The times., 1899-12-20
FUNK Seen At THE PARK
More Sensational Evidence PrOduc
ed During the Murder Trial.
Frederick Degges Testifcs TO See
ing the Accused Man Talking to IA
Wonran-The Prisoners Father on
the Stand-Justices CIabnugh and
Bradley Interested Spectators.

Woman-The Prisoners Father on
the Stand-Justices CIabaugh and
Bradley Interested Spectators.
Frederick Degges, a witness for the de-
fence in the trial of Frank Funk, yester-
day testified that on the day William H.
Brooks was murdered he saw the defend
ant in Washington Circle Park talking to
a woman at the time that the man is sup
posed TO have been killed, The witness
was most positive as to his statements and
fixed the time when he saw the defendant
at exactly .: 80 o'clock on the afternoon of
June %. Just at the moment he saw the
defendant Degges stated that he, The wit
ness, boarded a Capital Traction Company
car going east and that that ear took
twenty-seven minutes to run from the cir
Gle 10 Seventeenth Street northwest. This
statement was coupled with the admission
that he never disclosed this evidence to
anyone until a day or two ago, because he
thought it might be harmful TO Funk
and also that he came TO testify solely
through friendship for the defendant
The counsel for the Government endeav-
ored by a long and searching cross -eXami- /
nation TO shake the witness testimony
without success. Before the day of the
murder Degges stated that for over a year
he had not seen Funk, and it was merely
accidental that he passed through Wash
iEgtOn Circle on the afternoon in question
At no time since the trial has public in
terest been so plainly manifested as on
yesterday. During the afternoon session
Justice Bradley, of Circuit Court No. ,, and
Justice Clabaugh, Of Criminal Court No, l,
were interested spectators, they having
been provided seats on the bench with
Justice Cole. The number OF women in
daily attendance since the trial began has
been steadily increasing, and yesterday
there were nearly a hundred present be
sides those summoned as witnesses.
Attorneys Request Denied.
When the court adjourned the attorneys
for the defendant desired 10 take the coat
and shoes which it is alleged he wore on
the afternoon Of the murder to him, in his
cell below the court room, for inspection.
Justice Cole had left the court room at the
time the request was made and on being
asked for mission declined 10 give it,
adding that the defendant might have il
spected the clothing in the court room this
morning
At the hour of adjournment Justice Cole
announced that the afternoon session of
the court today viii be continued until all
the testimony for the defence has been Of,
fered.
But little testimony was offered yester-
day by the Government DR.. William p.
Carr, who attended Mrs. Martha Brooks
while she was a patient at the Emergency
Hospital, was recalled, and stated that the
/ injuries she received might have been. in.
ficted with a blunt weapon such as the
handle Of the plumbers stock offered in
na DIV Of & he --i11
Sophie Brown was also recalled. She tes-
titled that she did not see Funk in Wash
ington Circle Park on June % after her
father was killed, nor did she give him any
money there
The Defence Outlined.
Alexander Wolf, counsel for the defence.
made the opening statement TO The jury
setting forth the line Of defence and what
it expected to prove. He stated that it will
be shown that the defendant and Sophie
Brown were in the Washington Circle Park
together on the afternoon OF the murder
after William Brooks was killed, and fur
ther than this the defendant will take the
witness stand in his own behalf and ac-
count for every movement of his time on
the day the murder was committed.
The first witness called by the defence
was Charles s. Pagan. who appeared for
the Government early in the trial. Pagan
/ testified that it is impossible TO stand in
/ the doorway of the Brooks home at 914
/ Twenty second Street and see the residence
( of Mrs. Suit in Pennsylvania Avenue This
/ was in contradiction of the evidence OF
/ Mrs. Brooks, who stated hat on the after
noon Of the murder she watched her daugh-
ter Sophie as she went from her home 10
that of Mrs. Suit The witness. however,
admitted that the Suit house was only
few feet out of view from the Brooks home
IL
stated that she was near a window in her
! house which is next door 10 that of the
/ Brooks residence. From the window she
said she could see part OF the Brooks back
/ yard, but in fact did not look out OF the
window during The day In question,
FunI1's Father Testifes.
William F. Funk, the father Of the de
| fendant testified that his son was twenty
! five years Of age. He also said that he
/ knew that his son was suffering from a
complaint which produced hemorrhages.
! This testimony, it is understood. is offered
| as an explanation Of the blood stains found
! on the clothes Of the defendant, which he
! discarded the night of the murder The
| witness also stated that he saw the defend
ant in Pittsburg Pa In January of the
| present year. and that he remained there
until March 10.
! Albert T. Ferguson. a newspaper re
1 porter, when called, stated that on the
night of the murder Sophie Brown informed
/ him that she was aware that her mother
/ had large sum of money. This statement
! was denied by Mrs. Brown.
Cora Nef, cousin of Funk Of HOLIDAYS
| burg, Pa, stated that she is a cousin of
! the defendant and that she saw him both
| in that city and Altoona, Pa, in July, 1898
! Her sister Grace Neff, also admitted hav-
! ing seen Funk IN those places, They both
said that the defendant was known there as