The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-04-04
BRENNAN WAS ON
WITNESS STAND
Continued From Page one.


Mr.. Brennan furnished Tracy n,
thought so serious that he adjourned
Bangs many opportunities to display
the latter's keen wit and sense OF
humor, which made UP largely for q
large portion OF the dry testimony
which had consumed the whole day.
What the prosecution brought out
In the examination of Mr.. Brennan
would not tend TO vitiate to q great
degree the chances of Judge Cowan's
remaining on the bench at the expira-
ton OF the present proceedings. The
editorial witness modestly acknowl-
edged he had been partly responsible
for the newspaper agitation in the
state at the time of the reverse action
of the house of representatives and
during the period when the house In
vestigation committee was conductins
its examination of the numerous wit
nesses brought before it.
What Brennan Told.
Mr.. Brennan's story on the witness
stand was that he remembered on
June 20, 1910. when passing along
Kelly avenue in Devils Lake, he saw
Judge Cowan standing in the entrance
VA GA dASy ACdI GCAL uIuS SIOEG
about block from the courthouse. He
said that Judge Cowan came out of
the alley in company with John Nc
Lean, who has since been elected
sheriff of Ramsey county, having taken
his Office Jan. i, 1910.
1t was the day of the primary cleo
tion and the atmosphere was quite
warm. Judge Cowan, he said, had his
coat off and his thumbs stuck in the
armpits of his vest. The Judge stopped
Mr.. Brennan. he said, and made this
comment to Mr.. Brennan:
Dan you make your mistakes"
Il agreed with him." continued Mr.
Brennan.
The witness stated that Judge Cowan
then asked him why they couldn't get
together, that combination between
them would make 1t impossible for
either Of them to be beaten. Z Mr.
Brennan said that the jurist told him
to handle the young fellows and he
would handle the old men, as he knew
cowan Liked Hrennan's Style.
The witness said Judge Cowan was
at that moment intoxicated, and they
continued the conversation about the
political fight between the insurgents
and stalwarts. Brennan said he de-
tected odor of liquor on the breath OF
the jurist and he spoke in a tone OF
voice that indicated he had been drink
ing. Mr.. Brennan also testified he
could tell that Judge Cowan was then
very tired physically, that he talked a
great deal and handed him some toltE
and Brennan handed him some in re.
turn.
HE said he liked me-" announced
Mr.. Brennan. HE said he liked my
STYLE"
There was general laughter at this
and counsel for the prosecution turn.
ed to another specification in which
was charged that on the same day
Judge Cowan was seen drunk In &
public place. According to the testi.
mony offered by Mr.. Brennan, the in.
cident took place in the ONCE of thu
county auditor, when all were in get
ting election returns.
When the witness went into the Of
fee Of the auditor that night. he stat,
ed that he beheld Judge Cowan stand,
| ing against the wall of the room and
that when Mr.. Brennan came in thos'
nearest the accused nudged him anC
| Immediately he Strengthened up
Among those present In the room oil
that occasion, the witness stated. wa
Frank Frye, the deputy sheriff o.
Ramsey county. who was one Of thu
earlier witnesses of the afternoon SEES
sion. The editor stated that when Fry,
saw him he walked over to Judgi
Cowan and nudged him telling him t
straighten up.
He further testified that Judgr
Cowan stood with his collar turned VI
and his hat pulled down and that h,
paved over the ballots and muttered Il
| himself.
There was a feeling about tn,
room" began the editor @
At once an objection was entered b!
Tracy Bangs on the grounds OF ihearsa.
evidence, which was sustained by TIL
chair
"Pin your statements down to jus
what you know, saw, heard an,
thought. Mr.. Brennan" requested Gee
A. Bangs.
Admits He Was Antagonistic.
4
ability of Tracy r. Bangs when h
cross examined the editor Of Til
Devils Lake Inter Ocean in regard t
the statements made by the latter, an
he created a great deal of amugemen
| for the whole audience by his shar
| witticisms at Mr.. Brennans expense
| But the witness took it good naturedly
and that added to the entertainment
/ OF the afternoon.
| Mr.. Bangs forced the editor to ad
NIT that he lived for the past FIVE Q
| six years, at least, in an atmospher
i which was entirely antagnnistic I
| Judge Cowan. The witness stated tina
he was not yet "a years old, and tina
his father. M. Ell. Brennan. had twic
i been a candidate for the district judge
ship, defeated once for the nomination
and later defeated on what is called
paper nomination"
! He said the elder Brennan had bee
/ opposed to Judge Cowan for Ion
/ time and that bad feeling had existe
between the two for a period of seYers