Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-14
FUNK TRIAL RESUMED
Evidence for the State introduced in
Court Today.
WITNESS saw FUNK At BROOKS DOOR
Police Sergeant Describes Con-
ditions at the FamiIy's Home.
OTHER TESTIMONY GIVEN

When the trial of Frank W.. Funk, ac-
cUsed of the murder of William H. Brooks,
was resumed this morning before Justice
Cole in Criminal Court No. 2, Joseph B.
Johnston, who was on the stand when the
adjournment was taken yesterday was re-
called for cross-examnation. Interest in
the proceedings is apparently unabated. for
the corridors of the city hall were thronged
today with persons eager to obtain a.
glimpse of the prisoner. Only persons hav-
ing business within and members of the
bar are admitted to the court room, a dep
uty marshal being stationed at each en-
trance.
Nothing of special interest was developed
by the cross-examination of Mr.. Johnston.
He was followed the stand by Charles
Pagan, son of William ]. Pagan, who tes-
titled yesterday. The witness, with his
brother conducts a cigar and newspaper
store at GIG 22d street, next door to the
house wherein the homicide was commit
ted. The 23d of June, 1896. the witness was
at his store from 5 o'clock until twenty or
twenty-five minutes after O'Clock in the
afternoon, when his father relieved him,
and witness proceeded to his residence, 3O3
22d street.
Sergeant Keefe Testifies.
Edward ]. Keefe, a sergeant of the met
ropolitan police force, who next appeared.
told the jury that he summoned from
the third precinct station at twenty min
utes before o'clock the evening of June
D. 1898, to the Brooks house. When he
arrived a physician and several other per-
sons were in the house. The witness de-
scribed the situation as he found it, and
| told of taking steps to have Mrs Brooks
sent to the Emergency Hospital Mr..
Brooks was dead when the witness reach
ed the house.
II asked Mrs. Brooks several times, Who
Gid it?''' testified Sergeant Keefe, but
could get nothing from her. She said,
No two or three times. that being the
only answer she would give to questions.
The physician was examining the blade of
a bloody ak when the witness entered. The
| implement shown in court was Identified
by Sergeant Keefe the ak referred to.
Two pieces of lead pencil were found be-
meath window in the dining room near
where Mrs. Brooks had been lying.
The witness, on s-eXamination, adj
mitted that at the coroners inquest he said
he believed that of the Brooks girls
knew more about the affair than she had
told. a bloody apron found in a summer
kitchen attached to the house
by the witness the evening of the homicide.
AT this point recess was taken.
A Neighbours Testimony.
Mrs. Laura Chamberlain of 1411 33d street.
who resided at 924 22d street in June, 1885,
was called by the government at the open
ing of the afternoon session of the court
he NlluesS udu DteH With the
Brooks family for thirty years. The after
noon of he 23d of June, 1898, the witness
observed Mrs. Brooks coming out of the
front door of the Brooks house shortly be-
fore o'clock.
A stir of interest occurred among the
spectators when the United States attorney
asked that Mrs Martha Brooks, widow of
the man alleged to have been murdered,
and physical sufferer from the same as
sault that is supposed to have ended the
life of her husband. be called to the stand.
Mrs. Brooks is a woman of large stature
and apparently Is somewhat feeble. She
testified, however, in an audible and intel
ligent manner.
Mrs. Brooks a Witness.
After reciting certain facts of family his
tory Mrs. Brooks said that the Odd of June,
1898, she had 5000. She kept the money
in drawer of the sideboard that stood in
the dining room at 914 22d street. The key
to the drawer was attached to a string
worn about her neck. She had carried it in
that manner for twelve years.
Did you Funk the 23d of June,
1852 inquired the United States attorney.
Il saw him three times that day." was
the reply of Mrs Brooks.
Inc witness went on to say that she first
saw Funk the Saturday before the muir
der, at the residence of his sister, Mrs.
Clark, on New Hampshire avenue. The
next day Funk called at her house. 1t being
his first visit there. He urged Mr. Brooks
to go to the Soldiers Home Hospital and
be operated on for chronic aiment
FUNK offered to get a carriage to convey
him to the hospital. Mr.. Brooks said he
was too old a soldier to be talked to in
that manner by Funk. The latter, the
Sunday before the murder, also Insisted on
purchasing ice cream and oranges for the
witness.
The Monday morning prior to the murder
Funk called at the house and borrowed
some books from the witness. He returned
later in the day and stayed for some time
In the evening he aDDearp6 with hiS tnoIa
to fix a window for one of the daughters of
the witness. Tuesday he again appeared
at the house and was asked by Mr. Brooks
to fix stove pipe.
Funk said another elbow would be
necessary. / said l could soon get that.
took took the key from my neck, opened the
locked the drawer and went out and bought
the elbow"
Mrs. Brooks testified that Funk was also
at the house Wednesday, the day before
the murder.
Day of the Murder.
Mrs. Brooks statements as to the events
of the day of the murder were as follows:
Funk came to the house three times
Once early in the morning, again about II
o'clock and the third time about 2 or 3
O'Clock. My husband was at the house and
| so We're my daughters. Sophie left the
house while he was there in the afternoon.
Funk left few moments after Sophie
| left. Funk called to Maggie, who was
up stars, ana asked III she would go
around to his house and see If his sister
| Kate had returned to the city. Maggie
said it was too hot to dress then but that
she might go later. Funk asked about
what time she would go. and Maggie said
about or o'clock. Maggie left the house
about s o'clock to go to the residence of
Funk's sister. My husband and 1 were in
the front room at the time"
please state the last you remember that
afternoon requested the United States at
tornev
Il go. a bucket of water and watered nv
| flower" said Mrs. Brooks.
I then looked out the front door, my
husband at the time walking up and down
the room A moment later l looked back
and. not seeing my husband. started back
| to look for him. and" added Mrs. Brooks
bursting into tears, Il didn't see him any
more"
Continuing her testimony, Mrs. Brooks
said that from the moment she started
back into the house to look for her hus-
band she remembered nothing until She
regained consciousness at the Emergency
Hospital.
The scars on the head of Mrs Brooks
were pointed out to the jury.
Mrs. Brooks further said that she has
not seen the money she had nor the key to