The San Francisco call., 1898-11-21
Doctors Say That Miss Brandes Did Not Die From Stran-
 gulatiOn.

As sequel 10 the autopsy gpoH the body ef 16-yedr-oid Lillian BrGH6es her father, William Alfred 8r1ndes, is confined in the AiGms6a County JdjI pending the verdict Of fhs coroner's jury. Miss BrdAdes was found dead on Saturday morning in 8erke- icy, and to all appearances she died 6y her own hand. The autopsy did not bear this oUt. # vas found that death resulted from blows on Me head Mrs. Srd76es, sfep- mother Of the girl. admitted to Deputy Sheriff A White that she struck the child with stick Inst "Wednesday night. At the Instance Of the District Attorney the father was locked up without being formally charged The Stepmotber IS IS under police surveillance.
 William Alfred Brandes of Berkeley Is a prisoner in the Alameda County Jail and his wife is under police sur veillance. The man is held pending the verdict of the Coroner's Jury impaneled 10 determine the cause of death of Lil- llian Brandes, only daughter of the pris- oner suffering detention. His frail slip of a girl was found dead in her room Saturday morning. Her father said she was hanging to the bedpost-suspended by a common apron of soft material.
 It was at first given out by the au- thOrities as a simple case of suicide. The girl was of morbid temperament, and, according to neighbors' stories, had lived unhappily with her stepmother. The body was removed to the Berkeley Morgue, and a superficial examination showed the authorities that murder most foul had been committed. The body was marked from ankles to head with bruises. An investigation was in- stituted at once, which finally resulted in the arrest of the girls father.
 The autopsy disclosed the fact that death had not resulted from strangula- tion, but from blows administered upon the head of the young girl. The theory of the six medical men who performed the autopsy was that the child was beaten over the head last Wednesday night, when neighbors heard a quarrel between the girl and her stepmother. She was not able to attend school the next day, nor was she seen about after ward. The beating confined her to her bed.
 The doctors hold that the wounds on the neck are superficial, and that death did not result from strangulation. The apron, of soft material, would not have left the marks on the girls neck. These show plainly the imprint of a stout rope. Whether this was applied before or after death could not be determined. AS the result of the autopsy pointed to the father and stepmother of the dead girl it was determined to place the former under arrest at once to prevent flight.
 The police are not too sure that the yl.,,l +I,- The only information given out regard ing this comes from the father. He affirms that when he entered the girls room. after being summoned by his wife, he found his daughter hanging to the bedpost He cut her down, placed her on the bed and hurried away to summon the doctor. It is claimed the material of the apron would not have held the body without breaking, and in any event it would not have left the girls neck in the condition in which 1t was found.
 When the officers approached Brandes' house there were evidences of a possible attempt at flight. A horse and buggy stood before the door when the officers entered, but it had gone when they came out again.
 MT. Brandes apparently expected a ,,;eit from the police as he showed nc token of surprise when Deputy Sheriff Al White, accompanied by Marshal Lloyd of Berkeley, appeared. The ott1- cers went to the house soon after U o'clock and found Brandes standing lust outside the front door. He knew MT. White personally and invited him into the house. They entered the par Tor of the cottage. and there was painful pause for moment, when MT. White said: "Brandes, I come to place you under arrest
 Brandes looked at him and sald' "Oh!"
 He then said: "I must see my wife, and made a move as though to leave the room. MT. White stopped him, say ing he would have her called. Before Mrs. Brandes entered the room the Sheriff and his prisoner went to the kitchen by another passageway. The wife then went back and sat down while her husband wrote a telegram.
 The import of the Sheriffs visit grad ually broke upon Mrs Brandes, and she became hysterical. The husband called her sweetheart and other endearing names and tried to calm her. Her eyes and his were tearless
 Brandes sat at the kitchen table and wrote with a steady hand. He stopped in the m. Idle of his telegram and asked what the bail would be-
 To this MT. White gave an evasive answer.
 Later on he asked: Have you a war hnt?"
 You know as well as I do that I fon't need one," was the rejoinder.
 Before the prisoner was taken from the house he had a short interview with his wife in the presence of Deputy sher-
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