Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-02-24

a nYDTRRsoTs AEFA1R.
Arms - ~. y. 0sesks, Chasse1
Win a Assenps - Cs00ss Rae.
An a4aiS oeseErsd yesterday aftsr-
noon which vas either an attempt to
esmmit q mos diaboiical crime, or, -
seems far more probable, one Of those
Gases in which, through the fosOe OF IN
fortunate circumstances, q man 10 made
70 stand before the public in a false
light and innossntly 70 face aecusations
most dsmning in their character. II ID
net within the sphere of the Press to
cot a. judge 10 such matters; il II our
duty 10 lay the facts, - fully and COZ
rectly - possible, before the public.
and 10 let the people draw for them
selves the infereoes.
About half past four O'Clock yeseer.
day afternoon, . young man named
Street, the proprietor of the BOWS
stand At the corner of Mill and Front
streets, saW little girl standing beside
the news stand of w. II. Brooks. at the
entrance 70 the Post Ofics. According
70 Streets statement, Brooks vas en-
dsavorinR to induce the child TO enter the
stand, while she VS. crying and holding
back. Finally she entered the place,
being partially pulled in BY Brooks and
appearing partially 70 yield 70 his per
suAsions.
Street now felt some interest in the
proceedings, and whom he saw Brooks
pot his arms around the little girl and
kiss her, be thoaeht something was
vronR, and hastily informed Chief
WoOleFy Of the facts. We0lery hurried
10 the scene, and both he and Street
watched the stand closely, and both
men state that to all Appearances
Brooks vas attempting to take improper
liberties With the little girl, who vas
crying bitterly. Finally the Chief step
ped mp and asked:
Who il that little girlf"
Brooks turned around and answered,
hastily, "Oh! only . little friend ct
mins.'
While this conversation was taking
place the child stepped ont OF the stand
and started up street, still crying. Wool
ery hurr ed after her and asked her Why
she vas crying. At first she would NOS
reply, but, upon being pressed fer an
answer, stated, in her broken way. that
Brooks bad attempted TO take improper
liberties With her.
The child's father. Mr.. s. Shererd, a
shoemaker, whose shop il located ON
Mill street, was sent for, and upon his
arrival Woolery arrested Brooks and
took him before Judge Vro0man. After
some delay his hearing vas Get for half
past 10 o'clock on Monday morning,
and in default of $500 bail be went to
Jail until that time.
A Po6T-lNTKLLl0KNCKn reporter visit
ed Brooks in jail last evening in order
20 hear his side of the case. He denied
emphatically having had any criminal
intent in the affair. and spoke of the
matter with much feeling. His state
ment was substantially a. follows:
II am fond Of children. and since l
have owned tho news stand have been
in the habit of talking with them and
giving them picture cards and other
little trinkets. For this reason many of
them would stand and talk With me as
they went 20 and from the post Office.
This little girl, Emma Shererd, was an
especial fav0rits of mine, and this after
noon talked with her for some time
and persuaded her 10 como into the
stand with me. While she was there !
put my arms around her and kissed her,
bot did nothing further. 1t was Just at
this time that Woolery spoke to me. /
had no criminal intention whatever,
and although circumstances appear to
be against me, am utterly innocent of
the crime charged"
The reporter then called upon Mr..
Shererd, the father Of the child, and
heard his statement, which was about
a. 70 lows:
"This afternoon sent my little girl
Emma from my shop to the Post Office
to purchase some stamps. She did not
return, and in about 20 minutes Chief
Woolsry came and told ne Of the affair
at the Pest O,iioo. went to my child
Immediately. She vas still crying. She
told me that Brooks had attempted to
take liberties With her, and related to
me the whole affair. While / do not
understand the mans actions, / am
10th to believe that he had any criminal
intent. had known tor q long time
that be Vas very friendly With my chill
dren, and had never objected to their
talking With him and receiving piotpre
cards from him. Emma 10 q truthful
child. She Is IL years old. and quite an
Intelligent child. She certainly under
stands what she is saying, and the gray
ity of the charges against Brooke"
The reporter then told Mr.. Shererd
the substance of Brooks statement, and
asked his opinion of il. After some
thought he answered:
well. rather think the truth of the
matter may b a. h0 says. OF course,
he was wrong to fOndle and kiss my
child. but do not think he had any
ulteriOr motive. Under the Circum-
stances. NO sane man would make the
attempt with which Brooks is charged.
do net want 10 be hard On the man,
and hope the public will suspend judy
ment until all the facts arc known"
From the foregoing statements may
be gathered a. clear An idea Of the whole
AFFAIR a. 10 possible at present. There
are many circumstances which appear
TO BE- il Brooks's favor. The entire
publicity Of the place. the bright day
light the presence Of people passing
and repaaainQ. ill would argue against
the prisoners guilt. Only after most
thorough eifting Of all the evidence can
any justifable conclusion bo reached,
and In behalf Of Brooks, a. we'll a. in the
name Of justice, the Posr-IMrKLLIoxN-
cEa would second the request Of Mr..
6hersrd that Judgment be suspended for
the present.
WHAT THE FUND n FoA.-Stsvsns
Post, Grand Army Of the Republic, Of
this city. 10 engaged In aooumulatine q
sam Of money known - the Cemetery
Fund. With which they will purchase .
lot In the Masonic Cemetery Asoooia-
lions grounds 81 feet square, 10 b ned
- . barial place for all deceased hon
orably discharged Union soldiers or
esiloss Who served during he hate var.
Tho Post also purposes Improving this
lot and putting IL in nrss -ciass shape,
and, ~ soon ~ the fund permits, viii
begin the erection Of . suitable monu-
mout in the Oeutef Of THAR lot. vhiah