THE BRAUMAN TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1929, Page 5

THE BRAUMAN TRIAL

FURTHER EVIDENCE. (By Telegraph—Per press Association.) DUNEMk, October 30. James Jelley said Mrs Brahman and her daughter, Olive, called him by the name of didn’t know where they ,got trie. name, from. He had arranged .lyitiuthem to go to a musical evenin^^fn^ugust 1 7th. Ho took McMillan'ywftli tbem for a motor drive , to St. Clair witness didthe car and saw no improper conduct or hny embracing. Cross-examined, witness said he told the police he was supposed to be Thomson. He had previously given deceased and her daughter a ride, in the ear to the theatre and did not know then Mrs Brauman was married.*’ He was told so Inter. J it must be tr,ue if'the girl said he was introduced under the name of •Thfthisdh. s. ,’ A Jack'McMillan, aged 18, who accompanied the others for the motor drive said there was no suggestion'of kissing between witness arid either of; the two women. When accused said,”-You, aro having , a good time,” deceased said it was no affair of his. .Accused; did not „say “ For God’s sake do not bring disgrace on-*' my daughter.” Brauman held a revolver to his wife’s Head and fired. He pulled the. revolver from his overcoat pocket- with) quick) action., Witness stepped towards accused, who warned him td keep back at the same time v pointing the revolver towards him. When accused fell wounded witness picked up the revolver. Witness was to have attended a musical evening, that night at deceased's employers. Jelley did not appear to *go under the name of Thomson.. Witness was calling him Jelley. j Ashburn Holland, presiding where deceased was employed as a-housekeeper, said he had never seen any 'impropriety on deceased’s part. He-had no idea a party was to be held; at the: house on /' the night of the traedy.

William Black, ambulance - driver,said accused said, ‘.‘She ruined-my life, she ruined my girl.” Later' he said, “ I did it. Why don’t you take me away.” .. ' ; ' / ’/ ; Detective Kirtori said on the way to the hospital, accused said;: ‘‘Oh! my God! What a mother she ’ has been. Ruining loyejy gjrls of. 15 and 16.”

{ ■ PLKA OF INSANITY. , . DOCTOR’S SUPPORT FOR IT.. DUNEDIN, October 30. ~ In opening the case for the defence, Mr Lloyd said the defence that the accused was insane, and did not (know the nature and quality of his act, /and. that he was doing wrong. .! ”Df- Stuart 'Moore was the first witness called, and he said he had made a : special study for twenty years of cases iof abpormtil 3 psychology, cases of neryousriess, arid cases of Illusions, .such as were said iound in, this case. Witness desJt exhaustively with, the actions' of aj|oftn from mental disease,' arid said the accused was brooding over a sense of persecution by his mother-in-law,- and the conduct of his .wife.. Hev'feaintained that the real grievance by the accused was. against his , mother-iriJlaw,. who was predetermined to take .from him his wife; and, after giving intimate account of the mentality, judged it, of the Accused, that, although he had killed his Safe, it was his mother-in-law §i,five killed.

His Honour asked, towar&§ the close v of-his examination.; of witness: “Are you prepared to swear that when the accused killed liis wife, he did not know he was doing wrong,”; ’ Witness: “ I am prepared to do so.”

Dr Moore was still being cross-exam-ined wh'en the Court rose for the day. DUNEDIN, October 31;

In the Brauman murder trial, Emily Mitchell, who was .unable to appear previously, was called by the Crown. Witness said deceased stayed with her for six weeks -in March. Once accused called and saw: his wife. When a job at Brosnan’s ' was mentioned accused said if you; go to Brosnari’s I will fix the two of you. ; He '■ further said:' “If you{ get. this separation, thereMs no law on. the face of God’s earth to separate man and wife. You know whyt I intend doing” s-i

The cross-examination of Doctor Moore,, a witness for the defence, was continued. -■

Witness said accused was certifiable before the tragedy as "he was abnormally jealous. Witness foresaw in a letter left by the accused at Invercargill that the death of his wife was in some ways a blow at the mother-in-law. Before he saw that letter, witness did not consider Brauman was certifiable, though he bad no doubt he was insane.