The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-06-06
BREN DECLARED
INNOCENT BY
80
HIS FRIENDS FRIENDS
Was Careless in His Business
Habits But Had High
H. Il Integrity
POLICE COMING N. FOR
SHARE Of CRITICISM IN CASE

VSuUS6 VI OuOOtOJON uu VuV6
Charged That Robbers Have Made
Their Escape While Authorities
We're Trying to Fasten Crime on
Innocent Man.
st. Paul, June 6.-Withl Nslatives
and friends of Joseph D. N the
university cashier, who says 70 vas
robbed Of $13.800 on the uni<> HEy
campus last Friday morning, ase "
ing strong belief in his innocencN
and with the police department still
working on the theory that there was
no robbery, yesterday witnessed but
few developments in the case, ex-
cept promises by the police that Bren
would be arraigned in police court
this morning and charge Of en-
bezzlement placed against him.
II bail is furnished Bren will be
released. According to Deputy Pub
lie Examiner Frank N. Stacy, who
visited Bren for several hours In his
cell, Bren, accompanied by Chief of
Police Michael Mealey of Minneapolis,
County Attorney James Robertson, r.
N. Stacey and George H. Hayes,
comptroller Of the university. will go
to the Northwestern Nationa' bank
to inspect the contents Of both the
university vault and Brens private
safety deposit box.
During his conference with Bren,
Stacey said, he procured list of the
contents Of both boxes and consulted
with the accused man on the book
keeping methods employed In his Of
fee.
Friends Stand by Him.
Great confidence is being express
ed by Bren's family and friends in
his innocence. Some Of the more
considerate have advanced the opin-
ION that Bren's present predicament
and the suspicion cast upon him are
the result Of loose business methods
he employed Ii the once. So
Norton NJ. Cross. attorney for Bren,
and DR.. A. ]. Murdock, his father-in-
law, held consultation last night.
Bail, said Mr.. Cross, would be fur
nished Immediately and Bren will go
to the state university to help in the
examination of the books and ac-
counts. Mrs. Bren, accompanied by
her father, made her first visit to
her husband yesterday morning, when
they took him some breakfast.
Statement by Attorneys.
Cross made his first public state
v,aovf IN tho Nooo Loot nf0hf rs
1--WE know absolutely that Mr..
.Bren was robbed and can prove his
innocence Of the charges made
against him. All we want is an op-
portunity to do 1t. We have tried to
get the police to arraign him, but
have failed.
"Mr. Bren will then go to the uni
versity to assist in the examination
of the books, which we know are in
good condition. The contents of the
safety deposit boxes in the North
western vaults will also be found to
be all right on examination"
Mrs. Maud Dddington, who had q
key to one Of Mr.. Bren's safety de-
posit vaults, did not call at the Jail
yesterday, but had long talk with
Mrs. Bren over the telephone, and
was assured by Mrs. Bren that the
university treasurer would soon be
free.
Criticise the Police.
DR.. Murdock also broke silence last
night.
"The police are making a mistake
in neglecting to follow up the rob-
ho A&oS
sldering the advisability Of putting a
private detective on the case. but
they have had three days now to es-
cape and 1t probably would be USE
less. Joe will be found to be abso-
lutely innocent. There is no possi-
ble motive for the crime on his part
He was getting along splendidly; he
built and owns this house, and I
came to live with him and my daugh-
ter year ago. He is we'll of and
owns considerable property around
here. :.
There Is no truth in the report
that paid his way through school.
When he was about is or 16 years
old he worked in my stables for his
board and room while attending Cen
tral high school but he went to the
university on his own financial re-
sponsibility. I never helped him with
one cent. He followed the medical
course for year over there until I
saw that he was not equipped for
that and advised him to change his
plans. This he did and took up
studies In the academic college. He
has always been quiet and well be-
haved and has hosts Of friends who
will back him up. Only yesterday
persons came here from Hopkins and
offered money for necessary bail.
Why don't the police do something to
ret the robbers? I reported clue
that was given to u by Joe's brother,