The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-10-12
HAMS GREETED
By HIS MOTHER
Three Young Children Also Wei
coined Their Parent On His
Arrival At the National
Capital From Sing
Sing Prison.
WA HrNcrON

/
ms:
when New York express train dis
! SorScd it's passengers at $3.50 o'clock
( yesterday afternoon there walked into
/ the concourSe at Union station two men
/ whose appearance brought them some
attention. one was an elderly man
with gray hair and gray mustache
whose hrm step and upright carriage
marked him man OF military training:
the other was slim, brow -haired
man. aged. beyond has years, who
if he We're not sure of his SURROUNDINGS
Released From Prison.
Ihough rev in the vast crowd at the
station knew It, the elderly man was
Brig Gen. Peter G. Hams, u. s. a, re-
tired; his companion was his son, Peter
g Hams, Jr, former army officer, who
was released yesterday after serving
three years in Sing Sing prison for man
slaughter.
They were coming home" to family
that the clemency of governor had
I reunited after three years separation
His features visibly stamped with
the effect of his long confinement
Hams left Sing Sing early yesterday
morning He wore a suit Of blue
serge and a soft hat. In his arms he
carried an ungainly bundle, wrapped
in brown paper-odds and ends that
he was bringing home from prison
His face was wan and he seemed
awed at the sudden transition from a
long-sentenCe convict to a free man.
he was met at the penitentiary door
by. his father, who had gone to Sing
Sing Monday. anticipating his sons
release that day. They went imme-
diately to the Grand Central Station.
New York where a number of re-
porters attempted to interview the
father and son. The couple had no
time to talk-they were anxious to
get to the Pennsylvania station to
board home-bound train.
Captain Hams urged his i'll health
ana begged reporters not to attempt
to interview him. He preferred to
let his father do the talking.
To a reporter for the Washington
Herald. who accompanied them from
New York, Brigadier General Hams
granted a brief interview.
s"Captain Hams is going home for
a long rest" said the aged fighter.
He wishes to be with his children
1t has not yet been determined how
long he Will stay with us. His health
is not good and he needs a long rest"
Asked if his son had made any
plans for the future, the father shook
decided"
Father Wants Pence.
A report that Peter c, and his
brother, Thornton ]. Hams intended to
go to South America soon, was shown
the father. Again he shook his head
negatively and pleaded that he and his
son be left alone until after the excite
ment attendant on the homecoming had
passed.
Throughout the trip from New York
10 Washington, the two were in almost
constant conversation. The general ex-
planned TO his son the route Of the Penn
sylyania tunnel under the Hudson, the
under-riVer trip being a complete novel
~ TO the former prisoner. AS the train
neared Washington, Capt. Hams re-
treshed his sons memory on points of
interest visible from the train. When
the train arrived in Union Station the
pair lost little time in getting a taxi
cabSt that whirled them TO the Hams
fgrhs Il ST..
There his aged mother was the first
TO, greet him. Then came the welcome
from his three children-Peter c., third
ten years old; Hamilton Howe, seven.
and John jenkins Hams, four years old
since their home was broken up. the
children have resided with their grand
parents. Major Jack Hams a brother
of the former officer, was also at the
family reunion.
The family denied themselves to re-
porters last night. There is no state
ment TO be made" was the repeated an
swer to queries Of newspaper men.
The crime in eNpiation of which
Hams gave three years in the prime
or MS lie was committed at the Bay
side Yacht Club. l.. l., in the summer
of 1908. William Z. Annis, a promi-
nent member of the yacht club, with
his wife and a party of friends. were
about to sail on a short pleasure
cruise, when Hams fired at Annis
from the pier. His. shots took effect
and (Annis died instantly. Hams made
no attempt TO escape, but his broth
er, Thornton Hams, who witnessed
the shooting, drew a revolver and
held back the crowd that surged onto
the pier.
Trial Was Sensational.
Captain Hams was held for Annis'
death and Thornton J. Hams was ar
rested as an accessory to the crime.
The trial was a sensational one the
defense basiHg the motive for the kill
ing on the alleged inhdelity of Mrs
Peter c. Hams, Jr., and her infatua-t
ton for Annis. Captain Hams was
seotsneed to eight years in the peni-
Tertiary for manslaughter and Thorn
ton ID. Hams was acquitted after
second trial. The latter is now en-
gagged in magazine work.
Captain and Mrs. halAs we're mar
ried on April 80, 1900, at Winthrop,
Mass. The marriage was a social
event, acquaintances from Washing
ton. and the South, where the family (;
is well known, attending After their
marriage Mrs. Hams accompanied her
husband to the different military posts |
until he was ordered to the Philip |
pines.
The tragic story of the events that
led up to the shooting were told by |
General Hams at the divorce proceed |
ings month ago. He said Mrs. Hams |
had confessed to him on May 81, |
1908, her relations with Annis in the |
presence of David @. Bennett, Jr., an |
attorney. Bennett took down the al /
leged confession, and this was read |
in court. Mrs. Hams did not contest |
the suit.