Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-29
Captains Story of Wife's Con-
fesSi0n Recited in Court.
S. C. REID is WITNESS
Mrs. Hams Admitted She Loved An
mis-, Husband Told Him.
HE SAID HE WANTED TO DIE
Testimony Competent to Show
Marital Conditions Of Army Of
fcer and for No Other Purpose.

FLUSHING, n. Y. December 29.-The
marital troubles of Capt. Peter c. Hams.
jr and his story of the estrangement
with his wife, Claudia Hams. came out
in the trial Of Thornton J. Hams today.
when Samuel G.. Reid. a government
building inspector at North Chicago. re-
lated conversations he had, last June.
with Capt. Hams, making known the
causes that led to the separation of the
captain and his wife.
The testimony of what Capt. Hams said
was permitted by Justice Crane as hav-
ing a bearing on the mental condition OF
the army officer at that time.
Reid stated that Capt. Hams told him
his wife had confessed she loved Annis
Capt. Hams evinced signs of great mem
tai distress in narrating his troubles. the
witness said.
Reid is said by counsel for the defense
to be brother of Princess RosplgnoSl OF
grandson OF s. c. Reid. who COM
manded the privateer General Armstrong
in the battle at Fayal. Azores. during
the war Of 1872
Expert Testimony to Come.
The trial for murder of Thornton j.
Hains, like other prominent homicide
cases that have preceded It. will be filled
with testimony of alienists and the in
terrogatives involving hypothetical prem
ises The defense opened the doors yes
terday by developing from its more i'm
portant witnesses the actions OF Capt
Peter c. Hams. jr.. with the design 10
show his mental condition
Counsel for Hams will place Gen. and
Mrs Peter Hams on the stand to testify
to their sons mental processes Seated
near the states lawyers Is DR.. Austin
Flint, the alienist. who was an important
figure and witness in the Thaw case.
Under his direction witnesses were in
terrogated by the state If Capt Hams
displayed signs of 'rudeness. prone.
control The defense will call their
medical experts to the stand later.
District Attorney Darrin, whose term
expires December 81, said today he did
not desire to continue in the case a1ter
his term of Office was over. II designated
by the court. however. he is willing 10
continue as the states counsel without
compensation.
Just before the morning session was
called Mrs. William f. Annis and Mrs.
Charles Birchfield took seats within the
rail- Mr.. Mcintyre objected to the pres
ence of the states witnesses.
Witnesses Are Excluded.
Justice Crane said that while he did
not see the necessity of 1t, he would
enforce the rule and exclude the wit
nesses for both sides.
He would not exclude Gen. Hams. who
was aiding the counsel in the case.
All witnesses then left the trialroom.
The cross-examination Of Tierney, gar
bage collector who testified yesterday
for the defense was resumed.
The witness could not recall the names
af To -fSnrr hn nj
night of the shooting. Storm. the wit
ness said. was not on the hoat during
the shooting. but was out sailing. and
came onto the float after the shooting.
Prosecutor White then called all the
states eyewitnesses to the tragedy, and
lined them up to the rail. Questioned by
the prosecutor. Tierney identified those
whom he saw on the float. Tierney said
he did not see Arthur Andrews. DIR. Nc
Bride, Stephens and several others.
Tierney declared that Harvey Rockwell
was on the float. Rockwell had testified
that he was not near the float when the
she citing took place.
Tierney testified that he did not see
Mrs. Annis on the float.
James Sley of Brooklyn, a builder, tes-
titled that the defendant told him last
June that he intended to build at Bay
side. Sley said he saw Capt. Hams at
that time and thought him eccentric.
Reid Tells Captains Story.
Samuel o. Reid, building inspector OF
the United States training station, North
Chicago. was called. He knew the Hams
brothers from childhood Reid said he
called in June on Thornton Hams. who
told him he was looking after Peter"
The witness related a conversation he
had had with Capt. Hams. who. the wit
ness said, used such expressions as MY
life is ruined and Il wish was dead. .
Capt. Hams told him. Mr.. Reid said. he
obtained leave Of absence at San Fran
cisco and came home.
Mr.. Reid said:
Capt. Hams said he went to Fort Ham
ilton and found his wife. who wanted to
know why he had returned home.
why. Claudia. your reputation is at
stake. l have come from the utter ends
of the earth to save you. l have heard
gossip of you and Annis.'
The captain said his wife told him
the gossip was ridiculous.
Reid said the captain stated that he in
vited Annis to dinner to show that he did
not believe the gossip. Witness said Capt.
Hams said his father told him there were
things TO be investigated, and that he
capt. HAMS again spoke to his wife,
and she replied: Il do love Billy Ann.s."
Reid further testified:
The captain said his wife then told
him all; that she loved Billy Annis and
could not understand IT, said Capt
Hams The night before she gave me
her caresses and told me that it was
not So
Capt. Hams Wanted to Die.
Mr.. Reid described Capt Hams appear
ance.
Witness sad Capt. Hams frequently ex-
pressed desire to die, and said that
Thornton had been SO good to him. Reid
said the captain sighed. moaned and
quoted from Kipling's Vampire" and
said he never understood the poem be-
fore, but did so now
On objection from Prosecutor White
Justice Crane said that the testimony of
what Capt. Hams said to the witness
could not be permitted. except as having
bearing on his mental condition. and
that IL counsel developed il for any other
eIrpose he would later order the Jury to
disregard II.
Reid testified:
Capt. Hams wanted to know what he
had done to deserve such cruel treatment
and why Claudia, whom he had married
when she was a child. could look him in
the face and say. i don't love you"
The witness. on cross-examination said
he thought Capt. Hams irrational Reid
said that the captain told him he had re-
ceived letters from his wife saying there
was scandal going on about her
Adjournment for recess was taken.
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