The New York herald., 1922-03-16
MRS. BRUNEN KEPT
SECRET MAIL BOX
Daily Trips to Nearby Town
Add to Mystery Of
Murder.
USED ASSUMED NAME
Widow of Slain Circus Man
Calls His Accusing
Letter lie
DAUGHTER DEFENDS HER
Detective Declares He Is Posi-
tive She Didn't Fire
Fatal Shot.
DAUGHTER DEFENDS HER

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
RIVERSIDE. N. j.. March 15.-Detec-
tivcS S'investigating the murder of John
Theodore Brunen, circus man, who
was killed in his home here last Fri
day night, learned to-day that for
several weaks Mrs. Brunen has been
receiving mail in the Palmyra post
Office under the name of Nolan. She
rented a lock box there, detectives
said, and she and her stepdaughter
Mrs. Hazel Parkstrom, went to Pal
myra every afternoon and got the
mail
This information was verified by
Morris Beck, Chief of the Palmyra
Police Department. William c. Cook
postmaster in Palmyra, refused to dis
cuss the matter, sa.,;.ig he had been
told to keep silent by Prosecutor
Jonathan Kelsey of Burlington county.
Detective Ellis Parker of Burlington
county also declared he had nothing
to say concerning the mail box.
Detective Parker did say, however, he
was anxious to get in touch with George
Werner. the chef, who formerly worked
for Brunen's circus but who was dis
charged last December.
II do not suspect Werner OF the mur-
der" said Parker. "He will not he ar
rested, but / believe he has informa+@on
which may he of value. ! understand
he was in Philadelphia several days be-
fore Brunen was killed. Werner for
merly operated bakery in New York
and Milwaukee,.
Detective Parker criticized the District
Attorneys office in Philadelphia for
making public last night letter writ
ten by Brunen to his sister in Chicago
IN which he accused his wife of trying
TO put him out of the way. The detec-
tive said there has been no evidence
developed so far in any way to justify
the arrest of Mrs. Brunen, and that the
evidence furnished by the letter was en-
tirely circumstantial.
Denies She Fired Shot.
1--WE know positively Mrs. Brunen did
not nre the shot" he said. 1--WE want
10 arrest the man who actually did the
killing, and then other arrests might
follow. There have been reports that
Mrs Brunen was seen TO wave white
apron from the window OF her homo a
fev, minutes before the shot was fired.
That story is bunk. a similar statement
that I said ncighbors were not notified
or tho crime for at least twenty-five
minutes after the shooting also Is un-
true"
Mrs Parkstrom, who was said in the
] tier written by her father to have
r4llen under tho domination of her
s.cpnother, declared tonight that the
Litter written by Erunen to his sister
III Il Tissue of lies she supported
J y stcrmother and said sha intended to
fcht as hard as she could for Mrs
Iruncn.
My father did not know what he
vas writing when he wrote that ,etter.
she said Father was subject TO fits
of anger and i'm these fits he wrote that
letter TO my aunt. My stepmother never
triel to lead me astray. ] am of age
snG I know right from wrong. The
h:.c letter is pack of lies. We talked
ovs the letter the night OF the funeral
end were convinced Aunt Lizzie Cher
fa hers sister that father was wrong,
su.' Furthermore We have won Aunt
J i1sie over to our side"
,prry Mohr, a brother OF Mrs. Brunen
aud one OF the managers OF the Brunen
s'rc, s. declared his sister had not con-
tc.nf,ated divorce.
She Suggested Divorce.
Last Christmas" said Mohr. when
Bruucn and my sister exchanged pistol
shots and later patched up their quarrel,
mv sister suggested that they get a d.
yor,e and go their respective ways.
Bp IN then went on another rampage
ard aaid that before he would allow his
VIC TO get a divorce he would kill her
asd then kill himself
Ers. Brunen suffered a nervous col
lpuse when she learned the contents of
tic letter written by Brunen. and to-day
vas under the care of physician. When
asked TO make a statement, however. she
sent out the following through a friend
of the family:
"All OF the allegations in that letter
against me arc absolutely untrue. When
have recovered my health / will spend
every cent I own and will devote all
of my time 10 the capture of the mur-
derer OF my husband. My brother Harry
viii do the same thing"