The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-10-12
TRY To find MOTIVE
Prosecution Seeks to Show Why
Or. BrouWer Would Commit
Wife Murder.
sISTER-lN-LAW ON THE STAND.
Relatives of Deceased Woman Tell of
Her Quarrels With Husband-Sent
Flowers to Woman Patient, Say
Nurse and Florist - Physician and
Children Beneficisries of Estate.

Toms River, n. T., Oct. IL. - That
there had been quarrels between DIR.
Frank Brouwer and his wife and that
DR.. Brouwer had said that he intended
to sue for divorce was the testimony
given by Miss. Elizabeth Hyer, sister
of the woman for whose alleged muir
der the doctor is on trial
Miss Hyer said that her brother-in-
law had told her that incompatipility
of temper made it impossible for him
and his wife to live happily together
and that he proposed to seek divorce.
According to Miss Hyer this was said
by the doctor more than four years
ago. -
Her brother, Trevonian Hyer, also
told of trouble between the two.
Calls Brother-in-Iaw Liar. Z
"That man is an awful liar" said
DIR. Brouwer to his counsel Neither of
the Hyers was. cross examined by the
defense.
Efforts of the prosecution were main
ly directed to an attempt to show
motive. The anxiety Of all concerned
to expedite yerdid4 was voiced by
Judge Hendrickson, who announced
that court would be held tomorrow.
Margaret j. Herries, supervising
nurse at Monmouth hospital, testified
that on Aug. 8, 1905, DIR. Brouwer7 sent
Miss Marie Kearns to the hospital suf-
fering from typhoid fever. The wit
ness testified that DR.. Brouwer called
on the patient at least three times and
talked with her in a private room.
Miss Herries said in answer to ques-
tions that she had observed nothing
wrong in the PHYSICIANS conduct.
Sent Flowers to Patient.
Gustavius Nordell, florist, testified
that in September of last year DR..
Brouwer bought some flowers from
him which the doctor said he was go
ing to take to a patient, according to
the witness.
Counsel for the defense asked that
the testimony of Miss Herries and
Nordell be stricken out, but the court
admitted it. The prosecution, stated
that it desired to show that tie de-
fendant while his wife was sdaHg gerous
ly i'll had sent Miss Kearns to IA hos
pital, had visited her there and made
her gifts of flowers. All this, in the
opinion of the states COUNSEL consti-
tuted motive for the crime.
Surrogate Grovan of Ocean county
testified that the defendant filed an
AFFIDAVIT before him on Dec % last in
which it was stated that Mrs. Brou-
wers e3tate was valued at $4,000 and
that DR. Brouwer and his two children
were the benefciaries. The placing of
the surrogate on the stand was also
regarded as an attempt on the part of
the prosecution to establish a motive
for the alleged crime
Court Sustains Objection.
Dr. Walter S. Washington of New
ark was called as an expert by the
state, but when the prosecutor asked
him what he thought had caused Mrs.
Brouwer's death, his opinion being
based on the testimony of witnesses
to whom he had listened since the be-
ginning of the trial. the witness was
not allowed to answer The court sus-
tanned the objection Of the defense and
said that the prosecutor must ask. a
hypothetical question, which would enl-
brace the statements from which he
desired the witness to form an opinion.
A peculiar feature of the trial was
the appearance in court of Jacob Van
Hise, the hangmsn, of Newark. Mr..
Arrowmith of Brouwer's counsel saw
Van Hise and said to Brouwer,
sgThere's Van Hise."
Brouwer turned and looked at the
hangman and said, ITS an outrage
that he is permitted here"