New-York tribune., 1906-10-18
DR.. BROUWER ACQUITTED
CROWD CHEERS VERDICT.
Jury Considers Wife Murder Charge
Only an Hour.

Toms River N. j.. Oct II (Special).-After
trial that has lasted since Monday October 8. DR..
Frank L. Brouwer. indicted for the murder or his
wife, Mrs. Carrie Brouwer, was acquitted late
this afternoon Judge Hendrickson finished his
charge at i:25 O'Clock. and the jury then retired
Just an hour later the constable on guard at the
door of the jury room informed that the
Jury wanted to come into court, and Judge Hen
Erickson and the counsel in the case sum-
moned from the hotel where they had gone TO
dinner The news spread that the jury was
coming into court, and when the judge assembled
the bench the courtroom was crowded
DR. Brouwer was brought in by a deputy
sheriff at $40. looking trifie pale but showing
no other signs of nervousness. The jury then
filed into the box and the foreman was asked
II they had agreed on verdict He promptly
replied:
1--WE find verdict of not guilty
Instantly the courtroom was in an uproar. Men
and women cheered and applauded in spite OF
the judges rapping for order and the efforts OF
the court constables to suppress the noise
Finally. wnen quiet was restored DIR. Brouwer
was formally discharged. He was so overcome
that he could scarcely speak
The acquitted man then asked permission to
address the jury and it granted. DR..
Brouwer turned to the jury and said: Il am
thankful, very thankful for the way you have
treated me. and / hope that none of you will
ever be placed in such a position as 1 have been
in The physician then shook hands with each
juror.
A big crowd was present when at 9:35 a. m,
Frank McDermott. for the state, began his ad-
| dress He asserted that it had been proved that
death caused by arsenicaI poison admin
stered by DR.. Brouwer- He instanced the al
| legged affection and attentions of the physician
hi
| saying:
We insist. gentlemen of the jury, that these
! things form an adequate motive for the commits
| sion of this crime. We submit that the woman
| died from arseniCal poison administered by
! her husband. We submit that these facts have
| been proved one by one, making a perfect case.
and your duty lies in returning verdict of muir
| der in the first degree against this defendant
When Mr. McDermott had finished Mr.. Wilson
at once began his argument for the defence. IN
the course of which he said:
! DR. Brouwer Is innocent The state has failed
TO make out a of premeditated murder We
want no compromise If you find that the de-
fendant in a cold booded and deliberate way, ad-
ministered poison you must do your duty and
bring in verdict of murder in the first degree.
But if on the other hand, you agree with us that
the woman died of ptomaine poisoning as the
result of meal of which she had partaken, you
are to bring in verdict of not guilty and allow
: the defendant go free and unstained
/ Circumstantial evidence. to be worthy OF con-
| sideration in this case, must fasten the crime
| indubitably on DR.. Brouwer. You must be
| able to say, There is no doubt" You must
| be able TO say (pointing at the defendant).
| Thou art the man" Now, gentlemen let TINS
man go home TO his boys.
Mr. Wilson as he uttered these words.
spoke In a tremuIous voice and seemed much
affected and his emotion wrought upon the
feelings of the jurors and of many other per-
| sons in the courtroom. Mr. Wilson resumed:
Won have been told that for love of an un-
| known woman DR.. Brouwer planned to kill his
wife Why, in Gods name. did they (pointing
| 10 the lawyers for the state) not mention her
name? If the defendant committed this crime
there is no peace for him on earth; there is no
hope for him in heaven In CONCLUSION gentle