Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-21
THE BRAN TRIAL.
Question Of Browns Insanity Principal Point
-Ad,ourns TIL This Morning.


the Bran trial opened, Saturday morn
ing. after the sensational ending, Fri
day night. with renewed interest.
District Attorney Hoar announced
that he was ready to go on with the
case.
In reference to the documents pro-
duced by the defendant, last night, to
prove the witness Brown a perjurer.
Mr.. Hoar said it was simply state
ment made by no one greater than Il
police officer and he did not think it
could ever be used. He referred to the
statement alleged to have been made
by him to the effect that he had in
vcstigated the stories and found them
without foundation. The records, he
said. showed he had made no such a
statement.
Mr.. Hoar was brief and decisive.
There was nothing to justify a post
ponement. he said. He hoped before
the court made any decision on this
matter, he might be allowed to call
Chas. Brown to the stand and question
him in regard to certain things sug-
sosted by the document.
Mr. Cotton did not object. and the
COURT VI tii' JURY " w 'i'bs1h'
in before the witness was questioned.
Brown was put on the stand and
asked to tell what he knew about any
thing that happened in Rotterdam.
He said he came to Rotterdam on
the ship Honolulu and started from
Amsterdam for home to see his family.
after being paid off. on the trip he
was taken sick and felt that every
body was going to do him. AT a sta :
ton he met man who secured HIM Il
place to stay. He went To bed but
could not go to sleep. From that time
for Is days he knew nothing and then
found out that he was in hospital.
He said the hospital doctor told him
that he had fired a shot but not 10
fear for everything had been forgiven.
a Swedish officer also told him that
all was well. He had been robbed of
all his money. which fact he found out
after three weeks confinement in the
hospital.
After explaining about his money To
some extent. Mr.. Cotton spent consid-
cradle time cross-examning the wit
ness as to whether he was in hos
pital. crazy house or insane asylum.
Brown was dismissed at lo.45 and the
jury was asked To withdraw.
Mr.. French said this was one Of the
most important affairs ever brought
up Brown he believed, was a per
jurer. and was mentally unbalanced
He had proofs of sudden and tenn
porary spells of insanity on his part
signed by the police commissioner Al
Rotterdam. He desired a postpone
ment TO give time to investigate and
discover proof of Browns insanity
Mr.. Hoar replied that is would not b'
proper for an insane asylum officer tt
discharge a man who was insane. \
person is apt to be out of his head wher
i'll. and Brown could not have beer
permanently crazy else he would no
have been discharged in two weeks.
After a few remarks by Mr.. Cottor
about Browns denying after a confer
ence with the district attorney. state
ments that he made yesterday. tbs
court asked that all papers relating t,
his insanity be handed to the court To-
consideration
The court then took a recess.
The court returned in 10 minutes ant
in all opinion delivered by Justic,
Webb. denied the motion for a post
ponement
The jury were recalled and Henry
Perdock, seaman on the Herbert Full
Ter. took the witness stand.
At 80 O'Clock court adjourned unit
$50 O'Clock. Monday morning.