The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
Testimony Showing g
 Him a Bigamist.
FIRST WIFE ON THE STAND
MRS. M. ARELLANES BRANDES
 WAS NEVER DIVORCED.
Ramon Arana Tells of Murderous Threats Made by the Accused Against Lillian About
 Year Ago.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.

Oakland Office San Francisco Call
 9OS Broadway, Dec s.
 Just one week ago to-day the hearing of William A. Brandes, charged with the murder of his 13-year-old daughter, was commenced before Justice Fred C. Gift and the end of that period is marked by another startling disclosure concerning the dual life of the accused. climax, in fact, was reached at to-day's hearing when Mrs. NJ. Arellanes Brandes gave testimony which brands the prisoner a bigamst.
 Mrs. M. A. Brandes was supposed to be the first wife of the accused man; she was the mother of the murdered Lillian. On the witness stand to-day she made the startling statement that she was never divorced from her husband.
 In the face of this the accused has here tofore maintained all along that the woman with whom he lived at Berkeley who is also charged with murder, is his wife. He has always introduced her as such
 When Mrs. M Arellanes Brandes was put on the stand to-day she said: II live in San Francisco. 1 have known the ac- cused since 1882, when l became his wife. The ceremony was performed by Father McMenomy in Santa Cruz on March 15 of that year. The witnesses were Mrs. Gamble, formerly Mrs. Chapel, and Manuel Sarramentos. I lived with Brandes four years and then separated from him..
 Have you been divorced?" asked Dep uty District Attorney Allen.
 The witness answered No"
 You are still his wife, then?" continued tRS aYes!a qaaesti0ner' and the witness answered Attorney Sawyer, on behalf of the de- fense, here moved that the witness testi- mony be stricken out because he deemed II Irrelevant incompetent and immaterial. Prosecutor Allen, however, objected to such course, stating that he had discon- unueu the examination as soon as he dis covered that the witness was still Brandes wife. Justice Gift thereupon admitted the testimony, but the witness was as, not questioned further.
 1hs morning Ramon Arana, a cousin of the murdered girl, was put on the stand He had known Brandes about sixteen years and had met him at Santa Cruz aDout the time of his marriage to his first WlIe. He had met him again in June or July of last year, during the military en- campment at Santa Cruz.
 T had conversation at that time with Brandes concerning his daughter Lillian,' continued witness. He said he was go- ing to call upon the girl and see how she her where she was at present, but when she got older he was going to take her away and educate her. He would not have her do as the rest had done, but would have her do as he wished If she did not he said he would kill her. I do not know whom he meant by the rest, but l suppose he meant his wife and oth- CT members of his family. He did not state to me whom he meant.
 'I have known Mrs. M A. Brandes since her marriage to w. A. Brandes in Santa Cruz. Lillian, their daughter, at- tended the same school as my daughter and they used to play together Lillian was timid little girl, with sweet dis position; She was the, very picture of her father 1 used to think. 1 saw her last about a year ago when she was re- siding. with Mrs. Chapel, an. aunt of John E. Streightif, Deputy Coroner at Berkeley, was also called this afternoon. He, too, proved an important witness. He testified that he was notified by Dr: WhitwOrth on November 19 at about } o'clock that Lillian Brandes had taken poison and had hanged herself. At the bed; there were two apron strings tied in a knot hanging from one of the bed posts; there was an abrasion on the left cheek and two smaller ones beneath 1t. 'The neck" said the witness, was also badly marked. The outer skin on either side had been broken; the, hands were said the witness, that the marks were made by the girl herself in pumping against the bedpost'
 Witness next testified to having discov- cred black and blue marks upon the body and the lower limbs, which Brandes had told him were the result of a whipping
 
 next gave a brief account of the post mortem examination, the facts concern ing which were brought out at the in- quest.
 J. Wright, a Berkeley baker, who tesu- fled that the murdered girl had opened door and called to him by name on the Thursday prior to her death. She wished to borrow a dollar She was in her night gown and appeared badly scared. The witness noticed abraSlonS on her cheeks and left temple at the time.
 At this stage the hearing was continued until tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock.
 Brandes has taken time by the forelock, for tonight, at the County Jail, he stated that he was never married to the woman who is also charged with murder: Aside from this simple statement he refused to that during the past few years he has introduced Etta Brandes as his wife, and when Deputy Sheriff White arrested him at his home in Berkeley he expressed the greatest anxiety and fear lest his poor wife would commit suicide.
 When the reporter was ushered into the women's corridor at the County Jail tonight Mrs, Etta Brandes, who had been seated around table with other female prisoners reading papers, ran into her cell, pulled the door shut and wished to have 1t understood that she had retired. She was finally induced to step out but declined to answer any questions bearing OF her relations with Brandes.
 q refuse to say one word" said the prisoner because nearly every time my attorneys have called on me they have found me talking to reporters I have 11.-----.- talked too much and my attor- news have instructed me not to say any thing more. Whats the use of having counsel when you don't follow their in- structions?''
 She absolutely refused to say even whether she and Brandes were ever mar ried or not It is now intimated that the prosecution will put her on the stand Should it then be proved that a ceremony was performed. her testimony would be barred and Brandes' status as bigamist will be established. Should it develop that she is not Brandes' wife, her testi- mony may be of more importance at this stage of the proceedings than it was ever expected 1t could be.