South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-21
JURY ABSOLVES
WOMAN Held ON
MURDER CHARGE
Recommends Life Imprison-
ment for Man Implicated
In Husbands Death.
WILL TRY ACCOMPLICE
Charles NJ. Powell Alleged to
Have Actually Shot Cir
Gus Owner.

MT. HOLLY. y. j.. Dec 2o.-lBy
a. PD-Alrs Doris Bruncu was to-
night acquitted and her brother
Harry G.. Mohr. was found culty of
murder i'm the first degree ln con-
nection with the Staying 0f the for-
mers husband Honest John r..
Bruneu. circus owner The llrE- rec
commended that Muhr Zoe sentenced
10 life Imprisonment az hard labor.
The jury had been out about
three hours on request of Walter
:. keoWn. counsel for the defense
sentence was deferred UutlI after tho
Christmas holiday Judge samuel
Kallsch setting Jan as the day
At that time. AIr. Keowu said. he
would move for new trial.
Mrs. Brunch Faints
AS the foreman. Wolter Willis. an
aged farmer, announced the verdict
Mrs. Brunen grasped Mohr's hand
sobbing. oh. Harry, Oh Harry"
She then tainted. her head striking
a chair as she fell. Nohr. his hands
shackled and two state troopers
clutching his arm leaned over and
caressed his sister He was led back
20 his cell As Mrs Brunen was re-
vived by a physician. Mohr's coun-
tenanced did not change as the YER
dict was announced but his wife.
was visibly affected
Hazel Brunen, daughter of the
slain Snowman. who testified for the
prosecution. was not in the court
when the verdict was read.
Mrs. Brunen. soon after obtaining
her freedom, left for Philadelphia
to spend some time with her mother.
She plans 10 go TO Florida later.
She said she would make It her life
work to obtain her brothers free
dom IN case the judge accepts the
jury's recommendation.
mo Middle Ground"
In his charge TO the Jury today.
Justice Kalisch declared there was
no middle ground OF decision. you
must either acquit them" he said.
"or find them guilty OF murder in
the first degree" He explained that
separate verdicts could be returned
for the two defendants. There is
no disputing that John Brunen was
foulIy assassinated on the night OF
March TO-" said the court. What
you gentlemen must decide first OF
all is whether Charles N. Powell
killed him If ne did. you must de-
eide whether Mrs BruRen and Mohr
aided or abetted I'm tho commission
/ of the crime
Powell testified he had shot Brun-
en- AT the instigauon of the defend
ants and that he had been promised
/ 81 900 for the deed. A date fer bis
/ trial has not been set
To me. the testimony against
Doris Brunen seems very meager."
/ said the court. "The only testimony
involving her in any way came from
Powell. the sclf-confessed slayer,
and Hazel Brunen. her stepdaughter.
I Powell should be corroborated.
/ Hazel Brunen admitted she and her
/ mother We're engaged in "A lawsuit
I over the disposition OF the Bruneu
I estate You take into consideration
whether she is or is not incensed az
/ her stepmother. j. seems TO me
that Hazel Brunen's testimony
should have very little we. ght 60
/ couuctng Mrs Bruueu Of the
murder"
Trial Lasted Week.
/ Regarding Mohr the court said
/ it was for the jury 20 decide whe-
ther he was with Powell on tbs
/ night OF the shooting or was 10
7 Philadelphia as testified by defsuss
/ witnesses He pointed out that The
/ state had presenter certain cir.
! cumstances c0rroboratns P0welig
/ statement that Mohr was with hir
4 on the night of March 10.
The trial started O. week ago yes
terday Each side called ABOUT 50
. witnesses. Bruueu. proprietor of the
/ Mighty Doris combined shows wai
I shot on the night OF March 10 a.
/ he sat reading a. the window of hh
/ home in Rivers de- y. J. He and
his wife were alone in the house a.
. the time. Hazel Brunen and hes
/ graudmothcr. who also lived with
. them. being az moving picturt
show Abou. two weeks later 20.
well. who had been an employe o.