The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-02-07
For the Murder OF His Wife, Say
Twelve Conscientious
Jurymen.
THE DEATH SENTENCE
To Be Passed Next Friday-Insanity
Dodge Didn't Work-verdict
Meets Approval.

The Brooks murder trial was ended
yesterday morning at 1890 o'clock
when the jury brought in a verdict Of
guilty of murder in the first degree.
The case was commenced last Friday.
That day aud nearly all Of Saturday
was taken up in the examination and
cross-examination of witnesses. The
testimony adduced was substantially
the same as that given before the cor
oner's inquest the next day after the
murder and published in The Gazette
ut the time. The witnesses were the
same. Brooks was defended by @. l..
Harris, who made a hard fight for his
clients life, setting forth the plea of
insanity at the time the murder was
committed. The counsel had hardly a
straw to grasp at. but his management
Of the casegcould not fail to win admir-
alton. Events leading up to the time
Of the murder were reoited as evidence
that Brooks was crazy. The witnesses
gave their testimony in a straightfor-
ward manner and could not be confused
in the least. Hypothetical questions
formed a basis of the defendants cross
examination Of DR.. sRinehart, but these
were punctured by the county attorney.
All the testimony was in by4 o'clock
Saturday afternoon, when County At
torney Johnston made the opening plea
to the jury in behalf Of the state. He
Epnly occupied about fifteen minutes
time. He was followed by Attorney
Harris for the defense, who, for an
hour and one-quarter appealed strongly
to the jury to bring in a verdict lesser
than that Of murder in the first degree.
His plea was a strong one considering
the case. Harris recited what a stain
it would cast on this county to have it
Fheralded broadcast that a hanging took
place here. He pictured to the jury his
client as standing on the gallows, the
black cap drawn over his face and the
lever sprung. He told the jurors that
if they found his client guilty as
charged in the information they would
see his black face appear before them
in their dreams at night. It was near
~ 6 O'Clock when he finished and court
adjourned until 1880 that evening,
when the state would make it's closing
argument. The court room had been
crowded during the sessions Friday and
Saturday, but upon reconvening in the
evening it was even more so, as all
thought the case would go to the jury
that night. Attorney Johnston con
sumed an hour in closing and he made
a splendid talk. At this point court
adjourned again until Monday morning
at. 8 O'Clock.
Yesterday at that time Judge Loud
gave his instructions to the jury in
writing. The instructions touched
mainly on the statutes concerning such
cases, defining murder in the first de-
gree, murder in the second degree and
manslaughter, and the penalties for the
same. Court also defined what should
be done in case any doubt existed in the
jurors minds in regard to the sanity of
the defendant at the time the murder
was committed. The jury left the box
at about 10 O'Clock, returning twenty
minutes later with it's verdict. Aside
from an informal ballot only one ballot
was taken. The verdict is as follows:
"We, the jury in the above entitled
cause, state of Montana VS.. William @.
Brooks, find the defendant, William @.
Brooks, guilty Of murder in the first
degree as charged in the information.
"Almond g. ,Redding, Foreman.
The jury was composed of the follow
ing PERSONS: Jacob Dahlstrom, A. 6.
Redding, G. @. Steers, G. D. Prather,
Geo. Lacy, John Darlington, Geo. Gam
BILE, John A. Miller, Henry Caldwell,
E. F. Sullivan, Robert Steele, John
McCann.
The verdict, apparently, did not sur
prise anyone, and especially those who
followed the case, and it is generally
approved. Brooks kept his eyes O. the
clerk of the court as the verdict was
read, but there was no visible sign Of
surprise shown. Attorney Harris i'm
'mediately gave notice of a motion for a
new trial. The court then announced
that he would pass Judgment upon the
defendant Friday morning Of this week
at 10 O'Clock. after which court took a
recess. Brooks was Immediately APP
preached by The Gazette reporter and
asked If he had anything to say about
the verdict. He replied that he would
not talk in regard to the case nor the
verdict.
The murder for which Brooks was
found guilty was the killing Of his wife
In this city at their home on the after.
noon Of November 10 last, ut about
4 $50 O'Clock. Tho murder was appar.
emily y ~premeditAtsd u and Brooks
will now DO made TO suffer the severest
penalty for his deed. The history OF
the crime and everything attendant 10
10 are t0o we'll known to need repsti.
tion. At tina time Of his arrest and
preliminary hearing. Brooks stated that
they eouldn't erect u seafsoid aud swing
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