Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-05
MRS. HAMS HAS
FEARFUL ORDEAL
MOTHER OF SLAYER ON THE
WITNESS STAND
TRIAL EXPECTED TO REACH THE
ALIENlsT STAGE SOON
Defense Has but Two Witnesses to
Examine and Next Effort Will
Be to Prove Insanity
of Prisoner
tBy Associated Press.l

FLUSHING, L. l., May AIRS. Vir-
GINA jenkins Hams, mother OF the de-
PENDANT, concluded her testimony this
afternoon after a trying and pathetic
ordeal in an effort to save her son,
Capt. Peter C. Hams, jr., on trial for
the murder of William b. Annis.
Now that the father, mother and two
brothers of Captain Hams have testi-
fled the trial will soon reach the
"alienist" stage.
The defense has but two more lay
witnesses to examine, and as this Will
be done tomorrow the five alienists
retained to show that the young army
officer is insane probably will TESTIFY
on Thursday.
The testimony of Mrs. Hams, who is
So years old, made the most dramatic
incident of the trial so far. She sobbed
throughout her direct examination by
John r. Mcintyre, chief counsel for the
defense, and when District Attorney
Dewitt started his ross-examination
the strain proved too much for her.
The hypothetical question in regard
to Captain Hams sanity which will be
submitted to the alienists contains
10000 words.
Salesman Testifies
Emile Hess, an automobile salesman
who formerly had a garage in Brook
lyn, testified today that Captain Hams
was at his garage in June last and
asked him what he knew about MRS.
Hams and Annis. The witness said he
told the captain that Mrs. Hams had
called up the garage one morning at l
o'clock and asked him to come to
Nineteenth street and fourth avenue,
Brooklyn, with his car. He found her
there with Annis, took them back to
the garage and offered to take Mrs.
Hams to her home at Fort Hamilton.
Mrs. Hams is alleged to have said:
You don't think 1 am fool enough
to go home at this hour in the morn
ing. do your" and she and Annis left
the garage together, the witness said.
Hess said he told Captain Hams that
Annis and Claudia had left the garage
in the Hams car on several different
occasions. The captain acted ira
tionally while he was relating these
things to him, the witness said.
Mrs. Hams was assisted to the wit
ness stand. She glanced at her son as
she passed by him in the courtroom,
but there was no sign of recognition in
the defendants face.
Mother Seems Nervous
She spoke distinctly, but appeared a
little nervous when she began her tes-
timony. Mrs. Hams said she had been
subject to dizzy spells for several years
previous to her sons birth and told
how the boy suffered from nightmare
when he was 2 and years old.
He suffered and stammered in his
speech until he was 10 years old, she
said. The witness said Peter suffered
from severe headaches. Coming down
to June, 1905 Mr. Mcintyre asked the
witness to tell the jury how her son
looked and acted when he visited her
home in Washington.
'He looked worn and tired and bag
gardy' she replied. when he first came
into the house he acted as If he did not
know where he was. He did not pay
any attention to me until 1 threw my
arms around his neck. Then he said :
"Tsn't it awful-wife and home and
nv little children are all ruined|
''What else did your son say at that
timer" asked Mr.. Mcintyre.
HE had some insane idea of break
ing IN our home and caring for his
children. He said we could board with
Them
Under cross-examination Mrs. Hams
broke down completely and had to be
excused from the stand. She was led
sohbinp from the courtroom.