The San Francisco call., 1899-03-17

her. She too, is charged with the muir
der of Lillian Brandes.
When District Attorney Allen asked:
Are you any relation to the defendant
Mrs. Brandes hesitated and looked at her
attorneys, one of whom, ]. Z. Bennett,
motioned with his head for her not to an
swer the question. Mrs. Brandes replied
then that she declined to answer Judge
Hall advised the woman that she would
not be obliged TO answer if the answer
would tend to degrade her. There was
another pause and Judge Hall then asked
witness if such was the ground on which
she declined to respond, and she assented
with haif-suppressed Yes, sir.
At the preliminary hearing the fact had
developed that Brandes was at one time
the husband of Mrs. Mary Arrelanes OF
San Francisco and that he had never
been divorced from her.
Before Mrs. Brandes took the stand
this forenoon little Milton Brandes, son
of the accused was recalled and among
the questions asked by Attorney Sawyer
was whether Lillian had ever said what
she would rather do than go back TO the
ranch" The boy replied:
"She said she would sooner Kill herself
or me, or my mother, than go back TO
The child was then cross-examined,
when 1t developed that witness had spent
considerable time last evening with his
fathers attorneys and that they had
asked him the questions answered by him
In court this morning. AIIOTISy beHllctl
vigorously objected to all this: DO they
intend to impeach uS?'' he asked. Judge
Hall, however, ruled that it was proper
for the prosecution to try and show that
Milton had been prompted and induced to
give a certain line of testimony, though
the line of examination may be directed
to reflect even upon Attorneys Bennett
The characterization that followed
mixed the. young witness on certain
points, adding color to the prosecution s
fntimation. Before he left the stand he
said positively that Brandes never scolded
Lillian or swore at her, nor mad Lillian
had any scratches on her face.
Mrs. Brandes was next called. Her thin,
pale face was veiled, but at the request
at the outset she contradicted her son s
testimony, declaring that Brandes did
scold Lillian on Tuesday night, Novem-
Der 15 last; though she insisted that Lii,
liam and her father always manifested
affection for each other. On the Sunday
previous to that Tuesday witness and
pute AS a result Brandes had concluded
to send the girl back to the country. on
which had been saved for rent and which
was partly to be used to pay Lillians
fare to the ranch.
en- Tuesday morning between l and z
o'clock Brandes brought the girl into wit
ness room, scolded the girl and spanked
the boy Milton She said the girl was
fully dressed, even to her shoes and stock
ings On Tuesday evening, after dinner
the money search was begun and on Fri
day the money was found on the dining
room table.
ION Saturday morning Brandes came
home at $780," continued Mrs. Brandes
s'He went to bed and was asleep when
aWoke from noises which I Thought were
downstairs ] went to Lillian's room and
found her hanging to her bedpost by
Witness then went on to affirm that she
called Brandes and they went down to-
gether. He took the girl down and tried
70 do the best he could for her. Attorney
Sawyer then asked:
How did Lillian Brandes come to hel
death?'' Mr. Melvins objection to this
question was sustained.
"Did Mr. Brandes hang Lillian before ol
mo. SIR" snappishly responded the wit
ness.
about her neck?'' asked Sawyer, and wit
ness again replied negatively. She alsC
testified that Lillian had. no symptom =, O.
chill or pains in the head Of the