Evening star., 1949-09-29
Mother, Son Guilty,
May Avoid Death in
Lonely Hearts, Case
BY The Asseeiofsd Press

DOVER, Del. Sept. 29.-A
plump farm woman and her To-
year-old son were found guilty
as charged" in Delaware's lonely
hearts" murder trial, but rec
ommendation Of mercy may save
both from the gallows.
A jury of 10 men and two
women, after celebrating five
hours, last night returned a ver-
dict of first-degree murder against
Robert Brennan in the shotgun
Staying of Wade N. Woodbridge,
67-year-old carpenter from Stone
Mountain, Va.
The jury also found Mrs. Inez
Brennan, Is, guilty as an accom-
plice. A recommendation of mercy
was made in the case Of Robert,
but not for his mother.
Under Delaware law, the max
imum penalty for a principal or
an accomplice in q capital case is
death by hanging. An accomplice
may not receive a more severe
sentence than the principal, and
the mercy plea for Robert may
result in life imprisonment for
both mother and son.
Judges Not Bound.
The three trial judges are not
bound by the jury's recommended
ton, however, and could sentence
Robert and Mrs. Brennan to hang.
Immediately after the verdict,
Defense Counsel Benjamin r..
Donolow asked for the usual four
days extension to file petition for
a new trial. The court granted
: him until October IA and set No.
vember 8 for hearing of the petit
ton.
D.. The trial, which started Septem-
Der IL, was held in the Court of
Oyer and Terminer Cind and de-
= termine) under legal procedure
patterned after old English GUS
. tom. Two tipstaves stood by dur
ing each session holding long
spears.
Each spear head was painted
white on one side to represent the
: presumed innocence of the de-
PENDANTS. The other side-painted
a brilliant red-was turned toward
the courtroom as the jury brought
in its verdict of guilty.
Robert turned pale as he heard
the finding. His mother wept as
Roberts fate was announced but
heard her own Judgment without
show of emotion.
During the trial. the State con-
tended that Mrs. Brennan met Mr..
Woodbridge through lonely
hearts" correspondence and that
the Virginian came to Delaware
on October 10, 1948, as the wom-
ans suitor.
State police testified Robert told
them he shot Mr.. Woodbridge for
his money on his mothers orders,
buried the body In pigpen, later
burned the remains and scattered
the ashes on Dover City dump.
The States star witness, Mrs.
Dolly Dean, 26-year-old former
housekeeper, testified Robert told
her Il killed the old mani shot
off half his face"
Robert himself testified he shot
MIR. Woodbridge !, in self defense
during argument over attentions
the youth said Mr.. Woodbridge
paid Mrs. Dean. He told police
the Staying was prompted by his
mother, Robert said, because he
was ashamed of an illicit "rela-
tionship with Mrs. Dean. She re-
turned to the stand later to deny
this.
Other Sons In Court.
Mrs. Brennan's two other sons,
Raymond, %. and George. 18, were
seated in the courtroom. They are
free on bail awaiting trial as ac-
cessories in the Woodbridge slay-
ing.
Also present in the courtroom
was Mrs. Augustine Elste,. of Sum
cook, N. H., sister of Hugo Schulz,
New Hampshire farmer whom au-
thorities in that State charge was
killed by Mrs. Brennan.
Paf0ra the vardictS Attorpev
General William L. Phinney of
New Hampshire announced his
State would bring Mrs. Brennan to
trial for Mr.. Schulz's Staying If
she was acquitted in Delaware.
Britain's Coal Board has adopt
ed the Latin motto: "E tenebris