The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-08-20
SPECIAL GUARD TO KEEP
HAMS FROM SUICIDE
(ContInued from Page oneJ

Il
Jenkins Hams, was the verdict of the
coroner's jury In the Bayside. L. J.,
tragedy case, brought in 22 minutes
after the jury had retired.
There was a greater crowd than the
| little court room In the town hall at
Flushing, l.. |. could hold when the
| inquest began, and hundreds OF men
and women awaited the verdict out
side, although both the defense and
the prosecution did not consider the
inquest OF much importance since
Capt. Hams admits the shooting and
there were many witnesses to 1t.
When the jurymen filed into the
room and the foreman announced the
verdict, there was demonstration.
| Coroner Amber had TO rap with his
gavel and court officers had to caution
I tbs spectators for an attempt was
made to applaud the verdict.
In the excitement a crowd gathered
around Thornton jenkins Hams and
began to question him as to the trag-
edy in which he played such an i'm
portant part. He was asked II he
felt justified in holding a crowd at
bay with a revolver while his brother
shot down Annis. Before Hams could
reply. John F. Mcintyre. chief coun-
sci for the brothers, rushed TO his
eide and shouted: mo, no, don't an
swer that question"
In his efforts 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.
| Only two witnesses were called,
/ Charles H. Robert, OF Flushing, who
testified that he was standing on the
club house float when he heard the
report OF a pistol shot and saw Capt.
Hams In a kneeling position clinging
to the dropping body of Annis as he
emptied the contents of his revolver
into 1t, and Coroner's Physician Wal
ter c. Frey. who testified that Annis
came to his death from the bullet
wounds. DR.. Frey said there were
nine initial wounds and IL secondary
wounds, which would indicate that
Capt Hams fired nine shots.
In cross-examining Robert, Lawyer
Mcintyre asked him IL Capt. Hams
had finished 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 that
the shooting had not ceased, and that
| he would have had time to interfere
| had not Thornton Hams prevented
him.
Mcintyre asked him II he had not
ed the expression In Thornton Hams
eyes at the moment, but before the
question could be answered, District
Attorney Darrin objected and was
| sustained.
Slayer Shows Emotion.
Prior to his giving his testimony.
Robert was asked to Identify the
| prisoners. When he pointed out Capt.
Hams as the slayer the army officer
put his hands over his face and seem
| ed to greatly excited This- caused
comment In the court, for he has
hitherto remained wholly unperturbed
apparently.
Before going out one OF the jury
men demanded that additional wit
nesses be called, but Coroner Amber
refused to comply and ordered the
| jury to decide on verdict. His
charge simply cited the Hires te- which
| the Jurors must conf1ne themselves
In considering the case. There we're
about 40 witnesses In the room, but
they were not needed on the stand.
VIII Plead Insanity.
Insanity will be the defense put for
ward, ~ behalf Of Capt. Peter c..
Hams 4nd perhaps of his brother, T..
Jenkins Hams, when they are put on
trial for the murder OF William L.
Annis, according to a statement made
tonight by former Assistant District
Attorney John f. Mcintyre. who was
retained yesterday as chief counsel
for the defense. Either emotional In
sanity will be the plea made for each
OF the brothers, or the defense Will
contend that Capt. Hams was insane
at the time Of the shooting and that
his brother drew revolver and to all
appearances aided and abetted In the
commission OF the crime for the sole
purpose OF protecting his brother.