Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-01-16
IS
ACQUITTED
JURY AGREES AFTER BEING OUT
NJ HouRs-GREAT APPLAUSE
WHEN THE VERDICT is An
NoUNcED.


Flushing. n. Y, Jan. f6.--Atter
reviewing tho evidence for twenty
two hours and taking fiftesn ballots
before al, were agreed, the jury N
The trial OF. Thornton Jenk ms Hams
yesterday afternoon found the pris-
oner not gu lty as principal with
his brother. Captain Peter c. Hams.
Jr, in the Killing OF wilam r. An,
mis-.
For the second me In his life
Thornton Jenkins Hams has been
found not gu lty OF the charge OF
murder, as he was acquitted OF muir
der In shoe Ing a compan on named
Edward A. Hann:gan in an open
boat in Hampton Roads seventeen
years ago.
Thornton Hams lad an affecting
greeting with Captain Ha MS in the
Long Island jail VIII ther ne hurrlea
a motor car after the verdict TO
take his brother the news. od
General Hams and his wife, who had
been anxiously waiting to learn the
verdict in the Hotel Agtor. in Mad
haitian since the jury went out at
five O'Clock Thursday night. heard
the news from Their son Thornton.
who telerhoned his parents as soon
as he left the court room. Mrs
Hams nearly tainted from Joy.
After spending near'y an houI
with Captain Hams in the Jail Thorn
ton Ha rs went 20 the Hotel Aston
where he remained through the
evening and night with his father
and mother.
The verdict came unexpectedly
and at a time whea Justice Crane,
believing that a Disagreement was
likely, had sent for the Jurors TO
earn what progress had been. mad b
toward finding. The former de-
fendant smiled aad tears filled his
ayes. and, hurryng 10 the jury box.
after Justice Crane had dismissed
the Jurors. he seized their hands
and thanked them for rne.r verdict.
Rarely in any court of law has
such demonstration been Witness
ed as that which occurred when the
jury made known is verdict. The
packed court room rose as one man
and cheered and applaudsd with
such vigor that the gayel falls o.
Justice Crane on b desk could not
be heard.
Before proceeding further Justice
Crane ordered the trial chamber
cleared, and the spectators put out
in the street.
After telephoning his mother and
father. Thornton was escorted to a
local hotel, while a throng OF towns
people gave him continuous greet
ing en- route.
Jurors stated that the first ballot
stood 10 4 for acquittal and early
this morning the ballot showed a
gain or one Tor acqu ttal. Jurors
Hecker, Johnson, Richmond and Boz
enig voted for conviction OF muir
der. Juror Boenig held out unit
the Anal ballot was taken just aft
er Justice Crane had cent for tho
jurors, and then changed his vote
to acquittal, making tie jury un-
animous
Officials OF the district attorney
office in Queens county are quoted
as saying that the verdict in this
case probably means that Captain
Hans will never be brought to trial
and that he will be surrendered into
he care OF his family OF the federal
government.
Under This verdict II Is perfectly
safe for any per1on who is fngenius
enough to frame up a defense to
go out and kill. Private vengeance
seems to have taken precedence over
the peoples law" was the only com
ment that Prosecutor Darn had to
make on the jury's return.