Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-20

brother, Thornton. began to receive anon
ymous letters regarding Annis and Mrs.
Hams.
Il believe that both brothers were in a
state of mental disturbance when the
shooting occurred"
After being out twenty-five minutes a
coroner's jury last night brought in a
verdict that William E. Annis. who was
killed last Saturday at Bayside. l.. l.,
came to his death as the result of pistol
Hams. jr.. U.S.A., aided and abetted by
Thornton Jenkins Hams, his brother.
When the jurymen filed into the room
and the foreman announced the verdict
there was a demonstration. Coroner Am
bier had to rap with his gavel. Court
officers cautioned the spectators when an
attempt was made to applaud the verdict.
Maj. John Powell Hams. who has come
here from Chicago to stand by his
brothers. and who was sitting beside Cap
tain Hams. gripped his brother by the
arm and whispered words of encourage
ment. assuring him the inquest Would
have little bearing on his case.
Lawyer licences Hams.
In the excitement a crowd gathered
to question him as to the tragedy in which
asked if he felt justified in holding a
brother shot down Annis.
Before Hams could reply John F. Nc
Intyre, chief counsel for the brothers,
rushed to his side and shouted:
No, no. Don't answer that question. .
In his effort to prevent Hams from
answering the lawyer clapped his hands
over his clients mouth and was probably
just in time to prevent the prisoner from
committing himself.
, Only two witnesses were called.
Charles H. Robert of Flushing, who
testified that he was standing on the
clubhouse float when he heard the report
of a pistol shot and saw Capt Hams in
kneeling position clinging to the droop-
ing body Of Annis as he emptfed the con-
tents of his revolver into it,
Coroner's Physician Walter G. Frey
testified that Annis came to his death
from the bullet wounds. DIR. Frey said
there were nine initial wounds and twelve
secondary wounds. which would indicate
that the captain fred nine shots.
In cross-examining Robert, Lawyer Nc
Intyre asked him if Capt. Hams had fin
ished shooting when he tried to go to his
aid and was stopped by Thornton Hams
who held a revolver in his face. The
witness said the shooting had not ceased
had not Thornton Hams prevented him.
Justification Ruled Out.
Mcintyre asked him if he had noted the
ex expression in Thornton Hams eyes at the
moment. Before the question could be
answered District Attorney Darrin OBJ
jected and was sustained.
Prior to giving his testimony Robert
was asked to identify the prisoners. When
he pointed out Capt. Hams as the slayer
the captain put his hands over his face
and seemed to be greatly excited. This
caused comment in the court, for he has
heretofore remained apparently wholly
unperturbed.
Before the inquest John F.. Mcintyre
chief Of counsel for the Hams brothers
made the following statement to rep
reSentative:
I'm answer to the statement made by
Mrs. Hams that she was made to s1gr
q confession while under the influence Of
drugs. l wish to say that my clients anc
their distinguished father have told me
that there were four witnesses presen'
when the confession was made, one o.
them being a prominent New YORK law
yer. These witnesses will testify at the
trial.
II am also told that Mrs. Hams talked
to several persons regarding the incident:
related i'm the confession some time be
fore she made it. And these persons VII
be witnesses.
when Capt Hams was called back
from the Philippines he questioned ms
about her He became convinced ina
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 letter:
to Annis challenging him to duel
Stories to this effect are absurd ,
what unbalanced Capt. Hams mine
was the counter charges made by Mrs
Hams in a suit she filed in answer to his
suit for divorce. Capt. Hams believed
the statements made by Mrs. Hams II
the counter suit were dictated by Annis
Mrs. Hams Confession.
The Hams forces in legal battle thai
has begun for the lives of the brother:
were more i'm evidence yesterday than the
Annis forces. The latter. after buryint
| William f.. Annis in the forenoon, de
! clined to make any statement of thei
| According to the attorneys for the de
] fenset he confession of Mrs. Peter c
Hams, ir.. to the misdoings with An
! mis- is typewriter in the safe Of McIn