The Washington herald., 1909-01-01

New York Dec 5l.-Several tinFes to-day
John F. Mcintyre. chief counsel for
Thornton Hams. on trial at Flushing for
completely in the murder OF William (.
Annls by his brother, Capt. Peter Hams.
L s A, tried to get into evidence the
letters written by Claudia Hams, which,
it is claimed. in connection with dis
closures Of his wife's conduct, unseated
his reason Each time the court refused
20 allow them
With the now famous confession Of
Claudia Hams. Nj Mcintyre was more
successful He carefully led Gen Hams.
when ne was on the stand to-day. Up TO
the signing Of the document and got it
before the jury. Much OF it is imprint
able. but the women in court-thirty or
forty in aI-eageriy took in every word
Of Il
Mrs Annis, widow Of the murdered
man. listened TO the reading with a scorn-
ful smile. but a face as pale as marble
Both the mother and father Of Thornton
Hams took the stand to-day
NO Benefit to Defense.
Aside from the natural sympathy which
their appearance under such distressing
circumstances naturally begOt in the
minds OF the jurors and spectators alike
e was pretty hard TO figure out wherein
the cause Of Thornton jenkins Hams ben
efted by their testimony. for what they
had 10 sax. dealt almost entirely with the
alleged nervousness Of Capt Peter Hams
as q child and his alleged irrational be
hsvior just after he heard OF his wife's
alleged inidelity and Just before he shot
Annis to death.
The mother, a feeble. broken little gen
tIewoman. was most Of the time in tears
but every now and then a fare of tenn
Ter cut through her grief The old gen
eraI sat on the stand grim. saturnine. and
ccol. making only exact and careful an
swers 10 what was asked him Thornton
Hains showed no emotion while his
mother gave her evidence TO aid him. He
kept his head averted, though. playing
with a pencil.
By his questions 20 the two old people,
Chief Counsel John F. Mcintyre. OF the
defense. made It plain for the first time
that he meant 10 lay q trail OF hereditary
impulses and tainted blood in the com
mon stock Of his two clients. with a
view to later Iugging in experts. hypo-
theticaI questions. and al the rest Of the
nsedico-Iegal machinery that kept the
trial Of Harry Thaw dragging along for
50 many weeks
Rule Out Insanity Evidence
When Justice Crane opened the after
noon session he decided 10 rule out fur
ther evidence tending 10 show insanity
in the Hams blood at this time because
The proper introduction had not been
made He added. however. that he
would amend the ruling in the event thar
the authorities showed him 10 be in
error.
Gen Hams testified that he had heard
the confession. He said that the effect
on his son Peter was to make him act
Ike a madman- He recited Kiplings
Vampire" frequently The general tes-
titled that his father had died from in
sanity. but this was stricken out.
Earlier Mrs Hams. the generals wife.
testified 70 peculiar actions on the part OF
her son Peter. She said she asked
Thornton to look after him. She broke
down and sobbed frequently
Mai Hams. brother Of the prisoners.
was the first 10 take the stand to-day
and gave favorable evidence for his
brother Judge Crane insisted that AIr.
Darrin. whose term as district attorney
ends to-day, remain in charge Of the case
until Il is ended.
The next session Will be held on Mon
day