The Russellville Democrat., 1888-08-16

although several days had elapsed before the murder was discovered. by reason of the foul odor emanating from the trunk fti the hotel room. the detectives were not long in settling upon the route taken by Inc fugitive and his purpose to put the Pacific ocean between him and his pursuers. He had reckoned with out his host, however, for although by the tune he was definitely located he was safely on board the steamship City of Sidney, with no ocean telegraph to overtal1e him, there was an other route by which he could be reached. and the St. Louis authorities determined not to be outwitted by the little Englishman, called in- to requistion the cable service via England, Suez, East Indies, Singapore, Australia and Auckland. so that by the time tho murderer had crossed the Pacific his crime was known and the American Consul and New Zealand officials were ready to receive him and hold him until the nee essary requisition could be made for his return to this country for trial. Probably no criminal fleeing from the scene of his crime was ever so thoroughly dumfounded as was Brooks whom arrested on board the City of Sidney as she entered Auckland harbor
 The wonderful nerve displayed by the culprit all through this remarkable case showed itself from the time Of his arrest LOT rather after the first few moments of surprise had passed, and there on New Zealand soil began the per sistent light that has but just ended. securing counsel in Auckland, the habeas corpus was in voked, but failed to secure release, the prisoner being remanded to jail to await the arrival Of the American officers with the requistion of the United States Government. The evidence that he was the man wanted was found among his effects, and after some little delay he was duly turned over to Detectives Tracey and Badger and by them brought back to St. Louis, arriving August i6.
 Before reaching St. Louis the now famous criminal was met on the train by Hon. John l. Martin, of the legal firm of Martin & Fauntle- roy, who rendered the services of himself and
 partner for his defense. The tender was ac- cepted and from that day until this, when the final act was pc rformed in the tragedy, no men have ever worked more faithfully in the cause of Q client than have they. It was case pure. ly Of circumstantial evidence, but the circum. stances were of such character that no link in the chain was wantingin the final summing up of the evidence at the trial, which occupied nearly four weeks in the Criminal Court, and which re- suited in a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degreer. The trial was concluded June 5. 1886, and then began the real fight, the ease being taken to the State Supreme Court, where the judgment of the trial court was affirmed. and afterward to the United States Supreme Court which decided 1t had no jurisdiction in the case, no Federal point being involved. Efforts for rehearing in both the latter courts necessarily covered Q great deal of time and the case was finally nar- rowed down to the decision of the Governor of the State of Missouri on an sp- plication for commutatlon, which was ably pleaded by the indefatigable attorneys, but without success beyond obtaining q respite of twenty-eight days from the date set for execu ton in July last. M
 As final resort the British Government was, by some means, prevailed upon to ask fur ther respite, but Governor Morehouse, unable to see wherein any thing was to be gained by further delay. and feeling confident that the State had fully established the guilt of the ac- cused, and also being unwilling to saddle upon the State the unnecessary expense of further proceedings in a case that had already cost a moderate fortune, ss,0oo) respectfully but firmly declined to interfere further with the due execution Of the penalty of the law. And thus the terrible crime has at last been expia- nd