The San Francisco call., 1897-04-29
SPURRED
BY LOVE TO
TAKE LIFE
Savage Attack Upon a
RanCher's Wife and
Daughter.
WOUNDED BY A FORMER
EMPLOYE.
Gains Access to Their Rooms
at Night and Fires
Upon Them.
ENDS HIS OWN CAREER IN A
NEARBY BARN.
Failure of His Suit for the Girls
Hand Had Driven Him to
Madness.
WOUNDED BY A FORMER
EMPLOYE.
Gains Access to Their Rooms
at Night and Fires
Upon Them.
ENDS HIS OWN CAREER IN a
NEARBY BARN.
Failure of His Suit for the Girls
Hand Had Driven Him to
Madness.

FRESNO, CAL, April 28.--Mad with an
unrequited love James Brooks sought in
most tragic manner the life of pretty
Neoma Qualls at her home, sixteen miles
east OF this city last night. The young
lady's mother appearing upon the scene
the desperate man tried to murder her
also. After he had shot and wounded the
girl he adored Brooks nerve gave way,
and in response to her appeals he spared
her, although he was holding hatchet
over her head ready to to strike fatal
blow. But, in accordance with the plan
he had probably mapped out, the wretch
ran to barn about three-quarters of q
mile distant and ended his own existence.
The hay took fire from the discharge of
the gun with which he shot himself, and
to-day his charred remains were found in
the ruins of the building.
Brooks purpose was to enact tragedy
which would have been one of the most
awful ever perpetrated in the history of
the State. 1t was about o'clock in the
morning when he stole into the home of
the Qualls. where mother and daughter
were sleeping. He had been at the house
the evening before and ascertained that
Mr.. Qualls and his two grown sons were
away IN the mountains and that the
ladies were at home alone and without
protection. Going to their bedroom doors,
he shot at them with shotgun as tnev
sprang, startled, from their beds. His aim
was poor and he hit them in the arms.
Miss QuaIls' injury is not serious. but her
mothers condition is dangerous because
OF loss of blood.
The cause of Brooks desperate act was
an insane love he possessed for the young
lady, who is a very handsome blonde of
19 years. he has worked as a laborer for
the rast six years in the vicinity, and
about two years ago he was employed at
the Qualls ranch. 1t was then that he
formed an ardent love for the girl.
She rejected all his proffered atten tions.
Only once did she ever accept an invita-
tion to go riding with him. Learning
what the mans intentions were she re-
fused after that to have anything to do
with him. He remained at the ranch for
several months, but his persistent efforts
to gain the friendship of the girl finally
became so unbearable that her father dis
charged him.
DiOOho AS3hoSQ W iCdFe, anu lOT UnTee or
four days he stayed around the ranch
without food. He would often come up
and sit on the rear porch of the house and
sulk for hours at time
Finally, after the man had refused to
heed the repeated orders to leave, David
Qnalls, the girls father, attempted to
eject him forcibly. Brooks resisted and
made a threat that Ii e would kill the whole
family The authorities were then ap-
pealed to ana the laborer was sent to iail
to serve sentence Tor making the dire
threat.
This had not the effect of dampening o
the mad love of the unfortunate man. AS
soon as he was released from Jail he re-
turned to the community and went to
work on ranch. Off and on he Wouid
offer to pay attention to the young lady.
but she would have nothing to do with
him.
1t was not until last evening that Brooks
made any further demonstration. About
$50 o'clock he drove up to the home of
Miss Qualls in a buggy. Tieing his horse
at the barn, he walked into the house.
where the girl and her mother were al
work in the kitchen. Being alone at
nome they became somewhat alarmed at
his appearance. They invited him to
have supper, but he refused, saying that
he had already eaten.
A CALL representative to-day visited the
scene of Brooks rash attempts, and Miss
Qualls made the following statement, she
still being up. although her wound pained
her considerably:
While We were ali in the kitchen Mr..
ijrooks asked me to go riding with him.
/ told him l could not do so. but he IN
sisted a m
refused, and after We had been talking
back and forth several minutes mother
said we had better go into the sitting
room. Tnen Mr.. Brooks said he would 90
home, and started out of the house. In
the yard he met nv little brother IN
whom he remarked, L guess she'll talk TO
me the next time l come While he wa.
In the kitchen talking with US mother
said that she expected 10 take trip East
this summer, and Mr.. Brooks m ade the
peculiar remark that ne did not think she
would be able to GO.
AFTER the man left we were frightened.
There was no one here other than N mother
and l and three children. Before retiring
We fastened all the doors except the rear
one, On which the lock was broken. We
placed chair against this and weighted
it down.
'At about2 o'clock this morning heard
The rear door being pushed open the
ing on the floor. Then heard some one
enter. The door of my bedroom was open
10 the sitting-room, into which the man
entered. We bad left light burning In
the situng-room, and when arose in bed
saw Mr.. Brooks standing in the door,
way OF my room. He had a lantern in
his left hand and a shotgun in his right.
Pausing minute he raised the gun and
pointed 1t at me, ana l began be gging him
not to shoot. He announced that he had
come TO Kill me because | would not
settle with him. l impiored him noe to
kill me.
Mother who was in the ad Joining beo.
room. heard us talking and was awakened.
She recognized Mr.. Brooks voice, and
then she knew that our fears of the even
ing before were realized. She jumped
from bed and heard her screaming, .OhI
ohP
'She then tried to get out of the win