The record-union., 1897-04-29
The Assassin Then Puts an End to
His Own Career.
The Terrible Crime Enacted at the
Town of Redbanks, and Was the
Result of the Mad Infatuation for
the Girl He Attempted TO Murder,
MARRIAGE
Marriage.

| FRESNO. April 2S.-A terrible TRACE
! dy occurred at Redbanks, a small town
/ in this county about nine miles north of
| Sanger, about o'clock this morning.
| Mrs. John Qualls and her daughter Lu-
III are lying at the point of death and
one Brooks, a farm laborer, is dead.
Several months ago Brooks was en-
| ployed on the Qualls ranch and became
passionately in love with Miss Lulu.
sbut the girl rejected him. After re-
/ peated professions of affection without
avail Brooks, enraged at his failure,
| threatened to shoot Miss Qualls and
| her mother unless she consented to be-
come his wife.
The girls father came to Fresno and
preferred charges against Brooks and
the latter was convicted and cast into
jail under a six months sentence.
| Before the expiration of his term
Brooks was released upon bonds fur
nlshed by Qualls under a promise that
he would not further annoy Miss Lulu.
| Upon being released Brooks secured
employment on ranch about ten
miles from the Qualls' home and for
several weeks did not appear at the
latter place.
| This morning at o'clock he visited
the Qualls residence armed with a
| Ratchet and a shotgun He effected
an entrance through the rear door. Mr.
| Qualls at the time was absent in the
mountains.
Miss Lulu heard the noise and arose.
to investigate. She found herself face
to face with the man who had previous
ly threatened to take her life.
Say your prayers" said Brooks. adj
Justing his gun, Il am going to kill
you"
While the girl was pleading for mercy
her mother, aroused by the loud voice
of Brooks, entered the room. He i'm
mediately leveled the sun upon the
mother and fired, the charge taking
effect in her left breast. The woman
fell L tse floor.
Miss Lulu then ran to her bedroom
and Dolted the door Brooks followed
breaking down the door and entered the
room, gun and Ratchet in hand.
Say your prayers. - Won ba
shouted. L am going to kill you"
Again the girl appealed for her life
out the Infatuated brute refused to lis
ten, and. raising the gun. discharged
the remaining barrel at the girl near
~ tearing her right arm from her BODY.
Seeing that he had not succeeded in
killing his victim, the demon seized his
Ratchet and proceeded to finish his
bloody work. With the weapon m
raised he approached the PROSTATE
form.
Don't kill me, jim" pleaded the girl
with outstretched hands If you love
me, Jim, don't kill me-"
Brooks hesitated for moment
We'll, Lulu" he said, kiss me and I
won't"
Kneeling beside the PROSTATE form
Brooks received the price of his COM
promise, and, turning away left the
house.
On reaching the outside Brooks ser
fire to the house, and mounting his
horse, rode away in the darkness. Co
ing to neighboring barn he set fire to
the structure and entered it, This
morning his charred remains were
found, his shotgun and Ratchet living
at his side
AT the CorOner's inquest held to-day
upon the charred remains of James
Brooks no important facts were
| brought out beyond those received in
| the first reports from the scene of the
terrible crime The inquest was held
at the Qualls residence, sixteen miles
east of Fresno, where the mutiIated
mother and daughter are now under
the care of neighbors and friends. 1t
is believed that both will recover. al
though the mother is very seriously
wounded The daughter was able to
testify.
The body of Brooks was nearly con-
sumed in the burning barn. 1t is not
believed that he set the barn on fire
and then shot himself, but that the hay
in the barn was ignited by fire from the
gun.
The Qualls family are estimable peo-
pie, and nothing has ever been known
derogatory to Brooks, excepting his
mad infatuatiOn for Miss Qualls That
he had become insane in brooding over