The Washington times., 1922-03-15
B R j n { n.
FEARED HIS
GUN.
WAS Figuring to Do Away
With Him." Circus Man
Wrote Sister.
by l.ternatienal News Service.


RIVERSIDE. N. j., March Ii.
Arrest Of a suspect in the slay-
ing of John Brunen. circus pro-
prietor, in his home here last Fri
day night, was imminent today,
Prosecutor Kelsey announced.
A report that the fatal shot was
fired in response to q signal from
the window of the Brunen home
directly above the one before
which the circus man was sitting
when he was slain was given to
a representative of the prosecu-
tors office today.
Saw Woman's Figure.
woman living directly behind the
Brunen home said she saw the figure
OF a woman appear at the WINDOW
shortly before the report OF the gun
on the night OF the shooting and
wave a cloth, which she took 10 be
an apron.
Authorities regard her story as one
of the most important pieces of evi-
dence unearthed in the inves' cation
Kelsey had in his possession let
ter written by Brunnen 70 Il sister,
Mrs. Elizabeth Jeske, on February
20. In which he expressed fear that
his wife and seventeen year old
daughter Hazel were plotting against
him, and that his wife would murder
him for his money.
Mrs. Jeske brought the letter from
Carey, ILL.,, when she came for her
brothers funeral.
81 think Doty is figuring to do
away with me-" Brunnen said In the
letter. "She thinks she can get free,
for she talks about Il all The time.
In case anything happens to me. sis.
ter, want you to come and take
full charge of everything"
Brunen said his wife shot al him
or Christmas Day and would have
killed him IL he had not lodged and
grabbed the gun. He also deplored
the fact that his daughter Hazel was
being taught nothing but the fast
life OF this world"
Ellis Parker. Burlington count"
detective, declared there was no ev'-
dence in the letter OF sufficient
strength to warrant an arrest. State.
ments in the letter constitute only
circumstantisl evidence, he said.
Parker was indignant over publ
cation Of the letter. as he said he
had intended to use II secretly In
his Investigations. Mrs. Brunen did
not know 1t had been written, he
said, until 1t was published.
The Wife Is Silent.
The letter told only a fraction OF
the whole story of conditions in the
Brunen household as related to him
by. Brunen several weeks before the
murder. the detective said.
Parker had advised Brunen TO
keep the shades pulled down when.
ever he was in the house so no one
could fire at him from outside.
IF I'm going to be shot I want
the shades up so somebody will see,
Brunen replied.
Mrs. Brunen is maintaining a pol.
icy Of silence and has retained
Walter Keowan, OF Camden, as her
attorney.
up on the time of the murder with
the time the alarm was given to
neighbors by Mrs. Brunen. They are
also working on the theory that a
man was hired to do the shooting
Parker's theory Of the Staying Is
that the assassin knew Brunen's
characteristics and realized he would
be a hard man to deal with liz tn
open. Therefore, he worked out the
plan of shooting the circus man
without warning and from behind.
Prosecutor Kelsey has received
several anonymous letters and at
least one anonymous telephone call
concerning the mystery, but has de-
clined TO talk about them.
Measures have been taken TO pre-.
vent anyone connected in ANY way
with the case from leaving the town.
Text Of the Letter.
The complete text Of Brunen 9
letter to his sister follows:
Riverside. n. j., Feb. 20, 1922.
NV Dear Sister a Family;
Just a few lines to let yor know
CONTINUED on Page Is, Column 81