The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-12-18
THE DEFENSE RESTS
IN BRANDT CASE
ACCUSED PLACED UPON
RACK BY GRANT.
But One Discrepancy in
His Story.

and are Getting Grouchy-Trying to
Break Force of Ida Suntheimer's
Story State Starts in on Rebuttal.
The Brandt murder trial is nearing
an end. At four o'clock Monday af-
ternoon the defense rested, after
rather futile attempt to throw dis
credit upon the testimony of Ida Sun
theimer, who had sworn that she had
been in the COW stable and heard a
part of the quarrel. Brandt in his
story tried to throw the blame of the
trouble with Mitchell upon the girl.
stating that Mitchell told him that Ida
was at fault.
A 10 o'clock Monday morning the
case was resumed with Brandt upon
the stand. He told the story Of, the
trouble practically as recited by his
wife and the little boy. He admitted
that he was afraid of Mitchell. prin-
cipally because of the stories he had
heard of his violent temper and VIC
ious disposition.
After they had quarreled about the
horses, Brandt said that Mitchell stoop-
ed down to pick up stone. Just
when he had lifted it from the q ound
few inches, Brandt caught up stick
and struck his farm hand across the
front of the head, knocking him down
on his knees. According to the pris-
oner's story. Mitchell then said he had
enough and they went up toward the
house, where Mitchell again wanted to
fight fair, when Brandt again picked
UP club and told him he would
smash him to the earth If he did not
quit. 1t was the same old story from
that on as to the actions of Mitchell
and the time of his leaving the house.
On cross examination Attorney
Grant went after Brandt and put him
through course of questioning that
shaken in any particular except one.
There discrepancy was shown that
was not explained. Mr.. Grant wanted
to know how it came that If Brandt
waited until Mitchell had raised the
stone part way from the ground that
he could stoop. pick up club and
strike Mitchell before he could
straighten up and throw the stone.
The point was insisted upon for some
time, but no explanation was made.
Monday the attorneys were not
sauve with each other. There were
frequent clashes between counsel,
the scrappy ones being Grant and
Pomerene. The critical stage of the
case has been reached and in the re-
buttal testimony there are many nice
distinctions of competency of evidence
for Judge Amber to pass upon.
After Brandt had left the witness
stand. Ida Suntheimer, who was work.
ing at Brandts at the time of the trag-
edy. was recalled and tho attorneys
for the defense placed her upon the
stand and had her repeat some of her
testimony. They also wanted her to
admit that she had stated chat she had
not seen or card any of the trouble.
She denied that she had ever said so.
When an effort was made to have her
go into more details involving new
points Of evidence, the Judge held that
1t was incompetent.
Emma Keiser was then placed upon
the stand .and stated that she had
been at Brandt's on the Sunday after
the trouble and had asked Ida Sun
theimer what she knew of he fight and
she replied that she had not seen OF
heard anything. Miss Keiser admit.
ted on cross examination that she
was not very well acquainted with
the Suntheimer girl.
At this point the defense rested and
Surveyor Sickafoose was brought back
to give the result of his observations
made Saturday. He had gone down
to the scene to ascertain IL one could
see from the Nicholl's house to the
corner of the Brandt house where the
second trouble occurred He said
there was no distractions between tho
two points as the trees were at either
side OF the line OF vision.
While the lawyers were wranglinl
about the admission OF evidence as te
the trees and other Instructions In tn,
way, Prosecutor Day wanted the cour
to order the surveyor to go back u
the scene OF the trouble and max,
some corrections on the map befor,
1t went to the jury room. To thi
Pomerene objected.
DO you object to the truth?" sait
Day. rather fiercely.
mo. I do not object to the truth
but do object to your Interpretation
of what is truth" replied Pomeren
with some show of passion.
The crash came as little diversion
to the audience after period of ted
ium.
The state was ready with ancthe
witness in rebuttal but the Judge stat
cd that the hour for adjournment ha,
come and the case went over into an
other day. II is expected that the ar
guments will be begun today unles
something unexpected In the way of re