CHARGE OF MURDER

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 243, 12 September 1929, Page 2

CHARGE OF MURDER

EVIDENCE IN POLICE COURT.

Per Press Association

DUNEDIN, Sept. 11

The Police Court was well lilted this morning by a crowd in which members of both sexes were included. lhe proceedings that attracted interest were those against William Henry Brauman, who was,charged with murdering Annabell Dean Brauman on August/.

Accused, who wore a brown overcoat over his ordinary clothgs, seemed to be in fairly good health es he entered the dock, although a shade over his left eye was a sufficient reminder oi the injury which be is alleged to have inflicted upon himself. The case against Brauman and the inquest on deceased were taken concurrently. Mr C. J. L. White and Mr G. MLloyd appeared for accused, and Mr H. E. Barrowclough watched the proceedings for two witnesses, Jack Ormond McMillan and \\ illiam Matthew Brosnan. . At the request of Mr Lloycl, accused was allowed to seat himself ill the dock.

Dr. William Evans, police surgeon, gave evidence concerning the condition of deceased’s body, stating than the cause of death was shock following a comminuted fracture of the base of the skull and laceration of the brain caused by a gunshot wound. Three pieces of lead wrapped in paper he had enclosed in a tin and handed over to Detective Jenvey, who was present at the post mortem examination. Giving evidence of his examination of Brauman at the hospital, Dr. Evans said that there was a smaller circular wound just above the left eye brow and the skill round the opening was blackened for about half -an inch. There was a second wound in the left side of the neck a-quarter of an inch 'ong. The left eye was destroyed, the socket being filled with a clot. Accused appeared quite composed and rational. At the examination of his wounds a.ccuscd remarked “The bullet went the wrong way.” When the lids of the right eye were separated, accused remarked: “I can sec with that eye all right.” Dr. Dunne, house surgeon, also gave evidence, and Leslie Raymond Simpson . solicitor, produced an agreement for a separation signed by accused. Alfred Ernest Reynolds clerk of the court, produced the information laid by deceased against accused. Mr White objected oa the grounds that it tended to show previous convictions, but Chief-Detective Cameron said that it showed threats to carry out violence. The magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew) . upheld the evidence, but noted Mr White’s objection. Richard Henry Brauman, son of the deceased, said that he was living at Nelson with his parents five or six years ago. There were quarrels at that time.

Mr White regarded this as ancient history, and His Worship agreed. Continuing his evidence of tH> quarrels, witness said that on one occasion his father had carried liis mother out of his (witness’s) sister’s room into his own room, and witness had never heard him threaten her, but he had said to witness after his mother had left home a little over a year ago that if she did not return home he would “do for her.” He said that on two or three occasions. Oiive Dorothy Bramaun stated that sho left home because her father illher. AVhile at Invercargill her father threatened to go to Dunedin at Christmas and shoot her mother. On August 6 her mother was housekeeping at St. Clair and witness saw her father near the house where she (witness) was employed. She telephoned ' her mother. The next evening witness not a young man named McMilian, and a friend who had a motor, outside her mother’s place. They went for a ride and then returned to St. Clair. McMillan, her mother and witness alighted and witness saw her father brushy past. Her father turned and walked back. Witness was facing the sea. Accused swung to the left of her, grabbed her mother’s arm, saying: “You aro having a good time.” He took out a revolver, placed it against her head and fired. Witness saw a llicker and screamed and ran. Slie saw her mother fall and go over an embankment. After going a few paces witness heard another shot, and later saw her father with a wound in his head. . ~ ~ , Cross examined, witness said that the whole trouble was her father s mad jealousv. He imagined that if her mother looked at a man she was wanting to carry on with him. His jealousy became worse, until it became an obsession. He used to complain to her mother ( about witness going out with boys. Jack Osmond McMillan, a warehouseman, aged 18 years, stated that on August 7 lie was introduced to the deceased and •Olive Brauman by a friend and the four went for a ride. With 'deceased and Miss Brauman lie alighted from the car at St. Clair. Nothing disrespectful His friend drove away in the car. Shortly afterwards a man passed, but witness did not see him until he came from the direction of the baths and stood in front of Mrs Brauman. He heard the reference to “having a good time.” Deceased remarked that it had nothing to do with him. Without warning accused produced a revolver from his overcoat pocket and, with a swift action, presented the revolver at Mrs Brauman’s ear and fired. She moaned and toppled over. Witness stepped toward accused, who warned him to keep back. Brauman then fired at liis town head, reeled twice and fell. Witness took the revolver from accused’s hand and went down the embankment to find the woman dead. Witness had not met Mrs or Miss Brauman until that evening there. It was to have been a musical evening that night at deceased’s house.