Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-01-01
FATHER STRONG WITNESS FOR SON
General Declares Captains Wife
Made in His Presence Confession
Of Her Observation-Disclosures Love
for Annis-Defense Reads State
ment Upon Which it Principally
(Bv Associated CreSs.]

FLUSHING. y. y. Dec. 3l.-Gene-
raj Peter c. Hams. U. S. A, and his
wife. Mrs. Virginia p Hams, parents
Of Thornton J. Eains. now being tried
before Justice Crane as principal
hin the Staying o. William E. Annis.
!!were witnesses in their sons behalf
lcIay and their testimony brought
GU: in full detail the relations of Mrs.
Claudia Hams and William f. Annis
that caused the enlargement of Cap
tain Hams and his wife.
General Hams declared that in his
presence and before his two sons. Pc
ter and thornton Hams. the cap
tain's wife. Claudia Hams. made
full confession Of her misconduct,
and that Captain Hams manifested
his grief at the disclosure and that
his mental condition became affected.
The confession which General
Hams declared his SONS wife Claudia
had signed on the day Of Captain
Hams return, was submitted to the
jury.
General Hams Strong Witness.
General Hams maue strong wit
ness for his son. and counsel for the
defense asserted tonight that the ey-
idence was now conclusive that Cap
tain Hams was mentally unbalanced
when he shot William Annis. and
that his act was his sole doing.
The general will be under cross
examination again next Monday.
Mrs. General Hams wept many
times during her story.
The defense drew out the fact that
Captain Hams in his early life evinc-
ed physical weakness which counse,
will endeavor to prove through three
experts, was prediSpOSing cause to
insanity.
General Hams was permitted to
saw that his father died from insan-
ity.
Darrin's Term Prolonged.
Justice Crane directed District At
torney Darrir, whose term of office
expired today, to continue as the
prosecutor in the Hams case.
Thornton J. Hams will be called
to the witness stand next Monday.
Mrs. Hams said that her son visit
ed her for a week in Washington.
and all during the visit she noticed
the strange signs in "Coney." pet
name for Captain Hams.
when 'Coney' was in Washing
ton. what did you tell Thornton to
do?"
Il told Thornton to take care OF
'Coney.' and stand by him.
From your sons actions and what
tiolal Or irratiOnal?''
Il consider him irrational" said
Mrs. HANS.
The Father on stand.
General Hams was rhe next wit
.uess He said he had graduated at
West Poin' in 1861. and had served
In the civil and Spanish wars. and
had been a member Of the Nicara-
qua Canal Commission and Isthmian
Canal Commission. He Is GS years
old.
DO you know of WIN, your father
died.
Yes. He died of insanity in 1891
or 1892"
Justice Crane relied at the opening
Of the afternoon y. ssion that he
would rot per.i; tel ;imony as to the
mental conditis<s II Hams ancestors
' unlssS !, Vas .sd-n that it was
General Helms. ssid his wife was
rervous ard eycitahie.
She had hysfer'csI fits and fe'I
down." said censesl Hairs. and in
our early mMried ifc this was fire.
auent. She ~ouaa fling her arms
around in the en- and cry ont. She
would laugh and cry Alternately.
ReIstes A5ssSei Confession.
General Hsina sajd that on NAY II.
he saw Captain HS1ns with MS wife
a. Fort Hamilton. NThc witness re-
lated an alleged comics ion tina; CIau-
dia Hams made IN their presence re-
rsrdinS an unlbrtvua:e episode with
william z. Annss. General Hams
said he 'sxes Claudia with wha: bad
happened. aad abe replied that she
did not know. sAy shc had done II.
General Hatss ssA he hal another
interview win Clssdia Hains and
then told CaptaA pains what she
had raid
II said to th ~. ain" testified
General Hams. s' nut my hand
On her head and saii. Is is possible
that the things 70 truc7 And she
said. yes. - is No.
81 an In Nv y -. ARMS. and he
10 IN love with r.. ! asked her II