Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-04-04
Late Monday Afternoon.
Dan Brennan on Stand.

~Oe~ s'V'N"y N'N~''SS''
Dan Brennan on Stand.
Dan Brennan, one of the signer
Of the petitions against Cowan, an
one OF the active partisans in tn
fight in Bismarck at the time OF tn
impeachment by the house, was place
on the stand yesterday afternoo
shortly after five o'clock. He sal
that he had seen Judge Cowan tn
evening of June 20, 1910, primary elet
tion day, as he was walking out Q
an alley near the Bell drug store il
Devils Lake, and that the jurist wa
with Mr.. Mclean, a candidate TO
sheriff, He walked pretty straight
Brennan said, and stopped him (Bren
an and engaged in conversation. II
this conversation the witness said tina
CoWan suggested that they form I
politica alliance and that they worl
together He also said that he liket
his (Brennan's) style. The witness
said that there was no question buI
what Cowan was then intoxicated and
that the odor of liquor on his breath
was pronounced.
In the November election the wit
ness also stated that he had seen
Lowan intoxicated, being in the coun
ty auditors office paving" over the
| election returns, mutterng to him.
self, and talking in maudlin manner
1t was on cross examination that
the fun commenced and the examin-
alton OF this witness became inter-
esting.
Tracy Bangs asked Dan Brennan
whether he was son of NJ. H. Bren-
an of Devils Lake, The witness reply
ing that he was. 1t was also brought
out that the elder Brennan had twice
been defeated by Cowan for the dis
trict court. Also that there was in
reality no great feeling OF pleasant
ness between the two men.
''As matter of fact you have lived
in an atmosphere antaAonistit to
Cowan," repeated counsel Bangs, and
the witness replied that he stood for
certain principles and that by so doing
he had taken the sides opposing
COWan
LAS a matter of fact you have lived
in an atmosphere antagonistic to Cow
an" repeated Counsel Bangs, and
with similar answer being given
the question was repeated for the
third time and the answer "Yes" was
finally given.
Dan Brennan was also asked Wheth'
er or not he had taken an active part
in the proceedings against COwan,
stating that he had, and he also ad-
mitted that certain stories that came
out of Bismarck during the fight be-
fore the house-Counsel Bangs refer
ring in his question to number of
anti Cowan stories published in the
Fargo Courier-News, the Valley City
Times-Record and the Grand Forks
Hera d-were sent out by him or that
he had knowledge of their being sent
out. These stories were prepared,
for the most part, in a room in the
Grand Pacific hotel.
"Was any of the news promulgated
in the office of the secretary of state,"
asked Tracy Bangs, but on objection,
sustained by President Burdick, the
defendants counsel laughingly with
drew the question.
Tracy Bangs then entered into the
publication of articles in the Devils
Lake Inter Ocean, Of which Brennan !
s an owner, asked whether or not |
The witness had at some time or other
referred to Cowan as a beast. Bren
nan responded that he had not, but !
hat he had drawn a semile between
he situation in Devils Lake and that !
n Denver. /
do you know Mr.. Morrison" asked :,
Counsel Bangs.
II do," replied the witness. !
did you ever say to him that
you'd get Cowan.'"
"No, SIR" responded Brennan.
Il did say there were three men
Who should be eliminated from public
ife in Devils Lake, F. J. McClory,
mayor; F. T. Cuthbert, city attorney,
md Judge Cowan,' the answer brot
orth good laugh.
The witness was also asked if he
lad made remark to the effect that
le would "get Cowan" to other men,
md said that he had made the state
nent in a manner similar to that
made to Norman Morrison. t.
Have you Deen instrumental nm
placing a detective to watch the ao>
ions of Judge Cowan," asked Coun-
el Tracy Bangs.
The witness failed to respond d.
ectly or in a direct manner to the
question, with the result that Bangs
made query as to the witness ability
o understand the English language,
nd receiving answer in the afirma-
i've, Tracy Bangs said that the wit
ess should answer the questions
traight and answer in straight
manner.
AS finally put, the question proved
ather lengthy and Objectionable to
;ounsel George Bangs, who voiced his
bjection by declaring that the defend
ng counsel has joined several ques-
ions into one.