Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-20

announcement, assuring him that the
inquest would have little bearing on
his case. In the excitement crowd
gathered around Thornton Jenkins
Hams and began to question him as
to the tragedy in which he played such
an important part. He was asked II
he felt justified in holding crowd at
bay with a revolver while his brother
shot down Annis. Before Hams could
reply. John F. Mcintyre, chief counsel
for the brothers. rushed to his SIDE:
NO, no don't answer that question.
In his efforts to prevent Hams from
answ ering the lawyer clapped MS
hands over his clients mouth and was
probably just in time to prevent the
prisoner from committing himself
Only two witnesses were called. They
were Charles H. Robert of Flushlns'
who testified that he was standing on
the clubhouse float when he heard the
report of pistol shot and saw capt.
Hams in kneeling position clinging TO
the dropping body of Annis as he emp
tied the contents of his revolver into
it and Coroner's Physician Walter g.
Freey. who testified that Annis came
to his death as the result of the bullet
| wounds. DIR. F'reey said there We're
nine initial wounds and II secondary
| wounds. which would indicate that
! Capt Hams fired nine shots.
| On cross examination of Mr.. Rob-
| crt, Lawyer Mcintyre asked him if
Capt Hams had finished shooting
| when he tried to go to his aid and was
stopped by Thornton Hams. who also
| held a revolver in his hand. The wit
nesses said that the shooting had not
ceased and that he would have had
time to interfere had not Thornton
Hams prevented him.
| Mr.. Mcintyre asked if he had noted
the expression in Thornton's eyes but
before the question could be answered,
| District Attorney Darrin objected and
he was sustained.
| Preliminary to giving his testimony,
Mr. Robert was asked to identity the
prisoners. When he pointed out Capt.
Hams as the slayer the army officer
put his hands over his face and SEEM
ed to be greatly excited. This caused
| comment in the court as he has hereto
fore apparently remained wholly I'M
| moved
BEFORE going out one of the jurymen
|
called, but Coroner Amber refused to
comply and ordered the jury to decide
upon verdict His charge simply cit
ed the lines to which the jurors must
confinc themselves in considering the
case There were about 40 witnesses in
the room. BefoH, the inquest John F.
Mcintyre, chief counsel for the Hams
brothers, gave out the following state
| ment:
I'm answer to the statement made
| b." Mrs. Hams that she was made to
sign confession while under the in
ftunnce of drugs, 1 wish to say that
my clients and their distinguished
father have told me that there were
! four witnesses present when the con-
fession was made, one of them being a
prominent New York lawyer. These
witnesses will testify at the trial. l
am now told that Mrs. Hams talked
to several persons regarding the Incl
dents related in the confession some
time before she made it and these
persons will be witnesses.
when Capt. Hams was called back
from the Philippines, he questioned his
wife regarding rumors he had heard
about her and he became convinced
that his suspicious were wrong. Later
he said. facts developed which made
him demand the confession from his
wife and she made it,
Capt. Hams denies that he sent let
tors to Anns challenging him to q
duel. Stories to this effect are alb
Surd
What unbalanced Capt. Hams was
the cOunterchargeS made by Mrs. Hams
in a suit she had filed for divorce
Capt. Hams believed that statements
made by Mrs. Hams in the counter-suit
We're dictated by Annie,
Major Powell Hams was asked to-
night if he thought his brother was
justified in shooting Annis without Civ
irg him a chance to protect himself.
81 can best answer that question by
recalling an incident that happened tc
me at Fort Riley"
II was about to put on my boot onG
morning when l found snake in it.
I quickly drew my revolver ard shot
the snake. 1t is the same with my
brother; l do not believe he should
have given Annis chance
KNOWING what you do of the case
| would you do the same thing?" he
was asked.
Il almost certainly would" he an
swered empha tically.
4 as it true as the district attorney
says. that your brother, Thornton .Jen-
kins, instigated the shooting" he was
| asked.
Not at ALL" he replied. "For long
time Thornton and myself have tried
to dissuade our brother from killing
Annis for the sake of our gray haired
father and mother. Out Of considera-
ton for them our brother restrained
himself, but finally the strain became
too great and he acted Peter would
have killed Annis sooner had it not
been for this"