St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-03
HOLBROOK'S RACY STORY.
TIE VENERABLE BANK DIRECTOR
Tells 1T IN COURT.
CHAMBERLAIN AND HIS GUN.

Brains Around the Room, so
Mr. Holbrook SAYS, and Then
Made Him Undcess and Sign.
The lovers of sensation crowded the
criminal court room yesterday to hear
The testimony in the notorious Cham
beIlain case. Chamberlain was indicted
for robbery upon the testimony of ;. r.
Holbrook, director of the Bank Of
Minneapolis. who charges him and his
alleged wife, Mrs. Vine dublin, with
Matchmaking him out of some personal
property. Mr.. Holbrook also claims
that Chamberlain forced him at the
point of pistol to sign about $4,000
worth of promissory notes, which, how
ever, proved worthless. as Mr. HolbIook
sigred them +. E. Holbrook, instead OF
affixing his own name, 5. F. Holbrook.
After the case against Fred CHAM
berlain was called, that against Mrs.
Zablin or Chamberlain was also called
and set for immediate trial. Then the
work of Selectin" jury to try Fred
Chamberlain began. Assistant County
Attorney Peterson. assisted by Free
man =. Lane. conducted the proSecu-
ton, and Attorney John Rees, aided by
y. Nj. Bracket, of Boone, To-, appeared
for the defense. The entire forenoon
and most of the afternoon were con-
snmed in getting the jury. While this
monotonous grind was going on. the
spectators took an ocular inventory
of the general appearance of Mrs. Cub
lin-Chamberlain. They saw little
woman OF an uncertain age, with
blondish hair, small eyes, sharp nose.
large mouth. prominent upper teeth
and hollow cheeks. Chamberlain IS
huSky-Iooking man With an aggressive
nose, dark muStache and thick hair
pasted on his forehead.
About 3: 80 o'clock the twelfth juror
was sworn and the trial commenced.
Call Mr.. Hulbrook." said the assist
ant county attorney. Mr.. Holbrook re-
sponded and took the oath and the wit
ness stand. The spectators grew alert
at once and pricked up their ears, and
those ears remained in that attentive
condition for one whole hour while Mr..
HolbrOOk told as racy story as has
been heard in Hennepin county court
room for several moons. After few
preliminary questions the counsel for
the prosecution asked him 10 relate the
whole story, and he did so. In sub
stance il was as follows:
MIR. HOIBROOk'S TALE.
81 first met Mrs. Zubiin at the eXpOsi
ton over three years ago. Soon after
that | lost sight OF her, and never saw
her again until last spring, when l en-
couutered her on the street. i would
not have seen her then, but sne stopped
NE and we exchanged few words. Last
August-the 14th, | believe-I received
a note asking me to call at her house
that day on my way home to lunch.
She lived at 401 Sixth street south.
l stopped there shortly after the noon
hour. but she told me 10 drop in about
o'clock on my way back, as she was
busy getting some OF the children III
the house ready togo the circus. Ac-
cOrdinglY. at the appointed time l was
there. and Mrs. dublin showed me into
the parlor. After exchanging few
eommonplaceS Mrs. dublin came 10 the
point and asked me if / would loan her
500 10 start her III the cigar business.
told her was not in the money loan
ing business, and could not do ii. She
seemed much disappointed, and finally
asked me to step up stairs with her and
she would show lie some papers which
would prove that she was u responsible
party.
MIR. HOLBROoK GOES UP STAIRS.
81 didn't quite like the idea" cOntin-
ued Mr.. HolDrook, with smile, but l
was never yet afraid of one woman, so L
went upstairs with Mrs. dublin. She
conducted me TO a room with bed in it,
and. as there was scarcity OF chairs, /
sat down on the edge of the bed. Mrs.
Zublin excused herself, and reappeared
a moment later with large fan i'll her
hand. and, rs she seated herself in a
chair near the bed, remarked:
Il said l didn't feel the heat much.
We might have exchanged TWO or three
more words, when heard mans voice
call:
"'Vine. Vine, where are you?'
"'Good heaYenSn exclaimed Mrs. Zub-
lin, that's my husband! What shall l
do?'
just then Chamberlain rushed into
the room. He had yalise iii his hand,
which he dropped Oh the floor. He
stood glaring at Inc, and then said:
YOU'RE fine - - -
What are you dong in my wife's
room?'
Before could explain Chamberlain
kill me. Mrs. Zubiiu in the meantime
wrung her hands andbegged her husband
not to harm ME. He finally made her
leave the room. Then he drew re-
Yolver, came up 10 me and SAID:
Throw up your hands, l obeyed.
Then he made me open my mouth, and,
showing the barrel of the revolver into
it, he said:
1--we a mind 20 spatter your brains
on the floor. l should like TO see
Them"
While Mr.. Holbrook was telling this,
he lifted his arms to show the jury how
Ar,h ,tI IN Iii NIa,
berlain smiled. Mrs. Zubiin and all the
other witnesses had been excluded from
the court room aud so missed the enter
tainment. Continuing his story, Mr..
HoibroOk said:
''Chamberlain then asked me what |
would give bin to be let off. l said l
would give him anything Then he
made NE take off all my clothing, except
my shirt and undershirt. When l had
done so. he seized my white shirt by
the collar, and tore it from top
TO bottom. Then, still pointing the
gun at me, he marched ME
into another room, and producing some
blank promissorv notes, made me fill
out several of them 10 the amount Of
$4,000. was sharp enough, however,
net TO sign my own name TO them. l
signed them f. E. Holbrook.' Then
llC dShCQ lilC IOn HuQs
and spoke of some real estate that l
owned. | told him | did not own it,
but L lied to him." added Mr.. Hol-
brook with foxy smile.
MRS. ZUBLIN LOOKS ON.
while he was threatening me Mrs.
dublin again came in aud implored him
Tot to harm me, but Chamberlain -four
ished his revolver and threatened to
shoot me. Then he called to a cab
driver waiting outside the house and
asked him to come in. When the cab
man appeared Chamberlain told him
to go and call and patrol wagon.
The cabman left, and that
was the last | saw OF him. Finally
Chamberlain told me to put on my
trousers and coat and vest, but did not
allow me 10 put on my drawers. collar
and cuffs. He also took all the cash
had with NE, which vas 81. Then he
took me out, hired cab and we drove
to the Bank of Minneapolis, where L