Evening journal., 1922-03-15
HIS Wife IN
PLOT TO KILL
HIM, BRUNEN
LETTER SAYS
CONTINUED From First Page)

The letter accuses Mrs. Brunen or
seeking her husbands death TO OBJ
tain his money. Brunen wrote that
his wife had gun hidden in her
trunk.
In the same letter. Brunen accused
his wife Of trying TO corrupt his
daughter Hazel and appealed to Mrs.
Jascke to keep the girl from harm.
Prosecutor Kelsy expressed regret
that the letter had been made pub
lie, saying he considers Il the most
important piece OF evidence yet un-
earthed.
The existence OF the blood-stained
letters from Brunen's sister and the
fact that the Snowman told Detec-
tive Parker he was in fear OF as
sassination. were revealed by Ellis
Parker himself today after he
learned 10 his intense anger and
surprise that the letter from Brunen
had been given out.
The high lights OF the frst letter
were Brunen's accusations; a fur
ther charge that "Doty' term
for his wife-was demoralizing his
daughter Hazel and In this was as
sisted by certain members OF her
family: and Brunen's desire that his
wife should be "cut off with dol
lar" In case he died.
This last testamentary feature OF
the letter may be introduced as a
will Apparently. the desire ex-
pressed IN the letter-a lengthy one
with many misspelllngs and mis-
takes In grammar-is that Hazel
should inherit his fortune OF $500
600. over and over again IN the
letter the Snowman declares TO his
sister that ne has worked hard to
give his family every comfort and
that the main cause OF his unhappi-
ness is his daughters conduct and
I loss OF her respect for him
Ellis Parker declared that Brunen
Is personal conversation had ex-
pressed the haunting fear OF death.
and the detective had advised him
10 keep the shades drawn when he
was sitting at home. Brunen an
swered Parker said, that n he was
shot he wanted 10 be seen from the
outside"
Detective Parker took the letters
he had removed from Brunen's
pockets and other valuable bits OF
evidence with him when he left his
Office al Mount Holly a. o'clock
/ this morning. and slept with them
under his pillow.
The county detective said he had
not sufficient evidence 70 make an
arrest az the present time. though
] 4 u
cions He exonerated Mrs Brunen.
however, at least as far as firing the
shot which killed her husband goes.
Prosecutor Kelsey said; "I was
assured by Assistant District Attor-
ney Welch that the letter would not
be given out. II is extremely vital
20 our investigation. and should have
been held as a strict confidence. The
letter was given 70 the Philadelphia
authorities by Brunen's sister. and
was sent me by special messenger.
Il was amazed 10 learn that Il had
! been given out The result OF this
violation OF confidence probably
will be to hurt our case beyond re-
pair.
Under the circumstances will be
forced as Prosecutor Of Burlington
county 70 order an arrest. will not
reveal the Identity OF the person TO
be arrested"
Mr.. Parker said:
1T has undbne the work OF the
county detectives and others more
than the general public realizes. ]
have no intention AZ the present
time OF making any arrest. I am
frank enough 10 say that don't be-
lieve 7 have sufficient evidence to
warrant such action.
This letter was extremely vita
TO our case. II was not the whole
works. however. and we have plenty
other data and information that may
round out our case for us. The con
tents OF that letter I knew the night
OF the murder. I got my information
from two blood-stalned letters I took
out OF the dead mans pocket.
These letters. registered. were
from his sister In Illinois. I will 90
further than that. The letter doesn't
reveal one-fifth Of my actual know
ledge OF this mans personal life. He
told me this. that week before he
was slain he was In fear OF his life
that he was constantly on the
lookout for shot. I advised him 10
pull down the curtains while he was
IN the room. lie said: "If I am shot.
I want It TO be seen from the out
side
There are many, many facts that
have been unearthed by the investi- o.
gators. but not such as would Justify
an arrest ~ this moment / will not
say. however. what might be done.
nor will ! say that we have any per-
sons under surveillance. II Mrs.
Brunen tries 10 leave the county.
let her go.
"Brunen was not bad fellow.
He had plenty Of trouble. When
that lion tanner Parkstrom. ran
away with his daughter much OF his
trouble began. when we arrested
Parkstrom and put him in jail here
Informed Brunen over the phone
and he said I'll come up and see
the fellow He did and he gave him
some money before he left to buy
himself tobacco. Brunen had a great
sense OF his parental responsibility.
He loved his daughter dearly. and Il
was his objection to the way in
which this girl was being led that
caused considerable OF the trouble
In his own household.
1T is only natural TO assume that
we have had persons under suspi-
cion for some time. but It wouldn't
be fair to either ourselves the pros
| ecutor ov tho nergon fnyolvod for