The times., 1899-12-16
MRS. .BROWNON THE STAND
Sensational Incident During the
Second Day of Funk's Trial.
The Witness Accused of Knowing
More About the killing of Her
Father Than she Has Told A
Plumbers stock Produced as Evil
dence-The Prisoners StoIid Front.

A sensation was created yesterday during
the afternoon Session OF the Funk trial by
Attorney D. W. Baker the leading counsel
for the defendant, who announced while
cross examining Sophie Brown, q daughter
of the murdered man, that it was the pur-
pose of the defence to show that the wit
ness knew a great deal more concerning
the murder of her father than she cared
to disclose. The announcement, however.
did not seem TO disconcert Mrs. Brown in
the slightest degree, and she continued. her
testimony in the same quiet manner which
she showed when she was called to the
witness stand.
The iron handle Of plumbers stock
was put in evidence. 1t is one Of the
weapons with which, it is claimed, William
Brooks was killed. 1t was found in the
Brooks house in a box in the room where
the body of the dead man was discovered
by Sophie Brown nearly two weeks after
the murder was committed. James A.
Clark a brother-in-law Of the defendant,
when called as a witness admitted that the
weapon was a part Of one of his tools and
was taken from his tool chest, where the
other part Of it was found later by a de-
tective.
Interest IN the days proceedings. how
ever, centred in the testimony of Sophie
Brown. one of the daughters of the mur-
dered man. Her story was of particular
interest because it was hinted by Funk soon
after his arrest in Columia, Mo. that she
knew more about the murder than she
would tell. II will also be remembered
that he said that he saw Sophie Brown in
| the / Street park few minutes after the
crimes had been committed that she had a
large roll Of bills in her hand, and that he
[ took # from her and fed.
When questioned as to these matters the
witness denied most emphatiCally that she
met Funk in the park as the time he
stated, or that she knew more Of the MUIR
der and robbery than she would care to
| tell. She stated that while she was re-
turning from the War Department. about
4 O'Clock, on the afternoon of the murder.
Funk who was in the park, called her ana
she went and sat down and talked 10 him
until about O'Clock. She then went to
her home and entered the parlor She
remained there but few minutes. She did
not see anyone and went to visit Mrs Mary
Suit, at 2l49 IA Pennsylvania Avenue
/ There she remained until a few minutes
after o'clock, when she went to Mrs
Clark'S home and was there when she
Z
Before she left Funk in the park, Mrs.
Brown stated that he asked her particu-
larly if she was going to her home and how
! long she intended 10 remain there She
| told him, so she testified, that she would
not remain there long
Referring TO Funk's visits to her home
she stated he was there on the morning
! before the murder and saw her mother take
key from a string around her neck and
nd toll
some money. She noticed, she said that
Funk watched her mother very closely as
| she did so.
It was some days after the murder when
! she was cleaning up the house, she said
that she found the pocket" in which her
mother was in the habit Of carrying her
money, under the sidebOard Later she
said she found the handle of the plumb
| ers' stock" in a medicine chest in the
| room where the dead body of her father
was discovered. When she found it she
said that she at once sent for Mrs. Suit
and asked what she should do, and was
advised to inform the police which she did
She also stated that two or three days be-
| fore her father was killed Funk asked her
! il her mother did not have money, and
she told him that she did.
/ The first witness called during the morn
! ing session was DR. William p Carr, Cor
/ oner for the District, but at the time of
/ the murder Of Brooks attending surgeon
! at the Emergency Hospital. He testified
! as TO the nature Of the wounds inflicted
/ upon Mrs. Brooks, and she was called in
/ front Of the jury in order that they might
! be indicated on the head
Mrs. Ellen VI. Buckley, who resides at
! 2l45 ] Streets, stated when called that she
! knew Funk; that he went to her house to
! board and room on the Sunday before the
! murder. On the afternoon Of the day
/ Brooks was killed she said Funk ate his
/ supper at between $40 and 20 o'clock,
and Immediately after that left the house.
/ During the meal she said he was un-
! usually quiet and did not raise his eyes
! from the table. Mrs. BuckIey's daughter,
| Ida May Buckley, testified substantially as
! did her mother.
The other witnesses who testified were