Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-05-16
OFFICER TOOK
PAY FROM BOTH
On Cross Examination in MUIR
der Case George Brown Made
4 Bad Admission.
IS THIRD WARD CONSTABLE
Two Women SwOre EichOrn Was with
Them on the Night that Murder
Was Committed.

When the Epler murder case was
resumed Monday the court room was
packed by throng of sensation
seekers, among whom rumors had
spread that the defense in the case
would introduce some startling tes-
timony during the day, but it was not
until Wednesday when Constable Geo.
Brown of Alma was on the stand that
the biggest sensation came.
They had their fill of sensation
when Mrs. John Todd and her sister,
Mrs. G. Pappas, wife of a Toledo
saloon keeper. were called to the
stand. These two are said to consti-
tute the main aibi witnesses for
Albert Eichorn.
Both of the women swore that AL
bert Eichorn was calling on them in
Mrs. Todd's rooms in Ithaca on the
night of the murder of Miss Beatrice
Epler, of which he is accused.
While on the stand they admitted
that on Thursday night following the
murder, that they had accompanied
Albert Eichorn and John +. Brennan
to Hemlock. where they had obtained
liquor They said that they returned
about l:30 a. M, and that they spent
a couple of hours at the home OF
Albert Eichorn, Mrs. Eichorn being
away at the time. Mrs. Todd and
Mrs. Pappas We're questioned about
what happened at the house, the for
mer claiming her privilege of NOT
having to incriminate herself, and the
latter claiming that nothing happened
The women claim that Eichorn was
constant visitor of theirs during that
week, this being during the week of
September 3, 1917
Tuesday morning Mrs. Eichorn was
called to the stand to add strength to
the sensational alibi of Eichorn. Mrs.
Eichorn stated that her husband left
home that night about 200 p M. and
that he returned again about 1920,
adding strength to the alibi, which the
defense is endeavoring to build up for
Eichorn.
Merle Cooper of this city was called
to the stand following Mrs. Eichorn
and furnished another sensation for
those who packed the court room.
Cooper was on the stand only a few
minutes, when legal fight developed
between the attorneys for the prosecu-
tion and defense, which resulted in
his being removed for the time.
During the time that he was on the
stand Cooper sworc that he heard
David Beaudry, the French Canadian
hunter, lumberman, detective, and
Mrs. Gibson frame up a deal to get
the reward of $4,000 which was Of
fered by the county for the conviction
of the murderer or murderers of Bea-
trice Epler. He said that he was
working in the cellar of the ellison
home when Beaudry made the call,
at which time he hatched up the deal.
Cooper claimed that this was the day
before the ellison woman was taken to
Ithaca and held as an important wit
ness in the case.
Wednesday George Brown, consta-
bic of the third ward of this city,
was on the stand and furnished nice,
juicy morsel for the packed court
room. While on the stand, the Alma
officer did not seem to be absolutely
certain of anything. He did believe,
however, that he saw Beatrice Epler
on the race bridge on East Superior
street late in the evening.
On cross Examination the real sur
prise was furnished when it was
brought out that this officer of the law
had accepted pay from both the
county and the defense on the case.
Just what will be the outcome of the
admissions made by the Alma officer,
is hard to tell.
There now seems but little question
but what the case will continue for at
least another week before it gets to
the jury, and 1t may be two weeks be-
fore the case is decided.
The belief seems to be growing that
the prosecution has very strong case
which the defense ia having a hard
time TO get around.
As the Record went to press this
afternoon word was received that de-
fense had rested its case for the time
being. The prosecution called two
witnesses from Alma late this after
noon for rebuttal.