The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-01-05
7 AO R N I 0 N
HAMS ON
STAND
Relates Story of His BROTH
er's Marital Troubles and
Mental Depression.

Flushing, jan 4.-Thornton j. Hams
took the witness stand today In his
own defense of the charge that he was
a principal with mis- brother In the
killing OF william E. Annis. and In
a snappy manner. related under eoun-
sells interroGations, the story OF his
life and Captain Hams marital troub-
les that led to the Staying OF Annis.
Sometimes. the defendants counsel
made his defendant make his answers
before the district attorney could en-
ter objections to the line OF intcrroga-
tion.
When recess was taken, he mad told
Of the sudden appearance or Captain
Hains in his home on the Sunday In
Nav, and of the exitement that the
Captain was laboring under because
of what his wife had told MIN con-
cerning Annis.
The early part of the session was
occupied with the conclusion or the
cross-examination of General Peter G.
Hams who declared tnat the mental
condition of Captain Hams showed
Improvement from May 81 to August
12 when he was served with his wifes
cross bill to the suit for divorce.
The general declared that the cross
bill contained such charges against
Captain Hams that ais mind was
again shocked and there was a re-
cuTrence OF his mental weakness.
General Hams declared he believed
that his sons mental condition
showed constant improvement from
The time OF the confession up to Au-
gust u when he was served with the
cross.bill in answer to his suit for H.
vorce.
General Hams identified a letter
which he saw in the possession OF
Captain Hams on June l. The letter
was from Claudia Hams and was writ
zen a few hours after the confession
General Hams was permitted To
state his knowledge of the contents
OF the letter He said:
"As | recall 1t, the letter. which was
addressed to William E. Annis, read
Dear Billy: Do not come down,
Bill. It's all over between Peter and
me. He found out everything, Ho
says for you to pay me the money
from the police court, as he does not
want any transactions with you. L
am going to Boston and will send
you my address ] want to see you.
am almost crazy. Goodbye,
"CLAUDIA."
Mr.. Mcintyre then read the letter TO
the jury,
General Hams said he understood
that Claudia gave Thornton Hams the
letter to mail and that Captain Hams
, seized the letter and read II. The gen"
eral was excused and Mr.. Mcintyre
called on Thornton j. Hams. The
defendant left his seat at counsel Ia
bic and walked quickly TO the witness
stand
Hams was. he said. forty-two years
cid, and was born In Washington
where he obtained the major part OF
his education.
The defendant said "In June, 1907
I was living at Bay Ridge. near
Fort Hamilton. ] saw very little of
my brother, he being In the army and
| sailor. A year ago last October
he sailed for the Philippines. / did
not see him again until May 13, 1908"
Il was awakened by crash on the
door" continued Thornton Hams
My brother rushed into the room,
crying, I apologize, l have broken
your door ] said to him. What
brings YOU here?' and. raising his
| hands above his head. he cried,
Claudia has told me everything. You
must help me.
He tore his hair and asked me 10
come down to see pa. We went down
TO Fort Hamilton. where we met Gen
eral Hams We were there all day
and / took my brother out for several
walks in the various batteries of the
fort. The captain wouldd sit down
and try to tell me what had happened
He kept saying that his wife had been
with Annis. and put his head In his
hands."
Continuing. Hams said:
when the captain came to my
house that morning and broke in my
door, he talked incoherently. All at
once he jumped up and cried: It's all
right; come on We went to Fort
Hamilton. where / tried to get him to
eat something. We walked to the fort
IN order to quiet his nerves. | sent