The Washington herald., 1906-10-09
DR.. BROUWER ON TRIAL
School Chums of Physician
Decline jury Service.
DRAMATIC SCENES IN COURT
Many Women Are Present to See the
Prisoner, Who is Accused of Hav-
ing Put Arsenic and Ground Glass
in His Wifes FOOd-Crowd Blocked
Streets Near the Court.

Toms River, y. J.. Oct. S.-After several
dramatic scenes. a jury was selected this
afternoon TO try DR.. Frank Brouwer. a
prominent physician Of this place, for the
murder OF his wife by putting arsenic and
ground glass in her food. School chums
and friends of his boyhood were called
as taIesmen. Il was near time for ad-
journment when the challenges had been
exhausted by both sides and the work OF
selecting the jury went rapidly forward.
After the jury was completed the trial
went over for the day.
One Of the sensational scenes that took
place in the courtroom was due 10 the
defense trying to induce Benjamin Cram
mer, a farmer Of Forked River, Dr
BroUwer's birthplace, to qualify. The
mans hands were trembling. his features
quivered and his voice choked
What is the matter? Answer my ques-
tion.
The question had been: DO you object
TO capital punishment
Was Chum of Prisoner.
Suddenly tears streamed down the
mans face, and he burst out: For Gods
sake don't put me on this jury. Frank
and were friends"
He was hastily excused.
S Judson Ridgeway. Of Tuckerton.
flushed crimson when chosen as foreman
Of the jury and asked to face DT. BrOu-
wer, his chum Of boyhoOd.
With the courtroom packed to suffOca-
ton by several hundred spectators. many
of them women. the trial began at noon.
Foremost in the crowd that gazed eagerly
at the accused physician as he was led
into court was Miss Elizabeth Hyer sis
ter of Mrs. Brouwer, the victim, and her
brother, TrevOnian.
street is Blocked.
Fifteen minutes after Judge Hendrick-
son opened the case the crush was so
great that Sheriff Jeffery ordered the
doors closed. Washington street, on
which the courthouse is situated. was
bi0tnea for several hundred feet.
When the physician was taken from the
jail, hundreds rushed forward and tried
10 speak to him. He was jeered and
hooted by the men, but the women in the
crowd cried "ShameI' The accused man
was rushed forward by two deputy sher-
ifs, and he himself. with his powerful
frame. helped make a passage. On enter
ing the courtroom DR.. Brouwer saw his
sister-in-law and sCOWled at her.
1t will be the contention Of the prosecu-
tion. represented by Thomas P McDer-
mott, the public prosecutor, assisted by
Edward Wilson. of Jersey City, that DR..
Brouwer killed his wife ~ feeding her
arsenic poison, and that she knew that
she was being poisoned. They will prove
that arsenic was found in her body. and
by a series Of witnesses attemIt to show
that there were reasons. MONETARY and
others, that gave DR.. BrOuwer a motiye
for wanting 10 be rid of his wife
So far as can be learned tonight the
counsel for the defense. J. W. Carmichael
and Edward Wilson, will try tn Offset
this testimony by showing that the ar
senic found in her body was a part Cf the
fluid used In embalming her. The un lrr-
taker who embalmed the body will swear
however. that there was no arsenic in the
enbalmlng food
Chemist Found Arsenic.
The principal witness for the prosecu-
ton Will be F. a. Genth, chemist, who
will testify that he found arsenic in Mrs.
Brouwer's body. Second in Importance
10 DR.. Grenth, win be Dr. H. H. Cafe,
who signed a death certificate, saying
that Mrs. Brouwer died of Bright's dis
ease. He will be asked to explain how
he came to make such report when the
autopsy showed that death was caused
by arsenic pOia0aing. DT. Dsbrow. one
of the physicians who attended Mrs.
BroUwer, is said 70 have been asked 20
sign such a certificate, and refused. He
will be witness, as well as VIII be
Mary IIppincott, Alice Horlock. and Una
Dudley, nurses. who attended Mrs. BrOu
wer.
Not the least interesting figure in the
trial will be Miss Stella McClenahan, VINO
was a governess for the Brouwer children.
Mrs Bpouwer once left her home and
went to live with her sister at Lakewood,
because, according to evidence said 10 be
in the possession Of the prosecution. she
did not approve of the friendly relation
ship between her husband and Miss Nc
Clenahan.