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

NH. Bennett AShCU SIduula u HuUUeT
of question:" sail General Hams, land
he put them down in writing. Claudia
said she had no objection to signing it
and she signed It. This is the paper which
counsel hands me, that she signed. The
paper was sho wn the captain. The paper
was read aloud
Mr.. Mcintyre Offered tile paper in evil
dence. Justice Cram told counsel that
it would be better to bring what was
said at that time instead Of submitting
the paper Gen. Hams then testified to
the questions wnicn were pu. to Claudia
Hlains and her answers which were in
ccrporated in the statements she signed.
1Mr Mcintyre :ilen read the statement
which Mrs Claudia Hams signed on May
81 to the jury. The confession was heard
by a courtroom filled with people. Mrs.
william E. Annis sat to the far side Of
the courtroom during the reading
The statement by Mrs. Claudia
Hams, which the defence contends
overthrow the reason of her husband,
Capt Peter Hams, is a document Of
about 100 words in length. 1t was
signed by Mrs. Hams On May 81. 1905,
gin the presence of David c. Bennett,
Jr." 1t relates that within a month at
ter Capt. Hams left for Fort Hamilton
for the Philippines on Oct. 20, Mrs.
Hams began improper intimacy with
Annis. There were many clandestine
meetinAys during the winter, 10 or per-
laps IA says the signed statement, al
ways at an apartment ''in East 18th
street, and always in the day time.
except once" Continuing, the state
ment says that in April, as result of
her relations with Annis, Mrs. Hams
found it necessary to call upon a ply
sician in New York. After describing
in detail the treatment she received
from the doctor, the statement con-
cludes that Mrs. Hams after this
treatment, stayed at a hotel with a
woman companion for a week.
General Hams said that Captain Hairs
was much excited during the taking of
the confession. crving aloud MY God,
she has ruined me, my family AMI my
three children
General Hams testified that his son.
Capt. Hams, the day following his wife's
confession showed signs of nervous dis
order He said that Claudia Hams left
Fort Hamilton soon after the confession.
he said that Capt. Hams displayed great
grief when his children were taken
away, saying that he wished he was dead. |
General Hams said that Capt Hams
visited Washington 10 days afterward and
showed signs of nervousness and great
unrest.
General Hams said that several times |
he told Thornton to take care of Con |
ME-" He said from what he had OBJ
served he believed Capt. Hams was ira
tional. The cross-examination of Cen |
eral Hams was undertaken by District |
Attorney Darrin. He could not recall |
where he and Capt. Hams discussed & |
letter which is alleged to have been writ !
ten by Thornton Hams urging his broth |
err to return home.
Ibid Capt Hams tell you thHt Thorn |
ton had written him to como homer"
"No."
General Hams said he had testified he
fore the grand jury. Mr. Mcintyre OBJ
jected to the district attorney using the
testimony taken in the grand jury room
as a basis of examination, charging that |
it was obtained in an Improper mariner.
Justice Crane overruled :he notion
was this question pat to yon: Where
were you at the time o. Capt. Hams re-
turn from the West?' an6 you answered:
T was in Washington
II don't recall"
WAS this question pat to you: What
led Peter Hams to believe that his wife
was untrue to him?' and you replied that
he received letter. from his brother
Thornton?"
II can't recall what testimony I gave
at the grand jury. I know that Capt.
Hams had q bundle of letters and that
one of those letters was in the bundle. I
think the captain told me what was IN
.rhornton's letter but l can't recall the
contents"
The direct testimony OF General Hams
was in no wise shaken by the long cross
examination, his testimony before the
grand jury being based on his UNDER
standing on many points. Justice Crane
held that the general had been permitted
on his direction only to say exactly what
he told the captain and what the captain
told him. General Hams said that he
never heard his son Thornton express
any animus toward Annis
Adjournment was taken until Monday.