On This Date in Minnesota History: July 26

July 26, 1906 – A baby girl was born early this morning to Mrs. Stella Brennan, who is serving a term in the Stillwater penitentiary for the murder of three of her four stepchildren in North Minneapolis last Nov.

Stella Brennan’s Baby*

Since Mrs. Brennan’s commitment last Jan., the birth has been expected and awaited, and the subject of the baby’s future has been discussed by the state board of control and prison authorities. But that is apparently settled. James Brennan, husband of Stella Brennan and father of the child born today, will provide the funds necessary for bringing up his child. Mrs. Brennan’s mother, Mrs. Owens of Pullman, Mich., will take charge of the baby after two or three months.

The Brennan child is the second born in the Stillwater penitentiary. The mother of the first child born in the prison was Nellie Frayer, sent there march 10, 1897, to serve a life sentence for murder in Crow Wing County. The child was born four months later and was sent to the state school at Owatonna. The Frayer woman died Aug. 4, 1905.


The Minneapolis Journal; “Daughter is Born to Mrs. Brennan. Baby Inmate of the State Prison at Stillwater. Mother is Serving Life Sentence for Murder of three Children in Minneapolis Last Fall—James Brennan, Father of Child, will Pay Mother-in-Law to Care for It.”; July 26, 1906; p. 6.*The San Francisco Call; August 12, 1906; Page 5.

Murder of three Brennan children while they slept; oldest son and stepmother shot; see Nov. 4, 2015 blog

Stella Brennan indicted by coroner’s jury for murder of stepdaughter; see Nov.9, 2015 blog

Stella Brennan indicted by Hennepin County grand jury for murder of her three stepchildren; see Nov. 21, 2015 blog

County Attorney outlines the state’s theory of the Stella Brennan murder case in his opening statement; see Dec. 19, 2015 blog

Stella Brennan spends Christmas in hospital room of the Hennepin County Jail; see Dec. 25, 2015 blog

Stella Brennan Found Guilty; sentenced to the State penitentiary for life; admits she is in a family way; see Dec. 30, 2015 blog

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