The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-09
BRUNING'S PAST LIFE
DEFENsE's ATTEMPT TO SHOW THAT
HE WAS CRUEL TO HIS MOTHER.
Progress IF the Copeland Case in the
Criminal COurt-A Letter in
Evidence.

An effort was made in the Copeland trial
yesterday to show that William H. Bruning.
who was shot by his brother-in-law. was
a man OF vicious disposition. Copeland's
attorneys tried TO show that Pruning was
cruel to his mother before her death and in
different 10 his sister, Mrs. Copeland. To
each of the questions bearing on this line
of testimony Bruning gave negative an
swers. He was on cross-examination most
of the day.
Yesterday morning ]. s. Duncan. for the
prosecution. asked Bruning to again relate
the incidents which transpired on his visit
TO his sister at Madison shortly after she
had been with him in New York. He de-
tailed fully the occurrence. When he ar
rived at Madison he found the doors of his
sisters home locked and climbed in at the
window. He went directly to Mrs. Cope
lands room, but she declined to admit him.
She warned him that If he attempted TO
enter the room she would shoot herself.
Argument he found futile and he went
away. Later in the day he returned TO
the house and found Copeland there. The
latter was very angry and ordered him TO
cave the premises. Copeland accused him
of robbing his sister Mrs. Copeland. and
Bruning called the husband a liar. Cope
lana sad he would . IOTBel tndI anu
would settle with him some day. Brunins
then left the house and never returned.
Us it not a fact?' asked attorney spaan
on cross-examination, that once in 1855,
when you were trying to fix up a real
estate trade, that you pushed your mother
against the wall and pinehed her arm until
she submitted to your dictation?"
"No. ii is not a fact" answered Bruning.
Nothing of the kind ever happened in our
The defense attempted to introduce a let
ter bearing on the alleged mistreatment OF
found among Mrs. Bruning's effects after
her death. The envelope bore the post
mark Evansville. where it had been mailed;
and the address Mrs. j.. F. .Bruning."
There was nothing at the beginning of the
letter to show to whom 1t had been written.
was taking some one to task about lax
methods Of attending 10 business. In one
place it read: "a little more of such smart
have and perhaps send you TO the poor
house, Copeland's attorneys said that the
letter had undoubtedly been written by
Bruning TO his mother. One paragraph ap-
parently referred TO Brunings sister, who
afterward became Mrs. Copeland. 1t read:
II was somewhat astonished the other
girl had gone out West again. | don't care
anything about it, but it is a little bit hui
that your family is doing. l. think. how
over. we can arrange II so we can each
have our own way The prosecution OBJ
jected to the introduction of the letter:
Acting Judge Browder read it carefully and
decided that IL could not be properly adj
mitted. On cross-examination Bruning. de-
tailed the various real-estate suits in which
the family had been involved and told the
story of the shooting in the Office of Miller.
Winter & Elan. Attorney .Corbaley, of
Madison. testified to having drawn up the
will of John F. Bruning. father of Mrs.
Copeland and William Bruning. Attorney
Corbaley was present at the office of Miller,
Winter & Elan when Copeland shot
Bruning. and testified to the incidents at
tending the shooting.