The San Francisco call., 1899-04-15
Twice Saved From
UntimeIy Death.
TO WED FREDERICK KNICK
SHE NO LONGER FEARS MUIR
DERoUS CHEESEMAN.
A Rift in the Clouds That Have
Darkened the Home of Father
less and Destitute Oak
land Girl
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
Il A i

9OS Broadway, April IA.
A rift has broken in the clouds that
shadowed the life of Eta Payne-Brooke,
whom Frank H Cheeseman attempted to
murder last August, and she has found
a champion in Frederick August Knlck.
The first step in an affair that will
prove a surprise even to Miss Brooke's
mother was taken this afternoon, when
the young lady and Mr.. Knick obtained
a marriage license at the County Clerk s
office. The prospective bride has just
reached her nineteenth year, and Knick,
who is an Industrious young man of well
to do parents, has just arrived at his ma
tority
Less than a month ago Eta Brooke,
her mother and a younger sister were
found dying in their rooms at The Oak
land, on Seventh street, from starvation
and sickness. Their destitution was re-
ported to the local authorities and Health
Officer Dunn took their case in hand. His
strongest efforts to save the life of the
youngest proved futile, and before the
day had run its course she passed away.
Mrs. Brooke and Eta were spared from
joining the lamented child, and the
father, Henry J. Brooke. had fallen
at the hands of Cheeseman seven months
before.
1t is limited that young Knick exercised
his kindly generosity on behalf of Mrs.
Brooke. and her surviving daughter. A
friendship sprang up, which ripened into
love, and now, in total ignorance of Mrs.
Brooke, the two young people are soon
to be made man and wife,
I'VE tried ever SO hard to keep our
little love affair a secret" said Miss
Brooke this evening. You see, it is no
body's business but our own"
Mr.. Knick has been very kind to us
and he is very worthy young man.
Though mamma knows nothing of our in
tentions, know we shall all be happy.
| met Mr.. Knick about three months ago
and we loved each other at first sight.
No l have no further fears that Cheese
man will bother us. Oh. it was all so
terrible, and l can hardly realize now that
ing to be just the. same though the date
of our wedding day is not yet set
One night last August Frank II. Cheese
man called at the 74.ome of the Brooke
family in this city. Henry J. Brooke the
father, came to the door, and Cheeseman,
excited with liquor, shot him dead. He
then shot the girl Eta, whom he pro-
fessed to love madly: and the mother
also received a wound. For two months
the girls recovery was questionable.
Robbed thus of their main support the
family was compelled to look to charity,
which proved so meager that their con-
dition all but brought them to the verge
of death.
Cheeseman, the wrecker of the Brooke
family, is now in the insane asylum at
Napa. Twice his trial on the murder
charge was begun in the Superior Court
and each time a jury determined that
the accused was insane. Shortly after
his first commitment to an insane asy-
lum the authorities of the institution ad-
vised the District Attorney that Cheese
man was merely feigning. Since his last
commitment he managed few months
ago to escape, but was retaken, and again
the experts at the asylum contend that
Cheeseman is not insane.
Should ne ever again return to this city
and attempt to molest his erstwhile pro-
fessed sweetheart he will find a stalwart
young husband to protect her whom he
once tried to kill.