Evening star., 1928-02-16
BREWER TEST|F|ES
| HE DEFENDED SELF
Killing of Farmer Gun|ach,
Near LeonardtoWn, De-
sCribed in U. S. Court.

! al
prohibition agent. told in United States
Court here today how Charles v. Gun
ZACH. 73-year- st. Marys County
farmer. was killed during prohibi-
ticn ra.l. September l6 last. Self
defense VS. his plea.
! Brewer, who is 80 years old. said he
went to Washington in 1910. served
two years as a plate printer apprentice
and in 1917 was appointed to a posi-
| ton in the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing. In 1921 he was forced to
resign because of eye trouble, and
spent the next few years in receiving
treatment at various hospitals. Through
! the efforts Of Col O. C.. Pierce Of the
Personnel Bureau of the United States
Air Corps. he was appointed to the
prohibition force in November. 1925.
| In describing events that led up to the
shooting of Gun!ach. Brewer said chat
when the party arrived at Gunlachs
home Agent Fisher was the first to
get out OF the car and approach the
farmhouse Fisher with Robert F.
Cornctt and Dan. M. Jackly were in
dicted with Brewer on first degree
; murder charges
| AS Fisher started toward the house.
| Brewer testified Gunlach came out and
warned him not to approach. Fisher
held up his hand and told him not to
| shoot as they were revenue agents. to
which Gunlach replied Il know who
YOU are end don't give -" He
! then raised his gun and cooked it.
Fisher put one h"nd up and asked the
! old man not to 81 not Gunlach, Brewer
/ testified raised the gun half way to
his shoulder and fired while he was
about Is feet away from Fisher.
Posed Photos Exhibited.
At this point Col. Amos W. w. Wood
| cock. United States district attorney.
who is defending Brewer, exhibited
picture to the jury. showing the posi-
| ton of the men at the time Gunlach
fired the first shot These photos were
! taken four months after the fatal shoot
ing and the prohibition agents posed
! them at the Gunlach home to illustrate
where the men stood when the shooting
! started. Brewer identified each and
they were shown to the jury.
| Fisher. Brewer said. was hit in the
knee and fell. Brewer and the other
agents then ran up the hill. Cornett go
! ing toward Gunlach and Jaca.ley and
! Brewer going to Fishers aid It had
| been previously testified BY Agent Cor
nett that he was unarmed at the time
Of the shooting. Gunlach. according to
Brewers testimony. then threw his
| shotgun away and pulled a revolver
! from his pocket. firing at Fisher sec
| ond time as he was lying wounded on
! the ground. Brewer said he ran TO a
point behind a corncrib near the back
Of the house. believing he could pacify
Gunlach. He said he shouted Mr..
| Gunlach. tor Gods sake stop shooting
| You probably killed one of my men al
| ready"
| Brewer testified that Gunlach then
| turned and fired at him, retreating to-
! ward the house. Brewer said IL was at
| this point that he pulled his own gun
| and fred In self-defenSe. and also in
! defense OF Agent Fisher Gunlach fell
alnos: within the rear door of the
! farmhouse. Brewer said he then ran
! toward Fisher and helped to carry him
, to the car. While carrying Fisher he
turned and saw Mrs. Gunlach come out
| Of the house, pick up the shotgun and
| go back into the house. After putting
| Fisher in the machine he went to the
! house and asked for the shotgun and
| revolver. which she gave him
At the inquest that night. Brewer
| testified Mrs. Gunlach when questioned
! about the shooting said Il was in the
! house and did not see it." Brewer was
| questioned about the night he was
/ alleged 10 have made threats against
| Gunlach. He denied having made any
/ threats, or that he had told Clvde
| Goldsborough that he WAS going TO kill
! Gunlach. Goldsborouph on the stand
! yesterday testified that about three
weeks before the shooting Brewer had
/ threatened TO kill Gunlach Brewer
| was on the stand few minutes yes
terday
! Home Previously Raided.
:. Robert d, Ford. chief OF the WASH
ington district at the time GuNlach
was killed yesterday testified that he
visited the Gun!ach farm July 26. 1927.
saw Mrs. Gunlach, and saw home-brew
mash cooking and several cases of beer
on the fioor OF the kitchen. He said he
| destroyed $40 bottles of beer and ap-
paratus for making II. and left note
| instructing Gunlach 10 appear In Dis
| trct Court After taking the samples
Of baer and mash he said he met Gum
ZACH on his way home and told him OF
| this action. Gunlach said; IF / had
been there you wouldn't have gotten in" :"
Brewer. Fisher. Jackly and Agent Tut
| were with him. Later he received let
I
ated near a stream in the rear Of the
| Gunlach property He told Brewer TO
go down and investigate. taking Jackly
| Cornett and Fisher, Brewers reputa-
| ton for truth and yeracity were excel
| lent. he said.
Ford said complaints had been made
about Brewer lie received letters which
said Don't tell Brewer; he Is inter-
ested IN the still or IN protecting the
owner"
Judge Roland Duke magistrate Of
St Marys County. testified that on the
night OF the killing Mrs, Gunlach told
HIM, that when she first wen, out In
| re ,ponse to her husbands call he was
In u sitting position. She was forced to
| go back because Of bullets. and when
| she came ont again he was lying on the
! ground
George W. Collier. United States mar
shal for the Maryland district. testified
| that he was given warrant for the ar
rest OF Ounlach on August 4, 1927, lie
went there once. but Gunlach was not
| here at the time,
| u. e. Character Witness.
| Two character witnesses from WASH
| ington. Col O. C. Pierce. In charge Of
the personnel-in chief Of the United
States Air Corps. and Harry D. Copcn-
haver. proprietor Of an engraving plant,
testified that they had known Brewer
for number OF years and he bore an
excellent reputation Henry Camalier,
nm attorney Of Ltonardtown. testified
that Ounlach made several threats
against Brewer. Ounlach said To CANA
her after the fiist raid Had been
home they might have gotten In. but
over my dead body. They might have
gotten me but would have gotten
some OF them Camalier stated that
he heard Ouniach was making home
brew On cross examination he adj
mit,ed representing Brewer III numerous
cases.
| A. kinslev Love attorney OF st