Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-12-26
ENDEAvORS TO
BUILD AL|b|
Defense Attempting to Prove
Alibi for John +. Brennan
in Murder Trial.
PROSECUTOR WAS WITNESS
Placed on Stand by Attorneys for
Defense to Refute Statements
Made by Beaudry.


trial was resumed at St Johns Fri
day afternoon, following the death OF
the wife of one of the jurors, Ora l..
Smith, prosecuting attorney Of Cra-
tiot county was called to the stand.
and fatty contradicted the statement
made by David Beaudry that he had
been told by Beaudry previous to the
time that the reward was offered that
he had seen the girl at the Johnson
home about 500 o'clock the evening
of the murder. The defense scored
strongly when the prosecutor made
the denial Of Beaudry's claim to this
effect
When o. l.. Smith was placed on
the stand by the defense, William NJ.
Smith, one of the attorneys for the
defense said: IL ask you whether, up
to the time of offering the reward,
Beaudry had told you that he claimed
that on the night of September d,
1917, he had seen Beatrice Epler in
Inez Johnson's house about 500 p. m.
and had seen an automobile in front
Of the house, with Eichorn and Bren-
nan there at the time?"
The witness replied, mo sir"
The examining attorney led the
prosecutor around TO a discussion Of
a conference between Mrs. William
Baker. Mrs. Anna Gibson, David Beau
dry, Deputy Arthur Murphy, Deputy
Louis Martin, Charles Power and
Prosecutor Smith, the statement OBJ
tanned and the one later obtained
from Mrs. Gibson by Beaudry.
Louis Martin, deputy sheriff, was
placed on the stand by the defense
and questioned regarding the con-
ference, and told of the statements
made by Mrs. ellison at that time that
Beatrice Epler was not at her home
He also stated that she had said at
the time that Beaudry told her that
II she would say that the Epler girl
was there he would divide the reward
with her.
Mrs. May Shift and Mrs. John
Blank, witnesses placed on the stand
by the prosecution. were recalled by
the defense for short time.
Saturday Morrell Cooper was
placed on the stand by the defense
and told story that held close at
te~tlon Of the entire courtroom. He
told Of hearing David Beaudry coax
my and pleading with Mrs Anna
ellison 10 say that the murder was
committed in her home and that he
offered her part of or all of the re-
ward II she would. Under Il severe
grilling by Kelly S. Scarf. special
prosecutor, he clung steadfastly to
this story and refused TO be shaken
IN the least. He also denied that he
had once said TO Albert Doty that ne
could get more money working for
the defense than for the prosecution.
Howard Drake of this city, placed
on the stand, said that he saw Bren-
nan at the entrance of the reserved
seat section Of the show on the night
of the murder, and Lawrence Cole
man, also of this city told Of seeing
Brennan at the show grounds on that
night George A. Glow, who went to
the show with his family, also told
Of seeing Brennan at the show
grounds.
Owen NJ. Williams Of Flushing. a
member of the show troupe, stated
that he saw Brennan back Of the
scenes on Tuesday evening, in his
deposition, and Helen Jean Archer
another member Of the company, told
Of seing him back of the scenes about
the time of the third act. Mrs
Florence Stewart, another member OF
the company also told of having seen
him back of the scenes several times
during the show.
Monday new interest was injected
into the trial, when the defense in
troduced some new portions Of It's
alibi, and created mild sensation in
the court room.
Carl Cramer, who is a cousin OF
Mrs. Inez Johnson who is being held
In the Gratiot county Jail awaiting
trial on similar charge, was placed
on the stand. The significance of the
appearance of Cramer on the stand
the fact that the description OF
Cramer tallies very closely with that
of John r. Brennan, the defendant
as given by Mrs. Anna ellison in her
testimony.
On the stand Cramer swore that he
was in Alma during the week OF
July 9. 1917, and that while calling
on Mrs. Johnson, Mr.. and Mrs. Gil
son had come in.
A second blow at the case which
has been put forth by the prosecu-
ton. was then given. Mrs. John
Blank had stated that he had seer
Brennan in Alma at the ellison home
every day during the week Of Angus,
1S, 1917, and that this was why she
was able to recognize him later.
To refute this, Warren Brown Of
Leslie. a hotel keeper, was called and
introduced his hotel register, showing
the name of John r. Brennan under
date Of August 10. 1917, and every
day Of the week, excepting Tuesday
Carl +. Gallagher. city clerk OF
Alma, was then called 10 the stand
and testified that Brennan came "a
Alma about the middle Of August "a