The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-06
KILLED WIFE IN PRISON.
CONVICT BRAUN's RETURN ron
PRESENTS BRoUGH HIT HIM.

KNIFE Into Her Throat apd Kuied Her.
Adrian Braun, who Is in tho State Prison an
Sing Sing for one murdorous assault, murdered
his wife yesterday afternoon when sho visited
him at tho prison with food and fruit to add to
his comfort. The murder was done in tho press
ence OF State Detective jackson, who was In the
visitors room and in sight of two OF Braun's
fellow convicts.
Braun ia n tall, thin, wiry man; his face IL not
n bad one. and he appears to have more intolii.
gcnce than tho average convict. He was q
cigar maker. He was sent to prison on Aug. 81,
1897. for two years. He had been convicted OF
assault in the second degree for at
lacking n man named Carroll and almost
killing him with II ~fiatiron. Since he has been
in Sing Sing he has been well behaved and 10
was mover necessary to punish him. Catherine
Braun. his wife, was about his own nge. IS
years, and was tho mother Of his five children.
Since his incarceration she has had to place two
OF the children in an institutions, but
she has managed to struggle along and find
support for the other three. She lived I'm
n room In II rear house at 30S East
Eichtioth street. A trip to Sing Sing is expen-
sive for a woman in her circumstances, and she
had been able but once before to spare the money
TO go and sec him. She had a little ahead yes.
to-day afternoon, and after spending the morn
ing cooking n lot Of food and marketing at fruits
stands she went to Sing Sing on an afternoon
train. arriving at the prison shortly after 3
o'clock.
Braun is employed in a messroom at the
prison and Is known as a potato man. He was
peeling potatoes when she came. Only convictu
who can be trusted arc employed in the mess
room at the prison. because there are knives
there and other implements not to be intrusted
TO the average prisoner.
1t was $3.50 o'clock when Braun was informed
that his wife had come To see him and was in
the visiting room. As is the custom, before
leaving the room Braun stepped over to the
keeper on duty and handed the knife he had been
using to him. The keeper didn't suppose for
a moment that he had another knife. He was
conducted to the visiting room. where he
greeted his wife with apparent affection. The
visiting room Is the first ROOM on the right Of
the lower hall inside the big iron gates. IL
Is the headquarters of State Detective Jackson.
and no visiting is allowed there except In
his presence or the presence of some keeper
who is detailed there whom ho is not about.
When Braun went in John Y. McKnue was
there also receiving one of his friends. The rules
Of the prison are that no visit must be longer
than thirty minutes, and no visitor Is admitted
or permitted to remain inside the prison after
4 o'clock in the afternoon. Braun and his vito
sat down together facing each other. She gavo
him the package Of food and fruit that she had
brought to him. They talke! together for
half an hour. apparently happily. There was
not a cross word, and they were both all smiles.
ATT o'clock Detective Jackson said:
Braun. time is up"
Braun and his wife stood up. Braun said:
NJ jackson. can't we have q few minutes
more; just a few minutesf"
Mrs. Braun said:
"Oh. please: can't we have a few minutes
moref It's a good ways to come from New York
for SO short n visit"
Just a few minutes more" said Braun.
Its u good ways to come" again snid Mrs.
Braun. land this is only the second time I've
seen him since he's been here"
All the other visitors were gone. 1t was Sat-
urday afternoon. and that was the reason that
jackson let them have few moments more.
When he first told them that the time was up
Jackson got up from his desk. intending to &C.
company Braun from the room to turn him over
to n keeper.
Whom they pleaded for moro time, he walked
back to his desk and was just turning to sit In
the chair. when from some part of his clothing
Braun whipped out a potato peeling knife and
drove it with all his force at his wife's
neck. 1t was n sweeping blow. 1t cut .
great hole in the left side Of the woman's neck.
half sovering the head from the body. Jackson's
back had not been turned q moment; his eye
had hardly left tho couple. and as it happened
nc WA lOOhlnB t1iICClly hh Gliclu WITCH INC UlDW
was struck. He made a dive for the
murderer. Quick as he was, Braun was quicker.
Three times he plunged the knife into tho
woman's neck before Jackson reached h,nL
Sac leared up. hut Immediately began sink.
the knife; Braun's fists were tightly clenched
aud his face was drawn with passion; The two
convicts who were at the door and who saw the
s sssSa' called to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS coailry.
,l1 .,yna ,rffhin a fnNyf aat al tho nnr nt.It.
r MnG @H ia Ws'p the room oem 's and q rr ABB sdG Braun a0a aIsS.
As he did, the bloody knife dropped from the
This ali happened SO quickly that Mrs: Braun's
body had hardly touched the floor. In less time
the r % Sn.I and d !" : hurry iS'c call Waste was sent for Dr..
Irwin. the, prison physician. He came in q few
was dead. There being no other. place in the
prison for Braun's confinement. no was taken
are kept. awaiting execution. He had, Gained
down u bit by the time he arrived, there.
t Wst fi@s q S"F Fse w m%rd Sss a nGs q t9 Few pI mians a.
later, and he ordered that the man be
T. sssrI pplsess and dv ssaF Si% fiji Tsis THAT %ss q sSssiai f fhers
was no other weapon on Braun, The Warden
went to the cell N the sonde,nned house with
Did You have any difficulty with your wife that
,BfsaHn~Mr. Sage. I would not like to speak
WTaSrden-Don't you want to exonerate your
self in some wayi Has she been guilty of any
thing
Braun-No.
Warden-Did she offend you in any wayl
Braun-I don't like to speak about IL. 1t 10
not that ! don't respect you. but ! don't want to
talk about IT,.
Wrrden-Was 1t on account of any trouble
You has previously to your coming hcrei
To this there WAS no answer.
W~arden-How long have you been marriedl
years.
Warden-Have you any childreni
Braun-Yes. we have five; three boys and
Warden-You must have had some reason for
doing this; there must have been somo eXtcnua-
tion for 1t; 1t IS not possible that you killed the
woman in cold blood:
DrRun-Is she dead
Warden-Yes.
At this Braun. who had been, sitting upright.
his knees, and moaned: "Oh. my God! my God!"
Warden-Did she offend you by anything she
said here
Warden-Do you want to write to anybody to
omt rnunanl fnr Won z