Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-20
FUNK'S TESTIMONY
Alleged Murderer Takes Stand in
His Own Behalf.
SWEARS he Is INNOCENT OF TEE CRIME
Insinuations Against Mrs. Brown
the Dead Mans Daughter
EVIDENCE HEARD TODAY

The understanding that the defendant
would take the stand. and also that wit
nesses would be called to substantiate the
important statements made yesterday by
witness for the defense, tended to increase
the number of spectators today at the trial
of Frank w. Funk in Criminal Court No. z.
When an adjournment was taken shortly
before o'clock yesterday afternoon it was
with the understanding that the session be-
ginning this morning should continue unin-
terruptedly until the case Of the defense
should be closed. Therefore no session of
the court was held last evening.
Up to the time Frederick Degges was
called to the stand late yesterday after
noon very little had been presented to the
jury that was favorable to Funk. Degges
testimony, however. in the opinion OF many,
began the raising of doubt that may pos
sibly mean very much as regards the well
fare of the defendant. MIR. Degges Is d
carpenter by occupation, resides at Joe L
street southeast, and he testified 1nteili-
gently and emphaticaily. He was subjected
to a most searching and vigorous cross-ex-
animation. NJ
In substance the declarations of Mr..
Degees were that between five and ten
minutes before o'clock the afternoon OF
June %, 1898, he saw Funk in Washington
Circle in company with a woman. funk
was we'll known to the witness. Degges
raised his hat to Funk in salutation ana
Funk responded in like manner.
Mr. Degges said that he had not been APP
preached by any one acting IN pehait o. tne
defendant, that he had volunteered MS tes-
timony and that it was correct IN every
detail.
Mrs. Katie f. Clark the defendants sis
ter was the last witness to TESTIFY yester-
day. She also was cross-examined a.
length In brief. Mrs. Clark testlned 1hat
she had seen Sophie Brown slt1ihe III
F'unk's lap, had seen them kissing one an
other, and also that Sophie Brown had ad-
mitted to the witness that wrongful Lntl-
macy existed between Funk and herself.
FIRST witness Today.
The first witness called by the defense
this morning, John W. Drew, caused some
what of a stir by making statements that
varied as to time and other details from
those of a number of the others VINO nave
appeared before the jury. Mr.. Drew SAID
that in June 1898, he was engaged IN news
paper work. and on hearing OF the homh-
eide fastened to the Brooks nome nc
witness said he reached the house at 6:lo
o'clock the evening of June D, 1898; that
Mrs Brooks had been taken from the
house: that no other reporters had at that
time appeared. and that both the daughters
of MI Brooks were then at home. other
witnesses have testified that the girls mad
not returned home. and that Mrs. BROOKS
was not taken to the hospital till some time
later.
MT. Drew testified that one of the daugh-
tiers was hysterical and the other was APP
parently calm. One of them told the wit
ness, he said. that she had frequently seen
her mother counting money; that she (the
mother} was very secretfve about 1t; that
the old lady gathered up her money when
any one approached her. and that she did
not seem 10 care to have any one know the
amount of money she had.
Magatp Brooks recalled, She admit
ted that Drew was at her fathers house
the evening of the murder. but she denied
making any statements to him regarding
her mothers money.
Evidence as to the good character of
Funk, and also to the effect that early in
June, 1898. whine at work on the Conduit
road he was known as Frank Wilson, was
adduced by the examination of Philip F.
Gormly, Thomas E. CAN'T and William
Osborne, who had worked with the de-
PENDANT.
Philip j. Dougherty. a law student, who
resides at lO14 Massachusetts avenue, next
took the stand at the requeat of the de-
Tense. 1t was desired to show that while
spectator in the court room one day
glances and mods exchanged between
Sophie Brown and Maggie Brooks while one
of the two was testfying and the other
was occupying a chair near the witness.
The court declined to admit the proposed
statements, however. and exception was
noted.
In His Own Defense.
Funk then testified in his own behalf
Every one present paid the closest atten-
ton to the story he told. He spoke in
jerky manner, but was composed and very
much In earnest.
After stating. in reply to questions of
counsel, that he was suffering from a
chronic complaint and recently underwent
an operation at the Emergency Hospital,
Flung began his narrative.
Il arose about & o'clock the morning of
the 23d of June, 1885, he said, and went
around t. the Brooks house about 0 O. clock
l returned to Mrs. Buckley's and read for
a while. ! went back to the Brooks house
for while, then went to lunch. read a
while and returned to the Brooks house
about = o'clock While there | made ar
rangements TO meet Sophie Brown at the
park at list street and Pennsylvania ave
nue. at o'clock. ! met her in the park and
we stayed there till 40 O'Clock or LA
o'clock. She walked with me to the door of
Mrs. Buckley's house. Supper was served
unusually early that day-about ten min
utes after ) o'clock.
After supper continued Funk II went
around to the Brooks house As | entered
/ heard Sophie Brown say from the rear
room, Hold Oh, Frank saw Sophie stand
ing, and sitting near table was a colored
man Sophie was COOL too cool in fact for
she was usually very cordial. She came
toward me and directed me to meet her in
Washington Circle.
went TO The circle, FUNK went on to
say, and waited until began to grow i'm
patien.. Sophie finally came, however She
said: For Gods sake. you have got to get
out. The police have been to Mrs. Buck
ley's and TO our house l replied that 1 had
nothing TO go on. She then drew from her
bosom roll of bills tied with a string
She took from the roll two new $40 bills,
handed them to NE and said, Take this and
go She reached out though she ex-
pecled ne to reip her tie the roll of money
l put the money in my pocket, saying
Where did you get them" She answered,
My God. give me the money.
The Money Discussed.
There wa then possibly five minutes
talk about the money. l finally said This
don't belong to you;' left her. got on a
street ear and rode down town"
Funk tl.en told that he alighted from the
car while on Pei nsylvania avenue between
Dth and 10Th streets, bought a sweater and
a pair of bicycle hose in a bicycle estab-
Hshnect, and then purchased a pair of
bicycle trousers and coat at Dyrenforth's