The times., 1899-06-23
A Year PASSES and NO
Trace OF FRANK FUNK
The Police Believe He Is in
New York State.
Little Hope of His Ever Being
Brought to Justice.
Today Marks the ABBiycrsEry of
the Murder of W. Ii. Brooks
ia Georgetown.

One year ago today Frank Funk MUIR
dered William H. Brooks and came near
killing his wife, in Georgetown, and the
murderer is still at large: 1t was probably
the most brutal crime ever recorded in
the calendar of atrocities in the District
Funk, who committed the crime, was a
carpenter, twenty-eight years of age, who
bearded at the house of Mr.. and Mrs.
Buckley, at 2145 l Street, about one
block from the Brooks home. The motive
OF the crime was robbery. Mrs. Brooks
was known to have in her possession about
$1,000 or $500. The woman preferred car
rying the money about her person 10 de-
posting it in bank. Funk knew of the
existence of the money and deliberately
planned a means of obtaining it. He had
made the acquaintance of the old couple
through their daughters, Mrs. Brown and
Maggie Brooks He was said to have pro-
fessed an attachment for both young
women. They liked the man, and had Sc
cured work for him at their home.
story of the Crime.
1t was while working there that Funk
learned CT the existence of the money. He
watched Mrs. Brooks and saw that she car
ried a large sum in a bag which she wore
at the end of a string which was tied about
her waist. Funk evidently realized that in
order TO obtain possession of the money
he must resort to violence, and accordingly
laid his plans. On the afternoon of the
murder the man called ar the Brooks home
and there met Mrs. Brown, with whom he
made an engagement. She was to meet
him az Washington Circle at o'clock
q nd tod
that she meet him at the same hour at
the home of his sister, Mrs. Kate Clark
who lived at 903 New Hampshire Avenue
Each daughter kept her appointment. but
Funk, of course failed TO put in an ap-
pearance at either place designated.
Instead, he appeared at the Brooks home
The time OF his arrival is supposed to have
been shortly after $50, as he left his
clearinghouse in | Street about that time.
He appeared TO be in a hurry. and his
landlady, Mrs. Buckley. did not fail to
notice 1t. though she attached no signif-
canoe 10 il at the time. Mrs. Brooks was
seen in the front yard at her home by
neighbor at about the time Funk left his
clearinghouse. She was not seen alive
again. Mr.. Brooks was in the house. and
had been there all day.
How Funk gained access TO the 1ouse
is not known, but it is thought he entered
by the front door. 1t is also supposed
that he left the house after the crime in
the same manner in which he entered.
How the crime was committed can only be
conteetured. 1t is known that the weapon
used was an axe, which was welded
with telling effect, but how the man was
able to fell both old people without making
sufi1cient noise TO attract attention from
the neighbors is a mystery. The crime
was committed in a small storage room
FFreTT iTTl aaf
dence Of struggle. which would indicate
that the couple was taken unawares After
the crime Funk washed the blood from his
hands and clothing and. leaving the little
room, he locked the door on what he sup
posed was a double murder. He then left
the house and lost no time in getting away
from the scene of the crime. He. OF
course, secured the money which Mrs
Brooks had carried about her person.
Discovery of the Murder.
The discovery of the crime was made at
6:20 o'clock by George L. Larson. an ini-
mate friend of the family. He at that time
was a sutler at Camp Alger, and had been
in the city all day making purchases. He
called at the Brooks home, as he had
frequently done on his way back to camp.
Mr.. Brooks had been in poor health for
some time and ii was TO enquire as to his
condition that Larson made the call.
When he arrived at the house he knocked,
and, receiving no response, entered and
standing in the parlor called to Mrs
Brooks. Again receiving no response he
walked to the dining ROOM where he once
more called. This time he heard a groan
which appeared to emanate from the store
room. The groan was repeated just as
Larson approached the room. He at once
attempted TO open the door but found it
bolted. He slipped the bolt and upon
opening the door was Mortified at the sight
which met his gaze. Lying in pool of
blood were Mr.. and Mrs Brooks. Both
were unconscious and bleeding profusely
from numerous gashes in the heads in
ficted with a short-handled axe, which
was resting beside the woman. Larson
Immediately notified the police and they
were on the scene shortly afterward. Later
the daughters Of Mr. and Mrs. Brooks re-
turned home after being disappointed in
their engagements to meet Funk. Neither
spoke Of her engagement with the man.
After a careful investigation by the Io-
lice they advanced the theory that MI.
Brooks had attempted to commit suicide
and that his wife IN attempting to prevent
it had been injured by him. They dis
credited the story OF the large amount
OF money which the daughters said their
mother carried about her person. 1t was
significantly pointed to that the door of
the room in which the old couple was
! found was locked on the outside, and
though Larson stated positively that he
! had found the bolt shot the police be-
J lieved that he was mistaken. Nothing
I could be learned from the injured couple,
as they were unconscious and apparently
I in a dying condition. A physician was
summoned, and he announced that M
/ Brooks could not live. He then directed
/ his attention TO Mrs. Brooks until the ar
rival of the Emergency Hospital ambu-
| lance, which had been telephoned for. The
woman was then taken to the hospital,
where the efforts Of the physicians were
! successful in saving her life. Mr. Brooks
! died before the ambulance arrived. Mrs.
Z Brooks remained in a critical and unc9n-
I scious condition at the hospital for sew
! eral days. She finally after an operation
on her skull, recovered. Size is alive to-
| day.
Futile Police Theories.
/ Though the police had advanced the
/ theory as given above concerning the
crime they continued TO work, in the hope
| that something additional might be
/ learned. II was not until the next day
| that there were any important develop
ments Then Detectives Weldon, Phi ips.
and Barnes visited the Emergency Hos
pital and made an examination of tae
I clothes of Mrs. Brooks. The detectives
| had hit on the proper clew, though at a
| late hour They found that the clothing
OF the woman had been torn and that the
money bag and string had been removed.
I This made IL plain that robbery had been
the motive for the crime. Later the two
daughters of the old couple were ques-
| toned They formed conclusions as 10
| the guilty man. and after relating TO the
j L...l....