r"
Charles Roberts. a Baysid" iacA'
Club member.
When the trial opC&od R0J"r's
took tho stand. He said H. mt TO
-hc Crib with Mrs hnnis il Inc stag"
on The afternoon Of Argus. i. Mr
Roberts said:
Il was sanding ncaT tn" ga"gw"E
when deserved Aunis' and ii1I 5
coming toward tine dock. The hoa'S
we7c coming alongsit" III" Jock when
| heard a shot and HTs. A"nis scream
Look ort. VIII
i started across -" frat toward
, Captain Hams. who vas in crouch
ing Losir:on. II was then taa'
Taorn' Haias stepped in between
u a-d. pointing revolver IN m
face said. Keep of, keep of. or
viii Xii. you
Mr.. Roberts said that Captain
Eains was about thr"" feet from An
mis-.
Pulled an-is Sro-, Wster.
Il stopped When thornton Hains
poir'cd the gun in my fac" and saw
Annis s:sgrcr an fail into n" wa:"r
I paiIcd him OUT o. the water. An
MS was placed on the float The
defendant was about six or seven f""i
away. After the frst shot Farted
across tho dock and tho pistol vas
thea pointed in my face and Il ras