Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-05
JORDAN found GUILTY.
HAMS TRIAL NEARLY over.
Prisoner at Cambridge Shows no Emotion When
The Verdict Is Returned Capt. Hams Mother
TeStifeS in His Behalf at Flushing, NY.

to his questions. All the captain would
say was: Il don't remember" the wit
ness said. Asked how he slept one
night, the captain replied: II slept all
right after Annis left
"Annis was here quite a while and
kept ME awake" the captain contin-
uod said the witness. Don't you
know that Annis is dead?" asked the
captain. At that the prisoner suddenly
jumped from his cot, threatened me
and shouted You lie, you lie,'" said
the witness.
Mrs. Virginia Hams. mother of the
defendant, when called to testify, APP
peared quite feebleand Major Hams.
her son, assisted her to the witness
stand Mrs. Hams glanced at her son.
Captain Hams, as she passed by him in
tie court room but there was no sign
of recognition on the defendants face.
Mrs. Hams wore simple black dress
and d small black hat. Her hair Is al
most white. She spoke distinctly but
appeared q little nervous when she be-
gan her testimony. Mr.. Mcintyre asked
her about her own early life and the
time Of Captain Hams birth.
Mrs. Hams said she had been SUBJ
previous to her sons birth. She told
how Captain Hams suffered from
Nightmares when he was and years
old. He would spring up in bed and
cry out she said, land 1t was difficult
to restrain him. He suffered and
stammered in his speech until he was
a big boy 10 years DID," she said.
Mrs. Hams related the story of the
hnr OF 1n .1f
nine years fell down the hatchway Of
the lighthouse tender "Pharos." She
said this fall had very serious effect
md that her son suffered from severe
nervous headaches for long time at
tcrward. The mothers voice trembled
little and tears came into her eyes
as she spoke of this accident and she
turned and looked at Justice Garretson.
You are doing very WELL" he said
consolingly.
Suddenly coming down to June. 1908.
Mr. Mcintyre asked the witness to tell
the jury how her son looked and acted
when he visited her home In WASH
ington.
Il cannot. You must know have
had an awful shock and cannot re-
member anything as in other days."
replied Mrs. Hams.
The court encouraged her to her
best and sobbing quietly she said:
He looked so worn and tired and
haggard when he first came into the
house. and dazed as if he didn't know
where he was. He didn't pay any at
tention to me until l threw my arms
around his neck then he said. isn't It
awful; wife and home and my little
children are all ruined.
What else did your son say at that
| time" asked Mr.. Mcintyre.
He had some insane idea about US
breaking up our home and caring Tor
his children. He said he could board
| with them and when I told him we
! were too old to break up our home ana
didn't have money to board, he shouted.
| stop that. Stop that! Stop that!'
Mrs Hams replied.
| Mrs. Hams persisted in injecting ir-
! revelant impressions into her testimony
! and Judge Garretson cautioned her not
| to do So Turning to him she said,
| "Oh can't do that. am so anxious 70
/ tell everything I know about my boy.
| Describing her sons general condt-
| ton during the Washington visit, Mrs.
| Hams said he suffered from long perl
! DDS of depression, following by violent
outbursts and confused EXPLANATIONS.
| He would sit for hours in his chair
| staring into vacancy" the witness said
land then suddenly jump up and ex'
| claim, NO one knows how have suf-
| fered.' At other times he would sud
| denly break out with the exclamation
oh, let's forget it, let's forget IT."
In the midst of her story Of how
Peter would walk about the house re-
citing the first verse of Kipling's Yam
pire, and then suddenly break out sing
! ing and crying alternately, Justice Gar
CONTINUED on Page Ten.)