The San Francisco call., 1897-04-30
Victims of the Sanger
Maniac Are Out of
Danger.
Only the Charred Trunk of
Brooks Body Is
Found.
An Acquaintance Tells OF the
Peculiarlties Of the Love-
Crazed Man.

FRESNO, CAL, April 29-The condi-
ton of Mrs David Qualls, who, with her
daughter, had such terrible experience
on Tuesday night north of Sanger with
James Brooks, was much improved to-
day. She has recovered from the shock,
and the gunshot wound in her arm is de-
veloping favorable symptoms. DIR. Jacobi
of Centerville, who is attending her, con-
sders her TO be out of danger. Miss
Qualls' injury was of no serious conse-
Guence.
Upon moments reflection the deeds of
the insane lover on that terrible night re-
solve themselves into one of the most
tragic episodes in criminal history.
The mad love for the girl which had
been entirely unreciprocated, prompting
the tiendish resolution of Brooks; his
attempt first to set fire to the house in
which the family were asleep to consign
them to horrible death; then his stealthy
entrance into the home at the Cead hour
of night to wreak destruction of lie. and
lastly the manner in which he brought
about his own end, all com bine to show
that none other but maniac could enter
tain such awful thoughts.
The experience which Mrs. QualIs and
her daughter passed through was one of
greatest terror. Concerning the man
Brooks, something was learned of his
character by THE CALL correspondent to-
day.
Al Woodward, now of this city, but
formerly deputy constable at Sanger, near
which place the tragedy was enacted,
knew the man probably better than any
one else did In the county.
Brooks was a peculiar fellow" said
Woodward, "and one would never have
thought that he mad the nerve to do what
he did on Tuesday night. He was of re-
firing disposition and given very much to
sulking. He spoke very little and was
very suspicious of everybody. His com
piexion was dark, unusually so, and his
character was well represented by his
color. He was ard-work1ng man and
never drank to amount to anything, but
would occasionally gamble.
II always considered the fellow thor
ough coward-one who would be afraid of
the dark. Brooks was a distant relative
of the Qualls. and 1t was for this reason
that they put up with his unreasonable
attentions to Miss Neoma more than they
should have DONE"
All that was left of the remains in the
ruins of the barn where the body of
Brooks was cremated was the trunk. The
head and limbs had been burned COM
pletely to ashes. Bits OF the char ed
flesh were picked up and placed in the
coffin with the trunk of the body. The
remains were inferred in Mountain View
cemetery.
Coroner Long, who is also q doctor
picked up the pieces of the remains and
had some difficulty in segregating them
from the bones of an animal which had
been lying on the ground directly where
Brooks had shot himself on the hay NOW.
Miss Neoma Qual.s, for the desperate
love OF whom Brooks was spurred 10
murder, is reported 10 be engaged to be
married to Frank Hutchings, who works
on neighboring farm. After the maniac's s
nerve gave way and he expressed his sor-
row for having hurt her, be said he "could
not bear to see her go with Frank Hutch.
ings."
The CALLS account of the tragedy this
morning was the only accurate one in the
San Francisco papers.