New-York tribune., 1908-12-22
BY MRS. ANNlS
TELLS OF HAMS THREAT.
Says Thornton Pressed Pistol to Her
Back-Day of Surprise.

+b ss,,re,,e Court in Flushing Thornton J. Hams,
who is on his life for aiding and aoetilIs
in the killing of Annis by his brother' Cap'alli
Peter c. Hains, [. S. A. looked drawn ana nag
gard when the long ordeal Of listening 10 Mrs An
Mss testimony ended.
Like thunderbot the defence came Mrs.
Annis's statement that she saw Thornton J. HSlns
just the shooting beckon to his brother ana
say something him. after which they went oo"h
from the pier the float and the nrlhs Uessii.
! That was the direct connection of the defendaht
with the shooting that District Attorney Dalilii
/ had been irving for four days 10 bring out Ana
when. as if to clinch the matter. Mrs. Annls tesn
fed that Thornton Hans poked his revolver agallis
her back and told her she would ne hllieu II si'
,,,rned around the defence was visbly perturbed-
Mr. Mcintyre Of counsel for the defence sought
10 discredt the 'beckoning episode, ana kept MIS-
Annis on this point under cross-eNainlnauon 10,
nearly half hour Hains's couhsel ueNeiul
that Mrs Annis had told District Attorney OAR
rim that the defendant had beckoned to his DroIhel
until last week
The dav was filled with unexpected incidents.
While Mrs Annis was testifying Justice crane
cautioned District Attorney Darrin TO pay atten-
ton whereupon Mr.. Darrtn declared the Court ~ WIS
unjust to him in making it appear that he was
asleep the case ~.
+rict Attorney because Of newspaper criticism ol
his conduct of the case, had his resignation WIl't
out on Saturday but was finally persuaded oS i''
friends not to forward it TO Governor Huehes.
charles H Roberts one of the witnesses OF tte
day testified that after the shooting mormon On
Hams inquired OF his brother Shall give 1t Up
before relinquishing his reNoINer 10 HI"@' VIZ
sought to dsarm him. -
Il said to the defendant said Roberts If you
were going commit horrible crime ike una
why did YOU do il where there were Women an
children7 and defendant answered. NO oi'e
could regret It more than 1 do. have been trying
for a long time 70 prevent this
In rbe cross-exar raination Mcintyre was surprised
at one of the witness's responses.
How did the brothers look after the shooting;
| looked cool responded RoheTtS
Mcintyre endeavored to get the witness 10 say
Thornton had said. the float, Keep on keep OIL
or he'll kill you But Roberts repeated that 1ile
defendant had said. Keep off; keep off or 1 Il XIII
you
! on the question Of which pronoun was used hinges
/ an important point for the defence
MRS. AHNIs CALM AT FIRST.
/ When Mrs Annfs was called she walked with
firm step to the stand. and displayed little enouol
during the first hour of her examination She "aS
farlrlessIv attired in a black lace waist ana oiach
/ gown and large picture hat Her testimony "0S
{ given in a firm voice and without eagerneSs.
Mrs Annis said that she had known captain
Hains prior TO August Is. On that date sile went
| ont b-- train to Bayside, accompanied Dy her I"o
boys seven and eight years OF age She went lloii
/ -be station 10 the clubhouse in stage, accom-
4 panied by Mr Rockwell and others. In a ca2 'laI
! passed the stage she saw Captain Peter { hams
and another man, sitting Captain hams lisil.-
/ Afterward hte cab fell behind the stage ana Io-
lowed il until it reached the clubhouse she sad
What was the direction of Captain Hams s
/ face?" asked District Attorney Darrin.
/ I couldn't tell, because I became very much
/ frightened replied Mrs. Annis.
/ Asked 10 identity the man in the cab as the de-
/ fendant Mrs. Annis for the first time glanced at
Thornton Hams and then only for oilet instant
! The cah she said kept close behind the stage
| = helped my two little boys from the stage and
went into the clubhouse for about one second
/ said Mrs Annis. Captain Hams snd his orother
/ had gone into the clubhouse Just before. llill7
/ .8iar left he
| heard Thornton Hans speak Of the Rickert-F lnlay
/ Realty Company but too excited to notce 10
/ whom his words were spoken do not know VINO
| vas on the dock, because / was looking for my
| husband Then ! saw Mr.. Andrews and some
others Mrs. Rockwell Mrs Harway and others
Thornton and Peter Hams followed me down to
| the dock: that is they came directly after me
/ We stood on the right side Of the dock. Thornton
Hams stood near the little gasOlene house talking
with people as they came down. Ny husband was
/ half way out in the hay sailing a race FuIIy
twenty minutes after ! reached the dock hus-
bands boat approached the float MI BlrchheId
Vas conyersing with Thornton Hams the boat
approached Mr BirchfeId ran down to the gang
plank then walked the edge and warded OIL
/ the boat"
What did the defendant and Captain Hams do
a. Rrcbfeld ran down the runway was asked.
As Mr Birchfed down the runway, Thorn
ton Hams turned TO his brother and beckoned 10
him and made some exclamation. and Thornton
/ followed his brother down the gangplank.'
What did they do?'
.Thornton Hams Immediately got in position with
a revolver"
This was objected to and excluded
Captain Hams ran the boat, got into a
crouching position and drew pistol" continued
the witness
What did the defendant do that you saw asked
the court.
Thornton Hains drew a pistol and got between
CAPTAIN Hafns and the othe- people said Mrs
AnuIs Thornton was three four feet from his
brother ard facing the gangplank- The next saw
of Thornton Hams was when I down the float.
II was after the second shot. There was q
noticeable pause between the first and second shots
ran dcuu the sangplank like mad; was frantic.
I wanted to get To my husband
Thornton Iiaius made step or TWO toward me.
I turned around. lie put the revolver against my
back and said.
You move and you'll get the same
Mr. Mcintyre fought hard to have excluded what
Annis did after the shooting, but the Court ruled
against him The witnesses testimony at that point
/ 20 faint. court officer brought some water and
4 revived her
L saw him get up and walk toward the bow of
| the boaf.~ she said He fell into the water.
saw him fan in
DIDN'T KNOW THORNTON HAMS.
In cross-examining Mrs. Annis Mr- Mcintyre en-
Moved his mldest manner. lie elected the fact
/ thar while Mrs Annis had known Captain Hams
I r,,,r or five months she did know Thornton
/ FIaius August 10
/ M Annis went to the clubhouse the 500
/ train" said the witness. 4 did not talk to him
/ that day AT ali. He left the house at 7:l5 in the
/ morning get early train
You were excited and worried at sight Of Cap
/ tain Haius in the surrey2" was asked.
Yes. was so worried that my whole attention
was directed toward the captain she answered.