The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-07-04
WI Dean, of Minneapolis was nominated
for congress in the Fourth District, OH the
following nln tior,n
A MURDERER HANGED.
William Brooker. the Pine City Muir
derer, Pays the Penalty for His

William Brooker. the Pine City MUIR
derer. Pays the Penalty for His
Crime.
William Brooker was hanged ut Pine City,
MINI. The condemned man spent his last
day very quietly. He found solace in his
pipe, an almost constant companion, aud
whiled away much of the time in plu wing
cards with the deputies. Henry }. Katf and
game was occasionally interrupted by Brook
er stepping to the grated window to salute IL
friend who chnnced 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.
up like Il man. The women IRE at the hot
tom Of this. Ifit were not for them l would
not be here"
At othor times Brooks was unable to con-
| ceal his excitement which bord cred on in-
sanity. although his friends M nintain that
| his head was perfectly sound.
He refused to listen to aclergylnan, and died
as he has lived. Brokers wife and he younger
children called to see him on Wednesday,.
but the visit was plainly and admittedly un-
welcome to him. None Of those present cx-
hibited any emotion, the children being too
young to fully realize the situation. lie de-
sired to his Oldest sOn. u lad of eight
years. and the parting between them was
touching but tho father, however, bore up
bravely
The crime committed by Brookpr was the
murder ofLilliannnd William Combs. the for
mer his sister.in-law, onNov.2 last. Brooker
went to the Coon bs residence TO see his wife
who was visiting her sister and bring her home.
As they lett the house, Mrs. Combs followed
them. hot words ensued and Brooker shot
her. Combs then cnme to the de.erisc OF his
vie, but too late. and he nso went
down before Brokers' gun. Under the
circumstances, howevr the latter was
only, as II plea of self.de ense would have
been entered in his behalf The trial was short
and Brookcr was sentenced to death by
Judge F. NJ. Crosby. l.. d. Dent @: Rush
City made a vigorous effort to secure re-
prieve for his client. hut tono avail. Brook
er leaves n wife and four children.
The following ante mo rtcm statement was
given to the press ut BrOoker request:
desire to state to the world that what !
did was the result hf protecting the sanctity
ot my home: that my wife was enticed away
by this man Coombs and his wife. and that
my vile would go to their house and stay for
week Mt II time and leave no one to provide
for my sick children: that while she was there
it was the common practice o! the COombs
family to have liquor and invite halfbreeds
there and they would have drunken carors
ais to tho neglect of her duty as n wife and
mother.
also want to say that my wife would 20
to the coomhs house leaving my children
with no .ond to en- t. and that would have to
prepare whatever 'ood 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 acl,e to see the
neglect they had suffered on account OF this
Coombs family coaXing and driving hernwny.
My yulrrings hnve been OF a character SUI I'll.
cient to detlirone my reason. l have found
the happiness OF my home destroyed and
the Coonlbs family even threatened to take
my Ii o should interfere. / felt Mt the time
the shooting occurred that my
life was in danger, and that il
Ind gone into their house would have been
killed. want o go to the scni1old and die
US a man having no i'll feeling towards any
one, hut hoping those who are prosecuting
me will some day realize what torture have
suffered, my |. i.ome being ,lestroyed and my
want.
desire to thank my attorney, Mr.. Dent.
for his efforts to save my life and all the sac
ritcr he has made ana the expense he has
gone to. and hope thnt in fiitu re he may be
rewarded. / thank Sheriff Holcomb and
Deluty Marty OF saltwater !ur their kindness
to me. also desire to thank DR.. Cuine for
his attendance on me-
rrnlize | am about to take n plunge into
an unknown world in II few moments, ] also
,lesir. to thank Sheriff Mclaughlin Deputy
I:ath for their kindness to me ut all times.
| will now say goodbye to this world OF care
am! trouble in the hope that may have my
case tried by TIL. public, who will give me n
fair hearing after all that is mortal is laid
away.