New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1890-07-02
A MURDERER HANGED.
William BROKER, the Pine City Muir
derer, Pays the Penalty for His

William BROKER, the Pine City MUIR
derer, Pays the Penalty for His
Crime.
Villa m Brooker was hanged at Pine City,
Mimi. The condemned man spent his last
day very quietly. He found soace in his
pipe, an almost constant companion, and
whiled away much of the time in playing
cards with the deputies, Henry j. Raft and
Manly Fl. Mason, who We're on guard. The
game was occasionally interrupted by Brook
er stepping to the grated window to salute a
friend who CHANGED to pass. On these oc-
casions he seemed to be perfectly rational,
and he said in answer to the query, How
are you this morning?'
II feel, bully, by C.. I'm going to stand
up like man. The women are at the bot
tom OF this. fit were not for them l would
not be here
The crime committed by Brooker was the
murder ofLllian and William Combs, the for
mer his sister-in-law, on Nov. 2 last Brooker
went to the Coomb s residence to see his wife
who was visiting her sister and bring herhome.
AS they lett the house. Mrs. Combs followed
them. hot words ensued and BROKER shot
her. Combs then came to the deense OF his
vie, but too late. and he also went
down before Brokers' gun. Under the
circumstances howevr, the latter was
indicted for the murder of the woman
only, plea of self-de ense would have
been entered in his behalf. The trial was short
&
Judge F. NJ. Crosby. L. D. Dent Of Rush
City made a vigorous effort to secure re-
prieye for his client, but to no avail. Brook
er leaves a. wife and four children.
The following ante ortem stateme nt was
given to the press at Brokers request:
l desire tostate to the world that what
did was the resulthf protecting the sanctity
OF my home; that my wife was enticed away
by this man Coombs and his wife. and that
my wife would go to their house and stay for
week at a time and leave one to provide
for my sick children: that while she was there
it Was the common practice OF The Coomb
family to have liquor and invite half-breeds
there and they would have drunken carous.
ais to the neglect of her duty as q vile and
mother.
also want to say that my wife would go
to the Coombs house leaving my children
with no God to eat. and that would have to
prepare whatever God they had. and that
would frequently hear them cry with hunger
and find them naked, with the flies torturing
them, until it made my heart ache to see the
neglect they had suffered On account.of this
Coombs family coaxing and driving hera away.
My suf1erings hnye been of o character gu fl
Gent to dethrone my reason. ] have found
TIE happiness of my home destroyed, and
the Coombs family even threatened to take
my Ii e should l interfere. I felt at the time
the shooting occurred that my
life was in danger. and that il
had gone into their housed would have been
killed. want to go to rhe seaffold and die
as a man having no i'll feeling towards any
one, but hoping those who are prosecuting
]. me will some day realize what torture have
suffered. my home being DESTROYED and my
children neglected during their sickness and
want.
realize am about to take a plunge into
an unknown world in a few moments, also
desire to thank Sheriff Mclaughlin Deputy
Rath Tor their kindness to me at all times.
will now say goodbye to this world of care
and trouble in the hope that may have my
case tried by the public. who will give me a
fair herring after all that is mortal is laid
away.