Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-22

| Flushlng, n. Y. Dec 21-The triaI
Of Thornton Jenkins Hams reached a
state of dramatic intensity today when
Mrs. Helene f. Annis, wife of the late
! William T.. Annis in a deliberate re-
cital lasting nearly three hours, de-
Scribed the killing of her husband, as
he sal al the tiler Of his boat. by
capt Peter G. Hams, Jr Mrs. Annis
nearly tainted "A few minutes before
her examination was concluded She
swayed in her chair but quickly recov-
cred, after drinking a glass of water
and smelling some salts.
1t was Il hard day for the defence
and counsel for Hams was exhausted
from the arduous cross-examination
which was relentlessly directed at the
states witnesses in an effort to shake
their testimony. Thornton Hams lost
much of the easy nonchalancn that
has characterized his manner in pre-
vouS sessions. When led from the
court by two deputy sheriffs. the pris-
oner appeared detected and careworn
CARRIED in Il black cloth suit and
wearing Il big hat that cast Il shadow
over the upper part of her face, Mrs.
Annis made an Impressive figure on
the witness stand as she told in quiet
tones her story Of Aug Is at the Bay
side Yacht Club.
When Annis' boat came alongside
the float. Mrs. Annis testified, Thorn
ton HainS beckonrd to his brother ard
led the way down the runway. The
shooting followed within a few min
utes. Mr.. Mcintyre sought to dis
credit the Reckoning episode which
the state asserts proves that the author
induced the captain to do the shooting
and kept Mrs. Annis under cross-eX-
animation on this point for nearly half
an hour. Hams counsel developed that
Mrs. Annis did not tell District Attor-
nev Darrin that the defendant beckon-
cd to his brother until last week
Il ran down the runway and Thorn
ton Hains pointed his revolver at me.
turned to go back and he pressed the
weapon against my back, saying: You
get out of here or you will get the
same ran up the runway and, look
ing back, saw my husband fall into the
water" SO said Mrs Annis in relating
her story and this testimony the law
vers for Hams struggled vainly to
nulify.
incidents. While Mrs. Annis was tes-
tifying Justice Crane cautioned DIS
trict Attorney Darrin, whereupon Mr.
Darrn declared the court was UNJUST
to him in making it appear that ne was
not awake to his duty.
Another important witness TO-DAY
was Charles Fl. Roberts, Bayslae
Yacht Club member. who was an 'E'
witness of the shooting.
sensation was caused in court to-
dav when it became known that DIS
trict Attorney Darrin, angered at 'h1
comments made on his conduct OF the
case, prepared to withdraw from '"'
tria, and tender his resignation from
the office last Saturday. lie was o'S-
sua.led by his friends, and ms reSis'.a-
ton Vas torn up. Mr.. Darrih SUI
II wanted to Withdraw Stinihi'r'A
from the case because OF the com
ments made by the court, press a',d
r,blic on the way have hahd'eo 'h'9
case but I have been persuaded 10
continue the prosecution ana nov re-
SIGN from Office as intended. DlS'iic'
Attorney Darrin said he felt the COM
rcnts kaenly and resented the thihGS
that had been said.
When the trial opened. CharitS IL
Roberts. Il member OF Inc i'aS 9''',
Yacht Club, took the stand. ne Sii"
he went to the club with MIS-. Ahi'iS
in the stage on the afternoon Oh Nus
| II Mr.. Roberts said he saw the ue'c"-
6ant and his brother. Captain HaliiS'
,t the club together with the rlup
,,,o,,h.rs who were on the dock ard
eoat when Annis was killed. Mr. fop-
erts said: ,,.u,s,
| ..Mr Funke and the two Andrews
| were in their boats at the Hoal "i'e''
tho shooting took place. | ana not Sc
the Hains brothers before the "i"'
shot was fired. was standing near 'li'
eangway when | observed AniiiS anu
| I1ilI's boat coming toward thc ""cN
,rhe boats were coming alongs'de .l'
dock when I heard shot ana MrF.
| Arnis scream: Look out, VIII
started across the float toward Iap'"'i'
Iyains who was in a crouchins posi-
ton IF was then that Thornton i1a'''s
stonnod in between us and pointing q
revolver in my face said: Keep Oh
r-aen off. or I will kill you.
| Mr. Roberts said that Captain HaihS
,,, ,hout three feet from Annis
1T stonned when Hains pointed the
gun in my face and saw Ahhis st"ss., =; y.
and fall into the water. pu.ieo ''''
ont of the water. Annis was piaceu o'
the float The defendant was apoot s'>
or seven feet away ,., .r
How many shots We're nfeo'
don't know" a nav
Tell us about the firing ana nov
long the pistol was held In your lace:
Latter the first shot I started acros'
+ho dock and the pistol was then point
cd in my face and it was he'd 'her'
nntil the firing was over, I recall ina
l. nicl5ed up Capt. Hams revolver ah'
..at Mr. Downs had his hand on tii'