Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-04-09

:, Coroner Chas. Heritage testified to visit
ing the scene of the homicide on the morn
ing of the 18th of September and described
the position in which the body was found
outside the chicken house door. In the
mans hand, gripped in the death grasp,
was heavy iron grating.
Morris Saches, brother-in-law to Peter and
| William Brandt, testified he got to the
house between and 8 O'Clock, and saw the
body; saw it next morning, and it was in
same position as when he saw it the night
before.
Percy Dare, living at Vineland testified
to taking the various photographs of the
place and the body of William as it lay in
the yard.
] VIM. L. Bates, undertaken, testified that
he attended the funeral in professional ca
pacity, and that William was #. 10 in.
high, and was perfectly built, well de-
veloped man.
Emma B. Hammond testified that she
lived at the place adjoining Peter Brandt's
house; was at home on Sunday evening,
September 18th. Between Z and O'Clock
she was attracted by their dog barking;
went out and saw William Brandt on the
road carrying lamp, going up toward his
Mothers beyond her house; he went to
his mothers. Then saw Peters wife and
three children coming toward her; they
came into her house. Afterward Peter
came in and later went into the shed; later
her daughter followed him. Saw William
about the chicken houses, and heard glass
smashing and chickens squawking. After the
shot there were in our house Peters wife
and three children, Mrs. Schwitzer and
| Mrs. Saches
Peter came in, and I said, "Pete, hope
you haven't hurt him." and he answered,
Eyes, Pm afraid he's dead"
| Under cross examination she told Of the
sorrowful scene in her home where were
gathered the boys mother, Mrs. Sehwitzer;
his sister-in-law, Mrs. Saches and her hus-
band, Peters wife and children.
| Alice Hammond, daughter of the previous
witness, testified to incidents of the even
| ing, about as told by her mother. When
| William passsd the house with flaming
| lamp in his hand, he was mumbling and
shaking his fist. / was in the shed at our
house with Peter; he had a gun in his hand.
Heard noise of pounding and banging at
Peters house after William had returned
| from his mothers; next heard noise of
thrashing and banging of glass and chick
ems; then Peter said 81 must put stop to
this, he must not destroy my property, if
shoot it will be in air to scare him." Peter
went around back of the chicken house;
heard report Of the gun. When Peter
came back he said "I've shot him, |
couldn't help it,"
David VanHook, Of Newfeld, Justice of
the Peace, testified that Peter Brandt came
to his house at g. 80 a. m. on the 18th of Sept
He asked if l knew him, and he said 81
have killed my brother, what is to be
done didn't mean to kill him, but if |
hadn't shot him he would have killed me. /"
l said ''I'll have to commit you to jail"
Fenton Louder, constable of Franklin
township, identified an iron CRATE found
at Peter Brandt's place.
The State then rested.
Mr.. Swackhamer in opening his case to
the jury, said the defense would be self
defense The facts are that William and
Peter Brandt had been in the business
of raising chickens and shared the profits.
In July William went to Atlantic City,
calculating to be gone for two years, and
leased his house to Peter. The arrange
ment was that the poultry be shipped to
Atlantic City. On September IA William
came to Peters house with his little boy
and Mr. Saches William asked Peter to
get down the account book, and claimed
more credit than was given him, then they
went to chicken house when William COM
planned of waste Of feed. Later they
returned to the house where Williams wife
and son were seated on the lounge Finally
Williams wife and child and Mr.. Saches
went home, but William refused to 60 with
them, saying he would come when he got
ready