New-York tribune., 1922-12-14
''My God! We're Done!r
Mohr SObs; T; Wife Elected
From Court for Shout.
ing Defiance at Witness
Widow in Tears
During Testimony
Stole Father From My
Mother!' Stepdaughter's
Reason for Her Attack
LON q slnr correspond.n.

MOUNT HOLLY, Dec. l3.-ln words
that came like poison ID darts from tho
Ups Of her sevcnteen-yesr-old step
daughter, Mrs Doris Brunen was di-
rectly accused In court to-day OF the
murder Of her husband, "Honest John
Brunen.
"she murdered my fatherl" cried
Hazel Bruncn' on Two occasions.
II was under cross-exAmination that
the damaging testimony was drawn out
as a prelude to a courtroom scene that
ended With the breakdown Of Walter
s Keown, counsel for the defense, the
election Of Mrs. Harry Mohr for shout
ing defiance at the witness and the
collapse Of Mohr. The tears ran down
his face unchecked for all TO sec them.
Then he gave way entirely.
"My God, we cannot defend ourselves
nowlv he murmured as he buried his
head In trembling hands.
Mrs. Brunen, charged along with
Nohr with being an aceomplice IN the
slavino Of the circus owner, sat shock
proof through Il all. She feomed TO be
stunned as the girl, who was friendly
"a bcr and visited her IN Jail until two
weeks ago. poured forth her story on
tho witness stand accusing her OF haY-
ing plotted to kill her father.
Girls Appearance Is Surprise
Her appearance IS witness for the
state was n surprise. 1t not only Gre
ated a disturbance in court, but Il
darkened the prospects OF the defend
strangely enough. it was not direct
examination that ELECTED the strong
Ell part Of Hazels testimony. II was
cross-examination. Every question put
bv Keown 70 the girl seemed 70 nre
her 10 a retort that smashed into AIS
aReeently you have turned against
vour etepmother7" questioned heo"h'
al haveP
why" - 4.
"Beeause I went ~ New YORK 20
seo INV mothers people and they toia
mo a was nv stepmother who took my
father away from my own mother ana
brought shame on her name. Ana bhe
murdered my father"
TIC Girl paused. Her lips seemed 20
hover over her next words as shc
forced them out, one BY one, with long
intervals between each.
"Why shouldn't ] turn y
.You're No Goodl" Shouts Mrs. Mohr
A nurmur Of applause arose from
the pew-like seats and was suddenly
ouelied as the raucous voice OF MIS-
Harry Mohr shouted:
"Beeause you arc no goodl"
The girl continued calmly with her
story until her anger mounted again,
Then her smooth answers were stamped
with touch Of the vernacular and her
full blown prettiness took on vulgar
tinge. She forgot 20 be grammatical
In the vigor of her denunciation.
Throwing back her seal coat and re-
vealinQ the lace yoke OF a simple
brown dress, che bent herself more
fercely 70 the battle Of wits with MI
Kcown and precipitated a riotous
scene in court.
"Whv do you call Mrs. Brunen's
mother your stepmother's mother nov
instead of your grandmother, as you
used to do?" asked Mr.. keown-
"Because l have turned against them
ALL"
"what has your poor old grand
mother done that you should turn
against her."
"She might have known something
about Il for all know"
80 ssYou Lle." Mohr Yells
A the words left the girls lips Harry
Mohr jumped TO his feet and shook
his fat, yelling "You lie, you iiel"
Two deputy sheriffs seized him ana
forced him down 70 his seat.
Almost before he had finished speak
ing. his wife began TO shout from wnere
she eat In the second row.
Hazel; don't you talk like that about
nv mother-in-law, you little tramp, or
ITl smack you dead. Dot picked you
up of the street"
Spectators jumped to their feet and
excitement swept the courtroom. A
deputy sheriff seized Mrs. Mohr and
mt her out But while she was still
vithinr earshot Hazel, In a voice sud
denly shrill with feeling, called over
the hubbub Of the court. 80
"It's nothing 70 what you all ola 70
my mother"
eat stupefed. The tears that had flowed
when Hazel first went on the stand
for direct examination and before sne
had made any damaging statements
against her still left their marks on
ber face. but she seemed too aston
j,bed 10 move or cry. Her brother
(conungso on Vass thrss)