The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
Takes Stand and Dramatically
Tells of Captains Grief
and Suffering
Describes Incident When Peter
Broke Into His Room After
Hearing Wife's Story
Father Allowed to Read Letter
Addressed to William
Annis

r LOEt1LNN1s y. l.. jan thornton
J. Hains took the witness stand today
In. his own defense of the charge that
he was a principal with his brother in
the killing OF William E. Annis, and in
a snappy manner related under coun-
Eel's interrogations the story of his life
and Captain Hams marital troubles
that led to the Staying Of Annis. Some
times the defendant made his answers
before the district attorney could enter
objections TO the line Of interrogation.
When recess was taken he had told of
the sudden appearance OF Captain Hams
IN his home on the Sunday in May and
OF the excitement that the captain was
lsboring under because Of what his
wife had told him concerning Annis.
The early part Of the session was oc-
cupied with the conclusion OF the cross
examination Of General Peter C. Hams.
who declared that the mental condition
OF Captain Hams showed Improvement
from May 81 to August u. when he was
served with his wife's cross bill to the
suit for divorce.
The general declared that the cross
bill contained such charges against
Captain Hains that his mind was again
shocked and there was a recurrence of
bis mental weakness.
General Hams declared that he be-
lievsd his sons mental condition showed
constant improvement from the time Of
the confession up to August II, when
he was served with the cross bill in
answer to his suit for divorce.
LETTER Is INTRODUCED
General Hams introduced a letter
which ne saw in the possession of Cap
tain Hams on June ]. The letter was
from Claudia Hams and was written a
few hours after the confession.
General Hams was permitted to state
his knowledge Of the contents of the
letter. He said:
As I recall it. the letter which was
addressed 20 William Annis read:
Dear Billy: Do not come down,
Billy. It's all over between Peter and
me. He found out everything He
says for you 10 pay me the money from
the police court, as he does not want
any transactions with you. I am going
TO Boston and will send you my ad-
dress. 1 want to see you. l am almost
crazy. Goodbye CLAUDIA"
Mcintyre read the letter to the jury
General Hams said ne understood
that Claudia gave Thornton Hams the
letter to mail and that Captain Hains
seized the letter and read it. The gen
eral was excused and Mcintyre called
on Thornton J. Hams"
The defendant left his seat at counsel
table and walked quickly to the witness
stand.
Hams said he was born IN Washing
ton, where he lived the major part of
his life
The defendant said:
In June. 1907, I was living at Bay
Ridge, near Fort Hamilton 1 saw lit
tie of my brother. he being in the army
and ] a sailor. A year ago last Octo-
Der he sailed for the Philippines I
did not see him again until May 81,
sos
BREAKS BROTHERS DOOR
7 was awakened by a crash on the
door" continued Thornton Hams. MY
Brother rushed into the room, crying, I
apologize, I have broken your door, 1
said TO him, What brings you hereY
and raising his hands above his head,
cried. Claudia has told me everything.
You must help me-
He tore his hair and asked me to
come down TO see father. We went to
Fort Hamilton. where we met Mr.
Hsins. We were there all day and 1
took my brother out for several walks
IN the batteries OF the forts. The cap
tain. would sit down and try TO tell me
what had happened.
He kept saying THAI his wife had
been with Annis and put his head into
his hands" Continuing, Hams said:
When the captain came TO my house
that morning and broke in my door he
talked incoherently. All at once he
jumped up and cried: It's all right,
come on We went to Fort Hamilton.
where I tried to get him to eat some
thing We walked to the fort in order
10 quiet his nerves. I sent for Dr. Will
son, who met Captain Hams at the fort,
and made q superficial examination and
prescribed for him. I administered
bromide Of potassium to my brother"
Thornton Hains said that Sunday aft
ernoon his father asked him to get a
lawyer, as Claudia Hams had made a
second confession to her husband.
Mr.. Bennett. the lawyer. came" said
d the defendant. -and we all went into
the house. Mrs. Claudia Hams came
downstairs and General Hains, Captain
Hains and myself sat around table.
Mrs. Hams sat on a piano stool Mr..
Bennett told Mrs. Hams that he was
present to interrogate her with regard
10 statements she had made in the
morning"
The defendant related in detail the
conversation that took place between
Mrs Hams and Mr. Bennett The wit
ness said these statements of Mrs
Hains were Incorporated in a con-
fession. The defendant said with much
dramatic emotion, his face drawn and
Els voice pitched high and trembling
while the interview was in session
my brother cried. My God. What shall
J do2 This is awful"
Describing his brothers exclamations
sof grief and suffering. Thornton Hams
frequently raised his voice TO a high
pitch and simulated with dramatic effect
the expressions used by Captain Hains.
PIONEER DROPS DEAD