The Detroit times., 1915-03-25

Keidan outlined the facts. as the
prosecution understands them. 10 the
jury.
Miss Frances Bomholt, victim OF
the Staying. he said. came TO Amer
lea from Germany. IL years ago, and
had lived in Detroit six years, at
No. p Austin-pl. with a brother and
a nephew. On the morning OF Dec.
Is. he said. Miss Bomholt prepared
breakfast for her brother. John Bonn
holt. and the nephew, Florenz Ru-
ping. John Bomholt then went TO
work, and the. nephew. who worked
nights. retired. This was the last
time that Miss Bomholt was seen
alive. At il:45 that day Charles
Bomholt. another brother. entered
the house and found his sister on her
knees before her bed. the cover OF
which was stained with blood.
Detectives found blood-stains. Mr..
Keidan said. In the pantry, where
Miss Bomholt was known to have
kept some money: on a table. In a
drawer OF which Miss Bomholt some
times put change. and in other places
about the house. He showed the
jury a lump OF coal. bearing traces
OF blood, discovered in the shed be-
hind the house. He said that he
would show by three witnesses that
Mrs. Becker was seen in the alley
behind the Bomholt house. about I
o'clock OF the morning on which Miss
Bomholt met her death, with blood
on her face: and that the prosecu-
ton had other witnesses to testify
that they had seen Mrs. Becker with
blood on her cheeks or forehead
Mr. Keldan said that four days
after Miss Bomholt's death. detec-
tives found Miss Bomholt's watch
and chain and SIS in blood stained
bills wrapped in q handkerchief in
shoe under a couch in Mrs. Beck
er's home. He told OF Mrs. Becker 5
alleged confession To detectives who
questioned her In the woman's de
tention home, that she had killed
Miss Bomholt, striking her on the
head with a chunk OF coal, In the
yard OF the Bomholt residence. and
finishing the deed by following her
into the house and striking her three
times as she knelt at her bedside.
He told how, in her police court
examination. Mrs. Becker retracted
her confession. but. later. told news.
paper men that she had gone to the
Bomholt's house on the morning OF
Miss Bomholt's death TO ask Miss
Bomholt 10 write letter 10 Ger.
many for her.
Throughout Mr.. Keidan's address
TO the jury, Mrs. Becker sat In her
accustomed attitude, her handker.
chief to her face. her eyes closed
Occasionally she rocked back and
forth slightly. Her left hand FUN
bled at her skirt. She wore a black
knitted scarf over her head and a
dingy brown shawl over her shout.
ders.
Charles Bomholt. brother OF the
dead woman, was the FIRST witness,
He told how he had found his sister
kneeling at her bedside. dead; and
leaving his chair, he illustrated the
attitude In which he had discovered
her. On seeing her. he said Hello
Frances, are you sick" Receivins
no reply. he took hold OF her shout
der and felt that her body was stiff
ct left as quickly as I could" said
Mr.. Bomholt, "and went to the room
where my nephew was sleeping. He
jumped out OF bed when I came in
He was undressed."
Mr.. Bomholt said that In the az
ternoon he found marks OF blood or
the door -casings of the house.
Mr.. Bomholt described Mrs. Beck
er's actions on the day OF the
funeral.
"she went into the room whers
the CONN was" he said There wal
small table In the room with .
crucinx and q little bowl OF holy wa
ter on II. Che bent over the table
like this tMr. Bomholt showed) a.
II she were looking for something
Then she stood at the foot, of tn
conn and looked at my sister. Ate
few moments she went to the from
door. but stopped with her hand OF
the knob and said something In Ger
man about going 10 the church"
The defense did not question MI
Bomholt.
Dr. Edward l. Brandt took TIT
stand lie r. the county physical
who performed q post-mortem eIaml