THE HAINS CASE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9366, 8 February 1909, Page 2

THE HAINS CASE.

New York, December 14. The selection of a jury for the trial of Mr Thornton J. Hains, the novelist and magazine writer, for complicity in the murder of Mr William Annis by Captain Peter O. Hains last August began to-day at Flushing, Long.lsland. This case is without precedent in the criminal annals of the State of New York, and is exciting widespread attention throughout the country not only because of its curious legal aspect, but also owing to the sensational nature of ■ the tragedy. The murder of Mr Anuis was the sequel to a scandal invffiving the reputation of Captain Hains’ wife. While Captain Hains, who is an artillery officer, was stationed at Fort Hamilton, New York, early last year, it is alleged, that he became extremely violent and tried to kill Mrs Hains, who, he said, had made a confession with regard to her relations with Mr Annis. An official investigation followed this incident, and the War Department expelled Mrs Hains from the fort, and transferred her husband to Fort Wadeswortb. On August 15th last Captain Hains and his brother arrived at the Bayside Yacht Club, on Long Island, and waited on the verandah of the club house for ;Mr Annis, who was sailing in a cat boat. Mrs Annis tried to warn her husband by megaphone not to land, and brought the boat alongside the landing stage. As he ascended the steps Captain Hains went quickly towards him and shot him in the abdomen. As Mr Annis fell, Captain Hains caught him, and held him with one arm while he fired five more shots into his body. Mr Thornton Hains meanwhile flourished his own revolver and shouted : “This is my brother’s business. The man who interferes dies.” Mrs Hains afterwards declared that her confession of intimacy with Mr Annis was untrue, and it was extracted only after the f brothers starved her for two days and employed crnel methods of compulsion. It is not anticipated that there will be many sensational revelations at this trial, but when Captain Hains is placed on trial it is believed that many unpleasant details of the so-called “seamy side” of life in the American Army will be brought out. Mr Thornton Hains’ defence will be that he did not know his brother intended to mmder Mr Annis until after the first shot had been fired. He then drew his own revolver because he thought the crowd would lynch his brqther. A secondary line of defence will be that inasmuch as Captain Hains was insane at the time of the murder, Mr Thornton cannot be charged with instigation because an insane man is notjresponsible for his acts. * The prosecution has employed Dr. Austin Flint, a noted alienist, to attend the trials of the brothers and combat the Insanity plea. (Cabled news informed us the other day that a verdict of LNot Guilty was returned in the case of Thornton Hains).