The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-08
MIR. BRUNING'S STORY
PROSECUTING WITNESS IN COPE
LAND CASE ON THE STAND.
Objected to His Sisters Marriage Be-
cause Copeland Could Not Sup
port Her.

merchant, who made a target for the sharp
shooting OF lhis brother-in-law. William
Copeland. while the two were about to sub
NIT some litigation TO a master commits
sioner in the Office OF Miller. Winter &
Elan, last spring. was the first witness
called by the prosecution in the Criminal
Court yesterday. Both sides squabbled over
the jury until nearly IL o'clock. At that
hour the men in the box were accepted.
They are:
John w.. Darnell, John Heard, John Kelly,
Henry b. Collay. John w. Scott. William
Mckenzie. James Dean. A. V. Hightshue,
Joshua Edwards. Richard Camplin, John
CULVER. Joseph Kitleman. John w. Scott
is a druggist of this city. Mr.. Camplin is a
shoe dealer and the rest are farmers. On
account of the prominence of the Bruning
and Copeland families in the State the case
is attracting a great deal OF attention.
Bruning is a wealthy man. a bachelor of
forty-seven. Copeland recently took up his
residence in Chicago to practice law. He
was a former resident of Madison. where
he and his wife were known in the best So
ciety circles. In 1885 Copeland was a men,
Der of the Republican branch of the Gen
eral Assembly. Since 1887 Bruning has lived
In New York. Before that he lived at
Madison and Evansville. His father was
John +. Bruning, a wealthy resident of
Madison. For several years he transacted
business in Evansville with his son. under
the firm name of John +. Bruning q Co.
1t is obvious that the Bruning family
were not particularly pleased with their
daughters selection Of a husband. In his
opening statement attorney John s. Duncan
said 1t would be shown that Copeland mar
ried Miss Bruning for her money. They OBJ
jected to her marriage because Copeland
had no visible means of earning a living
for a wife. They also protested against the
match because they did not want Clara,
the daughter. TO marry anybody. Miss Brun-
fore her marriage that Copeland had an
oner OF 5000 a year from an insurance
company. This offer, however, failed TO
materialize. Mr.. Duncan detailed several
specific acts to show the relations of the
brother and sister. After her marriage Mrs.
brother, and while there took lessons In
painting. Returning TO Madison she CORE
sponded with him for a time and then
visit her and found her locked in her room.
she declared she would not see him until
her husband was present. He left the house
and came back when Copeland was there.
The latter accused him of robbing his sis
ter and said 1t would have to be stopped.
Mrs. Copeland continued until she brought
q number of suits against him to recover
property One suit involved a business block
be shown that Mrs. Copeland had no inter-
est. In this property. II was bought by her
efterward placed in the daughters name.
Mr.. Duncan covered all of the business
transactions between the .Copelands and
Brunings, and, in closing his statement to
the jury, dwelt on the elimination Of the
trouble-the shooting of Bruning. The at
torney believed that Copeland came TO In
annapolis with the deliberate intention OF
injuring his brOther-in-ldW.
William II. Bruning, the States prose-
cutting witness was put on the stand at 3
o'clock in the afternoon. He has the air
and bearing of a well-to-do business man.
He scarcely noticed his sister and brother
in-law during the afternoon. They watched
him closely and occasionally a smile would
cross the features of Copeland. Mrs. Cope
land gazed steadfastly at her brother. She
is an attractive woman of about thirty-five.
She wears a close-ftting gown of black lace
and a small spring hat. .Bruning spoke DELHI
e%rately, but was interrupted freely, and
hours he told but little of the trouble be-
tween himself and Copeland. The details
He first learned that Copeland wanted to
marry his sister in February, 1885. He was
In Evansville looking after his fathers
business affairs when a letter reached him
from his mother. Mrs. Bruning always
wrote to her son in German. The original
letter and a translation in English, made
by Bruning, were produced by the State
and Identified by the witness. Attorney Dun
can wanted to read the letter, but Judge
BrONder SAID IL would nave 10 be inter-
preted by an expert under oath. This letter
contained the that Copeland
wanted to marry Miss Bruning. At the time
the young lady was visiting a cousin in
Mount Pleasant. Ia. Prior to that the wit
ness had no knowledge of an engagement
I. between Copeland and his sister. Or receipt
of the letter he went to Mount Pleasant.
There his sister made a deed to the Evans
vile property, conveying Ii, for the consid-
GRAFTON of s., to Catharine Bruning. their.
mother. The same property had been con-
veyed TO the sister. Nov. 9, 1885,. The wit
ness purchased the property with his pri-
vate funds and had 1t decided to her. The
property was worth about 5000. The deed
executed at Mount Pleasant, Ia, in 1856,
was made 10 the mother of the witness at
her own request. She desired ii taken out
Of her daughters hands before the daugh-
ter married Copeland. Mrs. Bruning made
no attempt to stop the approaching mar
riage of her daughter. Copeland was In the
legislature at that time and had proposed
wife could be with him in this city. In her
letter TO her son Mrs. Bruning spoke OF her
objection to the marriage taking place any,
where except at home. The couple were
united. in Madison, in September, 1885. The
witness admitted that he objected to it.
He feared that Copeland could not support
his wife. Mr.. and Mrs. Copeland. after the
wedding, INDUCED in an extended honey
moon, travelling considerably. From the
date of Thanksgiving. 1885, unit! the death
of Mrs. Copeland's father. they lived with
the Bruning family. In 1889 Copeland went
into the lumber business i'm Madison, using
his wife's name. Witness said he Endorsed
a check for $1,000 to help Copeland get a
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