Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-16
NOT GUILTY IS
VERDICT IN
HA|NSCASE
BROTHER OF SLAYER OF
VIM. {. ANNIS GOES FREE
Decision Announced After Jury
Had DeIiberated Twenty
Four Hours and Hope of
Agreement Was Abandoned.

| tBy Morning journal SPECIAL Leased Wire1
Flushing, Jan. 15.-After reviewing
| the evidence for twenty-four hours
and taking fifteen ballots before all
were agreed, the jury in the trial of
Thornton Jenkins Hams this after
noon found the prisoner not guilty as
a principal with his brother Captain
Peter c. Hams, Jr., in the killing of
time in his life, Thornton Hams has
been found not guilty Of the charge of
murder, he having been acquitted of
murder in shooting companion
named Edward w. Hannigan in an
open boat in Hampton Roads seven
teen years ago
thornton Hams had an affectionate
greeting with Captain Hams in the
Long Island Jail, where he hurried in
a motor car after the verdict, to
bring his brother the news. Old Gen
eral Hams ana his wife. who were
waiting to learn the verdict in the Ho-
tel Astor in Manhattan heard the
news from their son, Thornton. who
NNiN b''H'A ms lhitntS stS SOON as ne
left the court room Mrs. Hams
nearly tainted from JOY at the news.
After spending an hour with Cap
tain Peter c. Hams in the Jail,
Thornton Hams went to the Hotel AS
tor, where ne remained through the
evening and night with his father and
mother.
Thornton Hains was overioyed at
the verdict, which came Unexpected
ly and at time when Justice Crane,
believing that a disagreement was
likely, had sent for the jurors to learn
what progress had been made toward
a finding. The former defendant
smiled ana tears filled his eyes, and.
hnrrying TO the jury box after Justice
Crane hal discharged the jurors. he
seized tn ~ hands and thanked them
tor their verdict
Rarely in any court of law has such
a demonstration between witnesses oc-
Cured as that which took place when
the jury made known its verdict The
packed court room of spectators rose
as one man and cheered with such
vigor that the gavel falls of Justice
Crane on his desk could not be heard
Before proceeding further. Justice
Crane ordered the trial chamber clear
ed After telephoning his mother
and father, Thornton was escorted to
a hotel, while a throng of townspeo-
pie gave him a continuous greeting
en- route.
Jurors stated that the first ballot
showed a gain of one for acquittal +,
Jurors Hecker, Johnson, Richmond |
and Boenig voted for conviction on |
the charge of murder. Juror Boenig |
held out until the final ballot was
taken just after Justice Crane had |
sent for the jurors and then changed |
his vote TO acquittal. making the jury |
unanimous
Officials of the district attorneys |
office in Queens county are quoted |
tonight as saying that the verdict i'm |
the case probably means that Captain |
Hams viii never be brought to trial |
and that he will be surrendered into |
the care of his family or the federal |
government.
Under this verdict il is perfectly !
safe for any person who is ingenious
enough to frame up a defense to go |
out and kill. Private vengeance seems |
10 have taken precedence over the !
peoples law" was the only comment |
that Prosecutor Darrin had to make |
IN the jury's return.