The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-14
TWOFOLD DEFENSE
FOR MRS. BRENNAN.
INSANITY MAY BE URGED If De
NAL FAILS.
The County Attorney and E. s. Gary
Will Go to Chicago Tonight to Take
Dispositions Bearing on the Woman IS
Mental Condition State Preparing to
Spring Surprise.

Mrs. Stella Brennan's defense to the
charge OF numbering her three step
children, upon which she will be tried
next week, bids fair to resemble the re-
markable plea of former Mayor a. A..
Ames on his first trial for bribery.
From all indications it will be a plea
that the defendant didn It commit the
crime. but that If she did she was in
sane.
Mrs. Brennan is closely guarded in
the county jail Her nerve is unfailing
and she consistently contends that she
is innocent and that some unknown
hand-probably that of some robber-
pulled the fatal trigger. This tends to
show that her defense will be straight
denial.
On the other hand, E. S. Cary, the
defendant $ attorney and County At
torneY Al j. Smith will leave for Chi
ccago tonight upon the request Of Mr..
tions, among them being the statements
of Chicago doctors who had some knowl-
edge Of the defendant while she lived
in that city. While there she is said
to have twice attempted suicide. The
theory of the defense is that she there
showed unmistak cable, signs of insan-
indicate that counsel may attempt to
show insanity. IA
Since the defendant has been under
the care of Mrs. Woodburn, matron Of
the Hennepin county jail, she has
shown absolutely no signs Of demen-
tia. w.
AL Smith to Try the Case.
County Attorney Al J. Smith is per-
sonally preparing the Brennan case and
will try it himself. He is also going to
do some business in Chicago and altho
he will not discuss the exact nature Of
1t, he intimates that it will not be to
the liking of the defendant IS counsel.
It is known that there will be wit
nesses here from Chicago who will tell
of Mrs. Brennan's improper treatment
of the Brennan children and Of her
avowed dislike for them.
The prosecutor, has, by careful work,
collected mass of circumstantial and
direct evidence that constitutes an un-
usually strong case against the defand-
ant and one that she will have great
trouble in explaining away. Jealousy
and dislike Of her step-children will
be shown conclusively and this will be
argued as furnishing a sufficient mo-
tive for the crime.
$50 State Is Handicapped.
The county attorney is confronted by
the usual Hennepin county handicap
lack of funds; =, In other large cities,
thousands of dollars are furnished pub
lie prosecutors with which to secure
evidence and pay necessary expenses
Of the prosecution of murder cases. In
Minneapolis there is never any money
for this purpose. The county commits
sioners refuse to furnish such funds
and there is no other source. The re.
suit is the danger Of dropping Of i'm
portant prosecutions and the escape of
criminals. - =. "a
In the Brennan case considerable
money is required by Mr.. Smith in Sc.
curing witnesses from Chicago and in
other important work in connection
with preparing the state's case. There
is no money to be had, and the county
4 attorney will advance the money him
self for his Chicago trip and the ex
pense Of getting important witnesses
here. When he will get the money
back, if at all, is problematical.