Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-06
SHOT DOWN In COLD BLOOD.
Pugilist Brooks Commits Cowardly
and Causeless Murder.
THE VICTIM AN OMAHA MAN.
Dragged From Strumpct's Trunk
The Assassin Prociaims His
Guilcicssncss But Jury
Fails to See IL.
a Council RIuns Tragedy,

AT fifteen minutes before 1 o clock ycster-
day afternoon the sharp report of pistol
shot startled the citizens in the vicinity of
the corner Of Second street and Broadway,
and the pedestrians who we're passing along
the sidewalk at the time rushed into the sa-
loon known rs the "Bucket of Blood,n at No.
l56 Broadway, whence the sound issued The
sight that met the eyes of the Mortified spec
tators was indeed n ghastly one. A man lay
in pool of blood on the floor, and the red
life current was stin flowing from a ragged
bullet hole under his left ear.
"Who is hcl" "Who killed himn "What
was the troublcl' were the questions that
fell from many tongues and the story of the
tho tragedy was eagerly listened to as the
witnesses of the terrible occurrence related
the manner in which il transpired.
1t quickly developed that Tommy Brooks,
the lightweight pugillst, had shot and killed
Frank De Good. an Omaha hostlcr.
The police were on the scene in n very
brief space of time, and the place was
cleared of everybody but the officers, report
ers and witnesses. There, in the midst OF
grucSome surroundings the details of the
murder were learned.
The story of Frank Hatcher, the bar
tender, gave the clearest insight into the
tragedy and is here given AS he related it at
the time, and repeated it later at the coro-
ner's inquest. ",rhe murdered man, George
Guanella and myself, were shaking dice ut
the bar. We were all outside ana Brooks
was leaning against n railing between us and
the door. l was high man and left the others
to finish 1t. / went into the back room, and
when | returned they were quarrcling about
who was stuck. Guanela called the dead
man Liar and tho latter struck him. They
clirchcd and | stepped up and separated
them My back was toward the door when
l heard Il shot, and De Goode fell to the floor.
He never moved [ raised his head, but no
was dead, and sent for policeman. When
hnn, Il If.N.l
killed him. looked around and saw Brooks
just throwing his gun INTO the back part of
the ROOM That was the last saw of him"
Tom Casey-"l saw Brooks pull his gun,
and point it at the dead mans head. and
shoot him. Then he turned and ran out the
front door. He had no trouble with De Goode
in the saloon"
Ida Melville, Brooks mistress, testified
that Brooks sent a messenger to her Monday
evening for the gun She asked if he was
drunk, aud the messenger said he was not.
She then gave him the gun. Identified the
one found on the floor after the murder.
Lars Jensen heard the dispute, stepped to
the door. and saw Brooks pull the revolver
from the pocket of his overcoat, which was
lying across his left arm He said, damn
you, III settle you," and ran up to De Goode.
He struck at him with the gun, and it was
discharged close to his head Tho man fell
to the floor. Brooks rushed out, and Larsen
followed him to arrest him. Brooks ran
through Kildare's saloon, adjoining the one
lowed him few steps inside the saloon, and ;
then stopped as several parties motioned to
him to stop, and he feared Brooks. still had
the gun.
Andy Houk. NJ. A. Lyford, Harry Green,
William Probstle, George Guanela and Ed
Morris testified to the whole or part of the
preceding
Brooks trail was taken up by score of
officers. several special policemen being
pressed into service. The bagnio kept by
Kit Edwards, 15l Vine street, where the
Melville woman resided, was searched, but
nothing was found of Brooks The streets
and all conceivable hiding places in the VI
cinity We're carefully searched, but il was
fruitless. The Edwards bagnio was searched
second time at $50, and Brooks was found
in a trunk, where he had been carefully
packed away.
He was found py Officers Mullen and Isen-
berger, and was hurried to the county Jail,
where he was seen later by n representative
OF TIE BEE. The reporter found INN lying
on his bunk in cell with Frank Rowe, the
man indicted for robbing the house of Il. w.
McCarger. Brooks answered the call by ap-
pearing at the cell door, and was disposed to
be non-cOmmunicative, but after short time
talked quite freely with his visitor.
In response to question as to how it hap
pencd, he said:
II don't know. I can't tell anything about
it."
''Were you drunkl" eyes | must have
been. / was drunk all last night, and l
haven'teaten thing to-day, so when | took
a drink it knocked me out"
'Did you know the man you shot!" "T
never saw him before in my life. He was
total stranger to me-"
"How did you happen to be in the saloon2"
81 had been in there off ana on since noon,
and mad been drinking. l drank nothing
but beer, but had several glasses. went in
with George Guanella, and then we went
down town. went back alone,
and after while George came in.
All know about the trouble was that saw
George and this man fighting, and he was
getting little the best of George. Then |
went TO hit him l didn't mean to shoot
him, but when ] struck at him with the gun
it went off, and started out | don't know
but walked through Kildarc's loon, out the
back door, and over to Kit Edwards place,
and sat down. i didn't say anything to any
body, and after while went upstairs and
but put them in closet. 1t was my
woman's room, but she didn't know | was
there ! got in the trunk alone The lid
was closed, but not lockcd.n
"Did the stranger say anything 10 you, or
make any move towards youf He must
have or wouldn't have done anything. /
don't remember anything about IT, ! knowI
was drunk, and the shooting was accidental.
didn't know this man was killed until after
was arrested ] don't know what attorney
VIII have TO defend me- | suppose they
will call IT murder, but it was accident"
The prisoner was very much depressed, but
tuihcu CNlUtnlly WtlBhbu tne
effect OF each statement before he made IL.
AS the reporter left, he suggested that
morning BEE with the account of the tragedy
be sent down 10 him.
e 1t was learned latter In the evening that
Colonel ID. Is. Daley and Colonel w. +. Sapp
would defend the murderer Colonel Daley
was seen, and stated that he had undertaken
the defense in connection with Colonel Sapp,
ana that they would waive preliminary ex-
animation, letting the case go to the grand
jury on the 4th OF April AS the bail would
be fixed at $4,000 or $4,000, the prisoner
would be unable to give it, and would have
10 remain in jail.
1t was learned that the prisoner pulled his
gun short time before he entered tho saloon
aud threatened 10 Kill the notorious negro,
"iex" Baker, who was passing. The darkcy
went along quietly, and Brooks nut up his
weapon. The gun is a "l'ulldog' OF 3S-cali.
bre, and an unknown make
the murderer is twenty-five years of age,
ana has always resided in this city. He is
one OF family Of four children, all Of Whom
reside either In this city or Omaha
His parents reside on Vine street near the
corner of Bryant and he has made his home
wilh them. He is a professional pugihst,
and holds the lightweight championship Of
Iowa. His record is decidedly uusavory,
and no has shown depraved nature la
several DaWdy house ruclkets in which he