The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-04-29
D { CLARE D
HAMS WAS
INSANE
When He Shot Annis and
Was OfNervOuS Excitable
Temperament

Rushing, y. Y. April 2S-Thc open
Ing address OF the prosecution in the
trial OF Capt Peter C. Hains. Jr.,
charged with the murder OF William r.
Annls. was made today by George A.
Gregg. formerly district, attorney OF
Queens county. Mr.. Gregg is now as
sociate counsel with District Attorney
Dewitt General F. C. Hams. father
OF the accused. was in court today,
and greeted his son with affection,
but the captain made no response.
Mr.. Gregg. referring TO the murder
OF Annis, called the affair a cold
blooded murder.
OF Flushing. was called as the first
witness to Identify some plans of the
scene OF the shooting.
Herbert Funke testified that he saw
Captain Hams standing on the float
with his arms folded, and when Annis'
boat came up, the captain exclaimed:
"Annis, Annis," drew a revolver and
shot Annis as he was stepping around
the mast of the float Funke was in
his boat alongside the float he said
and when he attempted TO step ashore.
a revolver was pointed at him.
Wait a minute said Mcintyre.
The witness cannot state anything
about revolver being pointed at him
unless 1t was in the hands OF Captain
Hams"
THAT Is correct" Justice Garrett
son remarked
On cross-examination Mr.. McIntyre
asked:
Did you notice that the captains
face was pale. his eyes bulging and his
mouth twitching?"
NO. | did not" replied the witness.
Funke testified that he saw the cap
tain standing calmly on the float with
his arms folded watching the boats
Just before Annis' boat came In.
Charles H. Roberts OF Flushing. Il
member of the Bayside Yacht club
testified that he heard another member
of the yacht club, standing near him
on the float say:
"a negro would give a man
chance"
After you were attracted BIZ the
first shot, did YOU hear the captuIn
eXclaim: "Annls. Annis; YOU have de.
'bauched my wife and taken my chill
on cross-eXamination
The witness replied that he did not
hear it.
Attorney Young, in outlining the
case of the defense, declared Hams
was insane when he shot Annis
His father, General Hains, will tell
you how as child this defendant
would wake up in the night trembling
and screaming with terror" said Mr..
Young. His mother will tell you how
he stammered in his speech and had
TO be tenderly watched and guarded
during his childhood
I'VE will show you that CAPTAIN
Hams fell down hatchway when u
years old and was rendered uncon.
sciou5 from the blow on his head from
which he did not recover for a long
time
Mr.. Young spoke of Captain Hams
trip TO the Philippine Islands, where
he heard of his wife's alleged miscon-
duct, and fastened home
Those who brought him across the
continent from San Francisco will tell
you of his mad actions" said Mr.
Young He never slept at all during
the trip and paced the sleeping car,
annoying the other passengers night
after night"
Mr., Young described the effect of
the news OF MS wife's alleged conduct
as told Hains by his father and broth
CT. who said Claudia Hams had con-
fessed to them that she loved Billy
Annis.
"He raved alternately laughing and
crying during this time" said Mr.
Young, "and went about singing How
Happy 1t Is to be Married The thread
had broken and his mind gave way
Mr. Young said he would put In evil
dence the signed confession of Claudia
Hams, the captains wife. of her rela-
tions with Annis, and a letter written
TO Annis by her after the captains re-
turn. telling Annis that her husband
knew everything and warning Annis
not to come to the house.
Captain Hams was told that Annis
kept his collars and cuffs In Mrs
Hams dresser while the captain was
away, and was called Papa by the
own children We will show
by officers of the United States army
that the defendants conduct during
several months was decidedly erratic
and irrational This man was made
insane by grief, shame and mental
shock