Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-16

Flushing, ~ Y. Jan. 15.-Aftcr re-
viewing the evidence for 90 hours ant
taking Is ballots before all agreed tho
Jury in the trial of the author and
magazine writer Thornton jenkins
Hams, at 3 o'clock this afternoon founG
the prisoner not guilty as q principa
with his brother, Capt. Peter c. Hams
Jr., in the killing of William T.. Annis
For the second time in his life Hains
had been acquitted of the charge OF
murder, having been cleared of the
charge of shooting of a companion
named Edward A. Hannigan IN an open
boat in Hampton Roads, II years ago
Hams had an affecting greeting with
Capt. Peter G. Hams in the Long
Island Jail. whittier he hurried in a
motor boat car, after the verdict. To
take his brother the news. Old Gen
eral Hams and his wife, who had been
waiting to learn the verdict in the
Hotel Astor in Manhattan since the
jury went out at o'clock last night,
heard the news from Thornton Hams.
who telcphoned his parents as soon as
he left the court room. Mrs. HainG
neary tainted from joy at the tidIngs.
After spending an hour with Capt.
Hams in the Jail, Thornton Hams went
tn the Hotel Astor. where he remained
through the evening ana night with his
father and mother.
Under the verdict ii is perfectly
safe for any person who is Ingenious
enough to frame up a defence to go
ont and Kill. Private vengeance seems
To have taken precedence over the
peoples law" was the only comment
that Prosecutor Darrin mad To make
on the jury's return.
Hams was Overjoyed at the verdict.
which came unexpectedly and at a
time when Justice Crane. believing thai
a disagreement was likely, had sent
for the jurors to learn what progress
had been made toward Il fading.
The former defendant smiled ans,
tears filled his eyes, and, hurrying IL
the jury box after the court had dis
charged the jurors. he seized their
hands and thanked them.
The defendant made the following
statement:
II am the happiest of men. My first
thought when | heard the verdict was
to get to the telephone and give the
news to my mother and father and
then to go to Connie my brother,
who was awaiting the word In his
cell l told him that 1 would visit
him every day in Jail until he was
freed. l would go up and stay with
him but the authorities tell me they
will not permit it.
1T is my good luck to be here with
my mother and father again after
spending five months in Jail. Tomor-
row | intend to go to Washington and
bring my little daughter Molly back
with me- l want to say that from
the outset of the trial l felt that the
jurors would acquit me, though o!
course the strain on me al times taxed
me severely
Rarely in any court of law has such
a demonstration been witnessed as that
which occurred this afternoon when
the jury made known it's verdict. The
packed court room rose and cheered
and applauded with such vigor that the
blows with his gavel by Justice Crane
on his desk could not be heard. Before
proceeding further, Justice Crane or
dered the trial chamber cleared AUG
the spectators put out into the street
Judge Crane had sent for the jury t,
learn if there were any prospects Of
agreement and word came back thai
the jury desired few more minutes.
| Hams was brought into court by
Sheriff Harway and seated beside his
counsel His swarthy face became pale
| and the lines in his face became draw
with anxiety. None of his family wa:
| in court He spoke nervOusly to coun-
sci and watched with inquirng glance
the file of the tired jurors as they on
tered the room and took their places
Justice Crane asked the jurors if they
had reached a verdict and Foreman
Hill, his voice trembling though heard
all over the court room, said that the!
had
THE jurors will rise and face thu
defendant" cried Clerk Peace. Gen
, tlemen, what is your verdict?"
Not guilty" said the foreman ant
with the words came an uproar.
The court room having finally beel
cleared, there came a rapping at tn
door and Major John Hams, who ha
heard of the verdict outside, rushed i'll
to the room An officer held him bac
|
brother and counsel sat until after Jus
tice Crane had thanked the jury The
he hurried to his brothers side an
embraced him and kissed all of hi
counsel
Hams could scarcely realize the Yer
dict for a moment and then he ha
rose in his chair, smiled and bowed I
the jury and brushed his tears ava
with his handkerchief. Justice Gran
discharged the story writer and NJ
Mcintyre, his chief counsel, who ha
quite completely broken down at tn
verdict, briefly thanked the court an
jury.
After telephoning his mother an