The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-07-03
A MURDERER HANGED.

William Brooker, the Pine City Muir
derer, Pays the Penalty for His
Crime.
William Brooker was hanged at Pine City,
Mimi. The cond EN- ned man spent his last
day yery quietly. He found solace in his
nine an almost constant companion, and
whiled away much of the time in playing
cards with the deputies, Henry j. Raf and
Manly FL. Mason, who were on guard. The
game was occasionally interrupted by Brook
er stepping to the grated window to salute o
riend who chanced 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?"
Il feel, bully, by C.. I'm going to stand
I'd like man. The women are at the bot
tom of this. Ifit were not for them l would
not be here"
At other times Brooks was unable to con-
ceal his excitement, which bordered on in
sanity. although his friends maintain that
his head was perfectly sound.
He refused to listen to clergyman, and died
as he has lived. Brokers vie and the Younger
children called to see him on Wednesday,
but the visit was plainly and admittedly un-
welcome to him. None OF those present ex-
hibited anv emotion, the children being too
Young to fully realize the situation, He de-
sired to see his Oldest son, a lad of eight
years, and the parting between them was
touc hing but the father, however, bore up
bravely.
The crime committed by Brookpr was the
murder ofLiIlian and William Combs, the for
mer hissister-in-law, on Now last. Brooker
went to the Coon bs residence to see his wife
who was visiting her sister and bring her home.
As tbev lett the house, Mrs. Combs followed
them hot words ensued and Brooker shot
her. Combs then came to the defense 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, as a plea of self-de ense would have
| been entered in his behalf. The trial was short
| and Brooker was sentenced to death by
Judge F. M. Crosby. /. D. Dent Of Rush
City made vigorous effort t9 secure re-
prieve for his client, but tono avail. Brook
er leaves wife and four children.
The following ante-mo rtem statement was
given to the press at Brokers request:
desire to state to the world that what
did was the result Inf protecting the sanctity
| Of my h9me; 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
| o week at timo and leave no one to provide
| for my sick children; that while she was there
| it was the common practice OF the COON bs
family to have liquor and invite halt-hreeds
| there, and they would have drunken carous.
ais to the neglect of her duty as vile and
| mother.
| also want to say that my wife would 90
| to the Coombs house leaving my children
| with no lood to eat, and that ! would have to
| prepare whatever food they had, and that
would frequently hear them cry with hunger
and find them naked, with the flies torturlnp
them, until it made my heart ache to see the
| neglect they had suffered on account OF this
| Coombs family coaxing and driving her away
| My sufferings have been of character su fl,
cient to dethrone my reason. have found
| the happiness of my home destroyed, and
/ the Coombs family even threatened to take
my Ii q should interfere / felt at the time
| the shooting occurred that my
| life was in danger, and that II
| had gone into their house | would have beer
killed. / want to go to the scaffold and dit
| as a man having no i'll feeling towards any
one but hoping those who are prosecuting
i me will some day realize what torture hay'
| suffered, my home being destroyed and my
children neglected during their sickness unc
| want
/ / realize am about to take plunge intc
an unknown world in few moments, nlsC
/ desire to thank Sheriff Mclaughlin Deputy
| Rath for their kindness to me at all times
will noW say goodbye to this world OF car'
and trouble In the hope that ! may have m1
case tried by the public, who will give me {
fair hearing after oil that is mortal Is laid
| away,