The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-21
HAMS is NOT AIDED
BY WITNESS STORY

ground that it was not binding on the
Witness then declared that Captain
Hams told who he was and 1 said to the
a THE army ought to be very proud OF
you You are fno specimens Of army
Il then turled to Thornton Hams and
said TO him:
- Don't you try to explain anything
to me- You are just as guilty as your
brother. You prevented me from stop
ping this murder
He turned to me and asked me:
What could 1 do; he was my
brother
'.They then sat down together, and I
saw Thornton take his brothers wrist
as though he was feeling Of his pulse"
Held the Revolver.
Roberts said he kept the captains re-
volver until the police arrived.
While we were waiting" he said,
Thornton Hams said to me: You
seem to feel bitter toward me; yet
saved your Iife.'
II told him he had not, but he said il
he had not stopped me the captain
would have killed me, too. told him
it was a funny way to save a mans
life by tanning revolver in his face"
rs this the revolver Captain Hams
usedY' asked the district attorney pro-
duclng a big black automatic Colt pistol
and handing il to the witness
The witness then identified the re-
vOlver as the one with which Annis
was killed Thornton Hams, revolver
was then introduced It has his monO-
gram, IT J. II" or the stock and is an
old-fashloned pistol with trigger
guard.
This ended the direct examination.
The effect of Roberts direct testimony
was apparent on the jury.
Mclntyre'S first questions were de
voted TO showing that Roberts was
very active in the affairs Of the club.
and had been exceedingly friendly 10
Mr. and Mrs. Annis- he said he was
friendly. buI had never visited the An
mis- home.
Witness said. aside from club mat
ters, he had no personal dealings with
Mr.. and Mrs. Annis.
Roberts declared the meeting in the
judges room following the inquest.
which had been referred to as a eau
Gus OF club members to raise funds
10 send the Hairs brothers 10 the cleo
tric chair" was nothing of the kind
Did Not Hire Counsel.
1--WE had nothing to do with hiring
counsel" he said I'VE went there to
give the district attorney the names OF
material witnesses"
This cOntradicted Witness Funke's
statement that at that meeting Attae
ney DAYTON was engaged by the Bay
Side Yacht Club TO aid in prosecuting
the Hams brothers.
Attorney Mcintyre made much of the
fact that Roberts had been subpOenaed
as a taleSuan, and had sat In court
while the jury was being selected
Mcintyre intlmated that Roberts had
attempted to influence the taleSmen be
fore, their examination. which was en-
pEatiCally denied by the witness. The
attorney
on the fact that he considered the wit
ness hostile and prejudiced.
Returning 10 the shooting. Attorney
Mcintyre secured from the witness the
admission that John Tonning. the boat
man. had told him he. Tonning. had
lnocker the receiver from Captain
Hams hand Witness also admitted
hearing Thornton Hams shout for an
wanted 10 know why he had not so
testified in his direct examination Rob
erts said he had not thought il neces-
saIy.
did Not Tell Him.
You say Thornton Hams told you he
had saved your life" said Mcintyre.
Now. were not these the exact words
he used to you:
' I saved your life, and look at the
kind Of gratitude I get from you. I
held you rack because I knew that II
you had touched him. crazed as he was.
he would have shot you 70 death VIII
you swear that this was not what was
said to yOu2''
Il viii swear that no such language
was used TO me either then or at any
other time" replied the witness
The witness declared he did not see
any one point a revolver Al either
BirChfield or Andrews and positively
swOre he saw no gun pointed at Mrs
ADnis- He, however. qualified this by
insisting he was excited at the time
and his entire attention was taken up
by Thornton Hams and his revolver
Roberts did not see Thornton Hams
come down the runway and did not
know when he got on to the float This
ended the cross-exanlination aud only a
few questions were asked on Redirect
Court adjourned until I:SO with Rob
erts still on the stand.