The record-union., 1898-12-08
TOM BROOKS AN Ex-CONvICT
ONE OF THE MEN ROUNDED UP
ON SUNDAY NIGHT.
A Crook and Perjurer-ProbabIy
the Burglar Who Operated
Last Week.

The police are inclined to believe
they have behind the bars of the City
Prison one of the men who knows
great deal about the burglaries recent
ly committed in this city.
He was arrested on Sunday evening
and gave the name of George Mathews.
On Tuesday night Mathews clamored
for yen shee (opium) and succeeded in
creating disturbance that the Off
GERS could not quell. Yesterday morn
ing it was found that he had demol-
ished the woodwork of the closet in
the cell. and a complaint was prompt
ly sworn out charging him with mali
cious mischief.
In court he stood trial, and therein
he overlooked his hand. There was
something vaguely familiar in the long
scar that extended down his right
cheek. Several officers expressed the
belief that he was an ex-convict, and
the City Attorney propounded the
question. Mathews protested that he
had never been in any penitentiary
and had never committed a felony. He
told Justice Davis that he understood
that he was under oath, but reiterated
his statement that he had never been
an inmate of a State Prison He was
found guilty on the charge of MALI
cious mischief. but the officials were in
no hurry to have him buried. and his
sentence was continued until this
morning.
A half hour after court adjourned
the familiar features of Mathews were
brought to light in the rogues' gallery,
but his name appeared as Brooks"
The records show that on October IA,
1894, Brooks was sentenced from this
city to serve four years in the Folsom
Prison for burglarizing the room of
Fred Eisenminger on Second street
He had pal named Tom Lyons, and
both pleaded guilty.
The book was spread before Brooks,
alias Mathews, and he at first attempt
ed to repudiate the picture, but as the
likeness was exact he had to admit
that he had sworn falsely in court
Then Chief Dwyer was reminded of
something. He fished up a memoran-
dunn book, and one of the notes there
in, made during a visit to San Fran
cisco about six weeks ago. read like
this: Look out for Brooks; he is one
Of the worst men in the State
These were the words of Chief Lees
Of San Francisco, while showing Chief
Dwyer some Of the wards of that city.
Brooks was in jail at the time, and
Lees pointed him out, saying: 'If
Brooks ever goes to your town look
out for him, as he is one of the worst
men in the State"
Brooks came, and with his coming
was inaugurated a series of nightly
burglaries. which have ceased since
his capture. In 1894 he was arrested
by Officers Higgins and Maley in
Washington, Yolo County. He made
a hard fight and succeeded in bruising
up the officers before he was subdued.
Brooks, before his latest capture oc-
cupied a car on the north levee near
Fourteenth street until elected by an
employe of the railroad company An
other man was with him when the
the ejectment took place, and one
was heard to ask the other if he had
'1ost the drill"
Brooks claimed yesterday that he
was not in town when the recent
burglaries were committed, but the po-
lice think otherwise They will inves-
tigate the case. and if they fail to
connect him with any of the burglaries
the probability is that he will have to
answer to a charge of perjury.