Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-25
Coroner's Jury Accuses Him Of MUIR
dering Vim. Brooks.
ABSTRACT OF sEsrlHoHH TAKEN
The Detectives Active in the Search
for unk.
HIS WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN


witnesses were examined and the jury re-
| turned a verdict expressing the belief that
Frank Funk had committed the crime
Mrs Sophia Brown was on the stand when
| The Stars report closed yesterday. She
| told of how she became acquainted with
Funk through his sister, and said he had
| been frequent visitor to the home of her
parents. She was with him in Washington
circle about an hour before the murder
| was committed. and had made ansappoint-
ment to meet him again about Z o'clock.
This appointment he failed to keep.
Mrs. Brown said Ishe had seen letters
Funk had received from his wife and she
had also seen letters he had written to her.
He told her that he was going to leave
here this weekly said witness.
did he tell his wife where he was
going:'
He told her that he was going to Pitts
burg she answered. but he only told her
that to bluff her off, for he didn't want her
to know where he was going"
Pencils as an Exhibit.
The lead pencils found in the room in
which the crime was committed were pro-
duced and witness said she had seen Funk
have pencils like them. She thought. how
ever, that he had had a pencil with silver
on it. Witness had seen him write letters
with pencil. Witness said she did not re-
turn home until after o'clock. When
Funk failed to keep his appointment with
her she sent to Mrs. Buckley's for him, and
learned that he had not been home since
dinner. 49,
Mrs Ella Maria Buckley, at whose house
Funk boarded testified that he was at din
rer about $40 O'Clock Thursday. He dio
not seem hurried or excited. Soon after he
had finished eating he went out. When he
left the house he was dressed in his best
clothes.
did he return home after dark?"
mo. sir" she answered. He hasn't re-
turned yet
Was there anything unusual abou.
this?' -..-.
Eyes. sir; he had never remained away
all night before
Thursday night about 10 o'clock tele
gram was received for Mr.. Funk. Witness
received and signed for the telegram. and
yesterday morning she sent it to the po-
lice. ~ b,,-
Mrs. Brown, daughter of the deceased,
she said, engaged. board at her house for
Mr.. Funk, and She had called for him every
afternoon since he game They usually
went , out togethsT Last nght was the
While at the house. Funk constantly talk
ed about money, She said, and said if he
could get eight or ten hundred dollars he
would go to the Klondike. He seemed very
answered an advertisement of a Bible house
in Philadelphia, and Tuesday he received
answer. He answered that, and next
day he received something from the Phila-
delphia firm. ABOUT six years ago she
counted Mrs. Brooks money and she then
had about 500. Mrs. Brooks carried her
money in pockets mode Of bed ticking.
Asked if Funk knew Mrs. Brooks had mon
ey, witness said that "Wednesday night
Mrs Brooks told ehefo that Funk had lad
vised her to rent q large house and take
boarders. He told her she ought to do it
before all her money was gone, but she
said she could not do anything with board
ers while her husband was sick. Mrs
Buckley identified piece of lead pencil
shown her as the piece she had found in
FunkS room.
A Ncighbor's Evidence.
Mrs. Laura E. Chamberlain, 1924 22d
street, testified that she saw Mrs. Brooks
between $50 and 6 o'clock She went home
and ate her dinner, and just about the time
she finished she heard that Mr.. Brooks was
dying. short while afterwards she heard
that both Mr.. and Mrs. Brooks were dying,
and she said she could not believe it, for
she had just seen Mrs. Brooks. 1t was
just little after o'clock when she walked
up the street and heard that both had
been murdered.
DO you know Mr.. Funk?" the witness
was asked.
Il don't know that do know him now"
she answered. Il knew him boy, but
he was so mean and low that l never had
anything to do with him..
Witness Sdlu Z unk uVeQ mere Wnen ne
was q boy, but he went to Philadelphia.
His father lives in Baltimore
Saw Nobody Enter or Lenve.
Joseph E. Johnston, letter carrier, who
lives at 916 22d street, next door to the
Brooks house, testified that he was in front
of his house Thursday afternoon from $40
to 6:15 O'Clock. but he saw nobody snter the
house. The front door and window were
closed. Mrs. Brooks, he said, had been in
the habit of sitting at the front window in
the afternoon, but she was not there
Thursday. Witness first heard Of the af-
fair when Mr.. Larson called him. When
witness finished watering his park he went
in the back yard and used his hose, but
did not hear any noise in the Brooks house.
Harry Burch, 916h I'D street. testified
that he went to the house after the affair
had happened. He did not see either Mr..
or Mrs. Brooks that evening prior to the
murder
Samuel r. Smith, who was among those
to respond TO a call for assistance, also
gave evidence.
Questioned Mrs. Brooks.
Sergt. E. J. Keefe Of the third precinct,
testified that he went co the Brooks house
when the report of the affair reached thu
station. He thought it was GAO o'clock
when he arrived at the house. Mrs. Brooks
had been removed to the dining room and
witness questioned her to ascertain who
had assaulted her. The only response She
made was Nobody did it, Witness pick
ed up the lead pencils on the dining room
floor, and he was Confident they had been
dragged from the. little room by the re-
moval Of Mrs. Brorass. Mr.. Brooks breath
ed several times aerr:sswitnsss reached the
sergt, Keefe tGshs3 :athe jury that Mrs.
Brown did not give tfs information about
Funk Thursday night HAT she gave yester-
day. Witness saiS read ths telegram,
and, as far as he G6hld remember. it read
viii be at No. 5Ghess street tomorrow
at $50 am" He tbbhk bit the telegram was
signed y. B." ands was from Philadelphia
Detective PhInpa tcstiaed to the inves-
tisation made yesterday. He told of his
visits to several pfaces and Of the finding
Of a pencil in the bureau in Funk's room.
This pencil is similar 10 those found in the
Brooks house aftss .iffe murder had bsen
tbs sE
Evidence Withheld.
Coroner Carr SAID there were other wit
nesses in the case, but in view of the in
vestigation being made he thought it best
that they shouldstnOts be examined until
later. This closed the case and the jury re-
turned the verdict stated
The detectives are stan engaged In the
Il hI1 mt R2 l.