The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-18
MRS. BRENNAN IS
AS CALM AS EYER
Trial Which Means Life or Death
to Her Began
Today.
Defense Is Still an E;nigma-The
State Holds Strong
y Evidence.
JURORS IN BRENNAN MUIR
DER CASE
Frank Maxwell, farmer, orono,
Lake Minnetonka.

Frank Maxwell, farmer, orono,
Lake Minnetonka.
Mrs. Stella Brennan, accused of muir
dering her three stepchildren, was
placed on trial for her life before Judge
IL. d. Dickinson In courtroom NO. or
the district court today. Frank Nantz,
Samuel Chase and George Myers were
of securing a jury was begun, without
delay. Twelve veniremen were exam
ined and one juror accepted up to noon.
With no more agitation than that
shown by a young woman dressing for
a, dinner party, the defendant, charged
with committing one of the most heart
less murders ever perpetrated in Min
fnesota, painstaklng!y arrayed herself
ing. With her head held high and a
shadow of defiant smile on her pretty
mouth, she walked into the big court
room packed with spectators and took
her, seat behind her lawyer at the trial
table without a single tremor.
The defendant was attended by Mrs.
Mary Woodburn, matron Of the county
Jail, IN whose charge she has been since
The matron occupied a seat Immediately
behind the prisoner and this will be her
post turnout what promises to be long
and tedious trial.
Looks Like Nan Patterson.
HWhy she is the Nan Patterson Of
Minneapolis, - remarked one of the
spectators as Mrs. Brennan came into
the court room. The aptness Of the re-
mark was acknowledged and more than
one person commented upon the likeness
between the Minneapolis woman and
the celebrated New York actress. The
black hat and the long black wells worn
by both women accentuate the s1milari-
ty in features and carriage. +
Mrs. Brennan wore a black skirt
and shirtWaist and dark blue Jacket.
The only ornament to relieve her Sc
we're .garb was a star pearl brooch at
her throat. She were her wedding ring
and. q turquoise guard ring. q
The defendant sat during the morn,
ing session; without a show of weari-
ness or worry, and, altho the observed
OF all observers, she. was apparently
the most disinterested Of the specta,
tors. Only once or twice did she speak
and then she leaned over her attor.
ney's shoulder and with smile made
some remark that evidently had to dc
with the fitness Of some venireman I'M
der examination. Her regular feature,
were immobile, even when one Juror
admitted before he could be prevented
that he believed the defendant guilty
Of murder.
It is said that the defendants nat
ural nerve is supplemented by her re-
ligious faith. James Brennan, the de-
PENDANT g husband, is devout church
member, and for some time he has beer
endeavoring to convert his wife to his
faith. Lately his efforts have seemed
to be effective and her guards now say
that Mrs. Brennan has rosar7
which she uses night and morning al
she says her prayers.
Cary Against Smith.
County Attorney Al J. Smith is con
Quoting the state g case, while the de
Of E. 8. Cary. From the opening tao
tics Of counsel it seems that Mr.. Cary
usual snowy methods will be interferet
| with by Mr.. Smith, whose bland smil
looks like the kind that won It come off
| and his quiet politeness refuses to b,
ruffed by remarks of counsel.
The examination Of veniremen thi
morning proved that nearly everyon
had read Of the Brennan murder case
but that very few had formed reall,
! decided opinions. The question Of cap
|
| eral Of the prospective jurors and som
| interest was aroused when James M
| Wallace stated positively that h
would not find the defendant guilty O
murder in the first degree, even if tn
! evidence convinced him that she ha,
! killed Elizabeth Brennan, as charged il
| the Indictment, because he was unal
! terably opposed to capital punishment
The venireman was excused by tn
court on submitted challenge for i'm
piled bias. ~:
Frank Maxwell, the only juror &C
! copied up to noon, said he had read o
the case, but had no opinion as to tn
guilt or innocence of the accused. H
! is farmer Of Scotch parentage an
when he was passed by Mr.. Cary, tn
; county attorney quickly accepted him
The filing Of the panN will take sew
era1 days and special venire, or pc,
haps two, will be required to secure til
, ftwelve good men and true
The indictment upon which Mrs
Brennan is now being tried charge
that on Nov. 4, 1905, in. her home a
1922 Fifth avenue N the defendant wi
killed her stepdaughter, Elizabet
Brennan, aged H. The defendant i
accused in other indictments Of KILN
two other stepchildren. ard of danger
ously wounding Tommie Brennan. Th
surviving child Of James Brennan wi
be the states principal witness agains
his stepmother. The husband remain
loyal to the wife.
County Attorney Smith IS case az
pears to be one Of the strongest eve
presented to jury and his chain Of Gil
cumstantial evidence will be hard t
break. Mrs. Brennan IS defense is a
enigma. The defendant claims tina
she is innocent and that some would-b
4 robber committed the triple murder. A
I insanity plea is anticipated by the stat.
! but this they are prepared to controver
BROTHERS DROWNED SKATING.
i Coldwater, Mich. Dec. 1s.-Ralph and Ra
Relyea. brothers, aged 10 and IL years wei
drowned yesterday afternoon while skating Z