The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-21
CITY NEWS
TELLS WITH SOBS
OF DEAD MOTHER
TOMMY BRENNAN BREAKS DOWN
ONLY ONCE.
Tears Flow as Attorney e. s. Gary Per-
sists in Referring to Mother Whom
Brennan Children Loved Dearly
Boy Is mistaken by Lawyers Severe
Cross-Examination.

Tommy Brennan, the state g star wit
proved himself an exceptionally strong
witness on direct examination yester-
day, when he detailed in convincing,
clean-cut and emphatic manner the in
cidents tending to prove his stepmother
guilty of murder. It was not until he
was subjected to E. $. Cary's rapid-fire
of any grown man on the witness stand.
! The defendant $ attorney made
strenuous effort to break down the con-
| idence of the boy, but his efforts were
in vain and the little fellow refused to
be embarrassed or to modify his direct
testimony in any essential particular.
Only once did the little man, break
memory Of his dead mother, whom the
Brennan children loved. Mr.. Cary, for
some reason not apparent to the or
binary observer, insisted upon calling
up the sad occasion Of the mother s
HtHow long ago did your own mother
die9' asked counsel. -...@
"Did she die suddenly or was she
sick a long time9'' "She died sud-
denly.'' s.~ -.
COZ heart diseaseq' eyes, sir.''
NWere you with her when she diedg''
eyes, SIR
~ Mb her el ssd Hss X;ss INV NJ two
little sisters.''
Tears Begin to Flow.
At this point the grief that had been
apparent in the boys voice and ewes
for some moments could not be with
stood and the tears began to roll down
his scared cheeks.
The atteePeey PERSISTED Nd 3D. Twas ycpg.
twas. your mother Catholics"
cts your father Catholic9'' eyes,
sir.''
"Was it your mothers dying wish
that you be brought up a Catholicq''
"Yes, SIR and a sob choked the lit
tie fellows answer.
..sBe brave. Tommy! Be brave!"
said the county attorney, reassuringly,
and the witness dried his eyes and from
that time or was a man again. Tho
incident brought tears to many eyes in
the courtroom and even the defendant,
for the first time since the opening of
the trial, wiped her eyes and looked
down into her lap
During. the rest of Yesterdays cross
examination, Tommy was entirely mas
CCA VI AAu1oC1A dAu VI bAC S4CudG1On LII
reply to long line Of rapdi-fire ques-
tions relative to his treatment by and
his association with the detectives since
the murder and his being taken to live
with Police Matron Schaeffer, the wit
ness smilingly admitted that he had
been well treated, had been taken to
the theater several times and was a
friend Of the detectives and Of the
other police officers .~.,
Takes UP the Tragedy. =. j..
Mr.. Carey passed: to the incidents of
the night of the tragedy and the boy
was clear and positive in his statements
Of the happenings. 21,.,... -.
| = Tommy was shown the revolver
found in the room after the murder. He
had identified it as the one belonging
to his father, "see if you can pull
that trigger commanded counsel,
a dramatic flourish.
Tommy tried to pull the trigger, but
~ thought so,' remarked the attor-
ney as he resumed his seat
The witness stated that he thought
he was conscious after falling on the
couch subsequent to his being Shot
1911 D g;, you < see your pother go into her
Elbow long did you remain lying on
| the couch9''
"Onl y a short time-a few. seconds. -
ste sneF gBed} Tsnt int
"And asked her if you were going to
dies Did you know she was shot9''
eyes, sir. -
odd she say anything to youa''
No, sir:'' -.
:"Did she lie there as tho uncon
"shee didn' It say anything and didn u
Court then adjourned.