The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-07


Help You," was sung at Brooks request.
At 7:4O Sheriff Pugh entered the cell and
read the death warrant. Brooks heard it
calmly and without emotion. After the
warrant was read Sheriff Pugh informed
Brooks that the time for the execution had
now arrived. The condemned man walked
from his cell to the scatsold with ready
step and a smile and nod for every body
whom he knew. Brooks smoked cigar
on the way to the gallows, and did not
throw it away until he began to speak
When all were upon the scaffold Brooks
stood up and began talking in subdued
tone, inaudibie to everybody except those
on the scaffold. As he proceeded, his
voice became gradually higher until it
reached shrek. When Brooks con-
cluded speaking Rev. Brown asked him to
join with them in singing when l Cen
Read My Title Clear" Brooks Joined in
the song, and smiled and bowed to the
audience in the meanwhile with seeming
satisfaction.
Precisely at S:04 o'clock Brooks was
placed upon the trap and his hands and
legs pinioned with leather straps by the
deputies in charge. The lfoose was then
adjusted. All the time Brooks was smil-
ing and nodding to the people standing
below. The black cap was adjusted at
sos and the moose so arranged that the
drop would break his neck.
At sos the sheriff touched the button
that sent the murderer's soai into eternity.
His neck was broken and he died almost
without tremor.
THE crime for which CHARLES Brooks was
l. al
Sunday evening, July 5, 1891. The murder oc.
Cured on the Big island, nesrly opposite the
old Penobscot hotel. i'll Spokane. Mrs. Brooks
was taking an afternoon stroll, accompanied by
her sister, Mrs. Moline. and her two Young
daughters Mrs. Brooks was carrying in her
arms the infant child of Mrs. Moline Brooks.
who had evidently been watching her, stepped
up from behind and said: II gant to speak to
you" Mrs. Brooks turned, and, seeing who it
was, answered: "I don't want anything to do
with you," and hurried on. The infuriated ne
gro pulled a revolver and fired, the ball striking
the unfortunate woman in the head She fell
to the ground and Brooks fred three more shots.
each one taking effect, the second in
the neck and the otners IN the
hand and jaw. Mrs Moline grabbed her
child, which was still tightly clasped in the un
fortunate woman's arms, and fed screaming
down the street. She tainted afser going a short
distance and was revived with difficulty The
murderer stood over his vctira with the re.
volver still smoking III his hand Officer Smith
who had been patroliing his bsat along Front
street, had his attention attracted by the shots
and hurried to the scene. BROOKS gave himself
up readily saying: "You can tag me and hang
me now" crowd soon collected an d il was wi m
difficulty that the prisoner was taken away, He
was at once conveyed to the county jail And
locked up.
The trouble which led up to and resulted in
the shooting extends over a period IF about ten
months. Mrs. Brooks, whose fosner name w a a
Christine DohiInan, was a pocr woman who
earned a scanty living for hefsen and little
daughter by taking washing. MIS-. Brooks
was Il swedish woman, 2s yeass of age. and
rather comely in appearance. Ssle became ac.
quainted with Charles Brooks. w3lo represented
himself 10 be man OF considerable means
with at least $4,000 in Spokane real estate Al
ter Il brief coartship she marrie9 Brooks. Oeto.
ber =, lS9e, and soon fount oat her nistske
He Wa the jaaitor of the Webster house on tbe
the north side. she ouiy lived reith him n few
weeks, and then left him and resumed
her former occupation II washing
clothes. Mrs. Brooks had previously TO
the shooting. been employet An do
nestle. Brooks made it UNPLEASANT, for her
aud about month before the murder she
brought suit In the superior court for a divorce
This preyed on the mind of her colored hus
band, and he finally worked himself up to sueh
pitch Of jealousy that II resulted in his com
mlttsag the awful crime detailed above. Brook ,
was tried, convicted and sentenced To- hang on
Deceulber l., 1891. Counsel for tie condemned
man appealed the case TO tho s.Iprerne court
aud secured a stay of execution PENDING a de-
cislon. The supreme court. on May q, ,sq,
affirmed the decision OF the lower court. ana re-.
fused tn grant new trial. Brooks was then re-
sentenced, the day of execution being fxsd for
September &.
Brooks execution is the fret wh1eh the civi,
authorities OF spokane county hays been called
upon 10 perform. There were several lynchinps
early in the history of the county and several
indians were hanged by the military forces wears
age. but while there have been 4. number Of
murders, there have been no hanyings con.
Quoted BY the sheriff
Ia appearance Brooks was the f,ildest-m.u.
nered and softest speaking old raan that one
could imagine. No one would suspeet that he
could have murdered any one re was about
ieei inches in height and ysfy black He
was Iosi polite to ell his yis.torz and made q