The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-06-19
Old Soldier Issues a Signed
Statement Today Calling
For Justice for His Convict
ed Son.
EXCUSES THE CRIME
WITH PROvOCATlON
States That the Murder Case
Was One Where Man Was
Led to Crime by Laws
Poor Protection.

New York. June 19.-An amazing
plea for justice was made today by
General Peter c. Hains in behalf of
his son, Capt. Hams, who is in prison
for killing William E. Annis. The
fathers plea is in the form of . signed
statement, a portion OF which 10 as
Capt Peter C. Hams Jr., was born
in 1872. He graduated with credit
from the naval academy at Annapolis
in 1894. Took two years course In
electrical engineering at the Johns
Hopkins university in 1895. Practiced
as civil engineer until 1898 when he
was appointed lieutenant in the ar
tillery Of the U. s. army. Served as
such In the Spanish war and was
recommended for appointment by Bre-
vet to next higher grade for gallant
and meritorious conduct in the cam
paign in Porto Rico. During his en-
tire service In the army he was re-
garded as an officer Of more than or
dinary ability by his superiors and re-
spected by his subordinates.
Sent From Home.
In September, 1907, he was ordered
by <fevguvernment-to transport duty
which took him away from his home
to the Philippine Islands. He was
compelled to leave behind him his
family, consisting Of wife and three
small children to whom he was de-
votedly attached. He returned In May
1908. and found that while he was alb
sent his home had been destroyed.
Divorce proceedings were institute
ed when on August Is, to his amaze
ment, he, himself was falsely charged
in a cross-bill. Then his reason. al
ready strained almost beyond endur-
ance, gave way and in a state border
ing on insanity, if not wholly dement,
ed, he happened to meet the destroy.
er of his home and killed him.
HE was tried in the latter part Of
April, 1909. for murder. The jury
stood six for acquittal and six for con.
viction, but after being out several
hours and for reasons best known to
themselves, rendered a compromise
verdict of manslaughter. Subsequent
ly they all united in a recommends.
tion to the Judge for clemency.
Hains Was Unbalanced.
"That Capt. Hains was mentally un.
balanced at the time there can be nc
doubt. The utter impotency of the
law to give him protection under
such circumstances las a matter Oi
fact it does not) impels him to an act
for which he is now suffering. The
provocation he had is unprecedented
In the annals of crime.
"Can anyone imagine a train of cir.
cumstances SO calculated to upset q
mans reason. The law is intended to
protect the innocent. But here was q
case where human law could afford nc
protection. The supposed friend OF
Capt. Hams had not only disregarded
his children and destroyed his home
OuL udu CduSeu Hill u UC CHAR ISCO
with crime so revolving that it can,
not be spoken of among decent people
and is incapable of proof or disproof
The law was impotent to protect the
honor of this officer and he was com
PEELED to do what most men who lose
tl,eir homo and family would do under
similar circumstances for the shock
would unba1aDce the st1Ungeet ol
men.
Capt Hains may technically have
violated the statute law of New York
state. but there are many states II
this union where he would not have
been held for even technical viola
ton of the Law under the peculiar and
unprecedented circumstances.
Shall such a man. an officer of the
army, with record for probity and
honesty equal to the best, be-branded
as a criminal, Can anyone imagine
In provocation more hideous?
fSigned)
PETER C. HAMS