Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-10-16
BROUWER
TELLS OF
HIS LOVE.
The Prisoner in Toms River Muir.
der Case on Witness Stand
Denies Guilt.
CRIES AS HE TESTIFIES

Frank ]. Brouwer, on trial charged
with the murder of his wife by poison,
went on the stand in his own defense
''As God is my judge l never gave
my wife arsenic!" he cried dramatical-
ly in answer to questions. Il never
gave her any poison except as my judg-
ment as physician and her condition
required"
He told of his boyhood. his studies,
his marriage and his home building.
With tears streaming down his cheeks
he denied that his wife had ever ac-
cused him seriously of being unfaith-
full.
He denied positively the assertion of
Elizabeth Hyer, his dead wife's sister,
that he had threatened to get divorce.
II could not, for loved her." he said,
and declared that Benjamin Hyer had
told but half the truth in order to make
a petty incident related in his testi-
mOny appear important.
DIR. Brouwer described fully his
wife's last illness and the treatment
given by himself and the other physi-
clans called in to attend her.
DR.. Brouwer said that on the last
night of his wife's illness he gave her
brandy and one twentieth of grain of
strychnine.
did the enema administered include
strychnine?" asked Mr.. Carmichael
"No; it did not" was the reply.
NJ rrttt 20
arsenicY'
mo; never gave arsenic to Mrs.
Brouwer."
did you ever prior to or during your
wife's illness give her strychnineT'
"As God Is my judge, never gave
my wife any strychnine except in the
one instance the night before she died"
'Did you ever put in your wife's med
icine or food powdered glassY
no; did not"
"Did you ever do anything to cause
your wife's death?"
Il did not"
DR.. Brouwer denied that his wife
was ever Jealous, although she some
times spoke about women who visited
his office and after they had gone
would ask who they were and what
they wanted.
did your wife ever speak to you
about Miss McClenahan or Miss
Kearns" asked Mr.. johnson.
mo; she did not" the witness re-
piled.
In pro,,,,,or eo;d tbot ho had nayar
walked on the street with Miss Kearns.
but one occasion took her for carriage
ride.
He denied that he ever told any one
he would get divorce or thatahe ever
heard his wife say she would apply for
a divorce.
"What about the testimony Of Ben
jamin Hyer to the effect that you once
struck your wfeY'
ben Hyer only told half the truth,
to my detriment. My wife wanted to
punish one of our little boys, and l did
not want ii. But never struck her"
ibid your wife ever complain of kid
ney trouble before her last sickness"
"Yes, and DR.. Cate attended her for
1t.
'What did Mrs. Brouwer eat just be-
fore she was taken illy'
cat about O'Clock in the evening
she ate canned soup and corn. potatoes,
cottage cheese. break and butter, wa
termelon and drank q bottle Of bcerT
"Did she eat any more that even
ing?'
"Yes. About 10 o'clock she ate three
onion sandwiches and Il slice of water
melon and drank more beer"
The witness said that his wife's sick
ness, in his opinion. was the result of
overeating and was not caused by i'm
pure food. He thought that too
hearty meal had produced cholera NOR
bus.
DR.. Brouwer said the insurance on
his wife's life had not been collected.
In filing out the proof of death he
gave Brights disease as the cause of
death because he believed that that
was tho pniJca