Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-18
FUNK MAKES DENIAL
Declares He Did Not Commit the
Murder Alleged.
OFFERS TO SUPPLY CLUES TO POLICE
District Officials Awaiting Addi-
tionaI News From Columbia.
P r S ON ER'S BOA ST s
'peciel Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
COLUMBIA, Mo-, August 1S.-The man
arrested in Columbia August 10 answers in
the mnuest detail to the circular issued
by Chief of Police Richard Sylvester CT
Washington city. The man admits his re-
semblance to the description, but denies
having killed Brooks. He says he can give
the police clew as to the actual perpe-
traitor of the crime. He is being held to
await the arrival of the Washington city
officers, who are expected here this after
noon.
Police officials at headquarters are anx-
iously awaiting additional information from
Columbia, Mo-, concerning the man sup
posed to be Frank William Funk. alleged
murderer of William III. Brooks and as
sailant and robber of Mrs. Martha Brooks
an account of whose arrest was published
in yesterdays Star. Since the receipt Of
the telegram giving information concern
ing the marks of identification was re-
ceived the police have learned nothing.
While press dispatches state that the
man under arrest has admitted his identity,
this Information has not been verified by
any message sent to the police department.
In the special dispatch to The Star it is
stated that the prisoner denies being guilty
of hte murder and robbery. From other
sources it is learned that he charges the
crime upon man and woman, whom he
will name when he returns here. Concern
ing the statements that ne is deserter
from the army, a bigamist and a thief he
would say Eothing
During his two weeks stay in Columbia
he did some carpenter work, and people by
whom he was employed regarded him as
the best mechanic in the town.
More than 200 revenue stamps and a
large bunch of skeleton keys were found
in his room.
In one of his numerous statements he
Sald that While the murder was actually
committed by the man and woman whom
he will name he does not expect to get off
without some punishment.
The Prisoners Boasts.
The prisoner has claimed since his arrest
that he is champion bicyclist and prize
fighter, and claims to hold bicycle records
won in contests at Madison Square Gar
den, New York. 1t is believed that the
skeleton keys found on the prisoner were
used by him in robbing houses in New York
and Pennsylvania after the crime COM
mitted here, as information received by the
police from time indicated he was leading
the life of a crook.
In connection with the arrest of the pris-
Oner in the house of a policeman it is re-
called that Thomas V. Hawkins colored.
who stole 5000 from the safe in the office
of the collector of taxes and went to Can
ada, was also found boarding in the house
of a policeman.
Inspector Boardman expects to hear from
Detective Weldon at any minute. He left
here at IL 10 o'clock Wednesday night, and
was due in st. Louis about I o'clock this
morning From St. Louis he has to jour-
ney over the Wabash railroad nearly one
hundred miles to Centralia. From this
point a short-line road runs to Columbia
Making all allowances for delays, it is be-
lieved he will reach Columbia not later
than 5 O'Clock this afternoon.
other Arrests.
While the information received from Co
lumbia indicates beyond any possibility Of
doubt that the right man is caught. other
people are being arrested on suspicion Of
being the murderer. Responses are being
received by mail and wire to the circulars
recently sent out. This morning Inspector
Boardman had number of such messages
on his desk and answers to all of them will
be sent. Yesterday when the police Off
Gals received information to the effect that
the man in custody in Missouri is really
Funk, orders We're given to keep certain of
the witnesses in the case under Surveil-
lance, as it was desired that none of them
should leave the city until the fugitive is
brought here Members of the Brooks fam
lily were included in this order and the ac-
ton of Policeman Gouldman, who was de-
tailed to watch Miss Maggie Brooks, a
daughter of Funk's victims, resulted in the
womans visiting police headquarters.
She is employed as a charWoman in one
of the departments and lives at No ZIG
street northwest, a few squares from where
the murder and robbery were committed,
more than year ago.
Taken to Headquarters.
After returning home from work be-
tween 8 and o'clock this morning
the young woman changed her wear
ing apparel and left the house. The
officer followed her to Pennsylvania ave-
me- where she got on a car and rode
east as far as the 18th street transfer sta
ton. She got off the car and was about to
board a north-bound car on 18th street
when the officer asked if she had any OBJ
jections to accompanying him to police
headquarters. She assured him that she
most certainly did object to going, and
gave as her excuse that she had an en-
gagement with a dentist.
This engagement, she Informed the Off
GER she would not break. and it was not
until he suggested that a scene might be
avoided that she consented to go with him.
Upon her arrival at police headquarters she
was taken into Inspector Boardman's Of
flee. The inspector had her conducted
across the street to the district attorney 5
office. 1t was learned that the young wo-
mans statement had already been taken
there, and she was permitted to depart.