The times., 1899-12-19

Frank Funk, through witnesses who tes-
tilted during the murder trial yesterday.
sought TO connect Sophie Brown a daugh-
Ter Of the dead man, with the commission
of the crime. And in doing so Funk is
said to have admitted being al the home of
| the murdered man at about the hour OF
he killing
These declarations were made imme-
diately after The arrest of the defendant
at Columbia, Mo, last August He stated
that while he was at the house he saw
Sophie Brown and a colOred man there.
He also said, the witness declared that he
| heard a wheeling md coming from what
he thought was the back room second
floor. and thar Sophie Brown was excited
and hurried him out of the house
Funk is also said to have admitted to
one Of the witnesses for the Government
that he would have killed Constable James
McFeeiey at Altoona if he had had the
slightest opportunity of making his escape.
When the court convened Justice Cole
announced il il was necessary the sessions
would be heightened and that even night
session would be held in order TO get the
case TO the jury by Friday. The morning
and afternoon sessions were considerably
heightened. but at shortly after O'Clock
United States Attorney Anderson indicated
that the Government would close its case
at an early hour this morning and it was
decided not to hold night session.
The statement of The defendants ad-
mission that he was at the Brooks home
ar or about O'Clock on the afternoon OF
the murder was a surprise to all who heard
IT. Other witnesses for the Government
had not been able to bring Funk near the
commission of the crime in point Of time
later than O'Clock. Daniel j. Walsh
James Z. McElhone. and John T. Harris
all newspaper reporters and Detective r.
h. Needcn We're the witnesses who made
the damaging statements against the ac-
cused. When he made the statement con-
cerning the murdered mans daughter Funk
said that the cOlored man with her was
a bricklayer's helper, who was at work
al the Brooks house on the day before the
murder
This man. Lewis Barnes. when called to
testify said that he had been at work at
Brooks home on Wednesday, the day pre-
Yious TO the murder, but was not there on
June q, the day William Brooks was
killed Sophie Brown was also recalled
by the Government and swore that Barnes
was not at the house on Thursday.
The evidence against the accused was the
most damaging yet offered by the Govern
ment. The first witness called was Mr
Walsh. who interviewed Funk within an
hour after his return 10 Washington. The
witness said Funk spoke quite freely Of the
murder, and while admitting that he OBJ
tanned possession OF the money OF which
Mrs Brooks was robbed he stoutly denied
that he was in any way connected with
the killing. Funk told the witness that on
the afternoon OF the murder he ate his
dinner between and 5.30 O'Clock and
went around 10 the Brooks house Upon
his arrival there be says he walked in
without knocking, and as he entered he
saw Sophie Brown, a daughter of the mur-
dered man, standing near the door be-
tween the parlor and the summer kitchen
He also noticed that there was a colored
man in the kitchen and that Mrs. Brown
seemed very greatly excited Mrs Brown
said, Funk declared, that she wanted TO
pay the colored man some money and
ssked him to go and wait for her in the
Washington Circle Park. This Funk did
and very soon Sophie Brown Joined him
When she came she told Funk that he was
being hunted as a deseTter from the Army,
but that she was willing to help him and
offered him two $50 bills. AS he took them
he says he noticed that she had large
roll Of bills in her hand. He snatched il
and then boarded a street car. going as far
as Ninth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
Between there and Seventh Street he pur-
chased a suit Of clothes and then went to
the Keystone Hotel, where ne put them on
leaving his discarded clothes at the hotel
The statements made to Mr. Harris and
Mr. McEIhone and Detective Weldon were
practically the same as recounted by Mr
Walsh. In addition to this, the prisoner
Is said 20 have stated that Sophie Brown
told him that she had given the colored
man $3.50 for what he had done
Detective Weldon testified that the de-
fendant admitted 10 him that he got be-
tween 81. 400 and 81 $50 from Mrs. Brown.
and that he lost it playing the Brighton
races.
James McFeeley. constable from Al
toona, Pa, who arrested the defendant iu
that city for beating a boarding house. tes-
titled that Funk, while in his custody. said
be knew OF a man who was wanted for
murder and proposed 10 the officer that
when his time was served for the offence
for which he was held, ne would aid
In arfesting this murderer and divide the
reward The witness said Funk represent
ed himself to be Eddie Bald, the bicycle
rider. Mr.. McFeeley also said that on his
return from the jail with Funk the latter
admitted to him that once while on the trip
from Altoona to the Jail at Holidaysburg
he had nearly made up his mind to XIII
him. He, however, was deferred by fear
that when he did so he could not get the
handouts off in time TO make his escape.
Louis Silverstein the New York dealer
who sold the clothing to Funk on June "A.
was the next witness. Mr.. SiIverstein said |
he introduced Funk at the State Bank Of
New York. where he deposited 81 200. The |
defendant represented himself to be Eddie |
Bald a bicycle rider.
William Wilton. the receiving teller OF
the state Bank Of New York, testified that
Funk represented himself TO be Eddie Bald
and identified him as the man who placed
his money in the bank.
The hearing viii be resumed this morn
al 10 o'clock.
The Mortality Record.
The following deaths were reported 20 tho
Health OtHcer yesterday: Eliza b. Tyler, 6s
years; Elizabeth NJ Abrams. 50 years; John N
Smith, IS years; Charles Bell, 70 years; James
DeLoHg, . years; Susan Dorsey, n years; Arthur
Barnes. 65 years; Isaac GidGings 63 years; Eliza