Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-19
Introduction Of Evidence in Behalf
of Frank Funk.
STATEMENT MADE BY Ills COUNSEL
Alleged That Mrs. Brown Sug-
gested Theory of Suede,
FUNK ON WITNESS STAND

The close Of the prose cut:un and the open
ing Of the defense early this morning added
interest to the trial OF Frank W. Funk. &C
cused Of he murder Of William Ii. Brooks.
The government claims to have presented
most convincing chain of circumstance al
evidence. but notwithstanding the array Of
facts tending to prove Funk guilty of the
crime his counsel assured the jury tina
their client is innocent and that they ex-
pected To- prove such to be the case to the
more than reasonable satisfaction of the
twelve men who are sworn to render
Just ver'ct-
Attorney Alexander Wolf delivered the
opohing address for the defense. 1t was
brief but clear. concise and emphatic
That a murder was committed at 914 I'D
street the I'D Of june, 1888, said Attorney
Wolf. the governments has been endeavor-
ing u show for week past X would be
shown thar Funk Is innocent Of the crime
In order to do 50 it would he necessary to
show the relations that existed between
Funk and Sophie Brown. The latter, the
Jury was told visited Funk at his room
in the house of his sister. Mrs Clark, and
had admitted that her relations with Funk
had been improper. She also visited MIN at
Mrs. EuCkieS@ when he had Il room there
Every movement ef Funk the I'D of June,
1898. SAID Attorney Wolf. would be dis
closed Ia the jury The Defendant also
would be placed on the S-dDl. NACIt Iit
would be CrosS-exdmined by the prOSecut-
ing attorneys. Reputable citizens, too,
would be produced to testify that they saw
Funk iii Washington Circle the day of the
murder AZ he time he stated he was there
During this recital by Attorney Wolf, Sc
phie Brown appeared somewhat asitated,
but evidencing by her manner that the
allegations of the defense were entirely
false
When the proceedings We're resumed this
morning the government recalled DR.. Carr,
who attended Mrs. Brooks at the Elmer
genCy Hospital He stated that some of
the injuries on the head Of Mrs Brooks
might have been made by Il piece of iron
similar To the iron stock handle shown
in court.
Mrs Sophie Brown was also recalled. and
was asked the direct questions whether she
knew who took her mothers money, wheth-
er she met Funk in Washington Circle the
afternoon Of the murder. and whether she
had ever spoken to him of his desertion
from the army These queries We're an
swered in the negative
The government rested its case at this
point
For the Defense.
The first witness for the defense was
Charles Fegan. who was one of those who
testified for the government He gave evil
tience tending to contradict Mrs. Suit as
to the view obtainable of the Brooks house
from the house of Mrs. Suit.
Mrs. Anna F Johnston of 916 23d street,
the next witness, testified that about the
time the murder was said to have been
committed she was near windows which
commanded a view Of the yard in the rear
OF the Brooks house The witness did not
see any one in the yard. nor did she hear
any suspicious noise.
Dr. ". K Shute, physician at the Dis
trfct jail, was called to testify that Funk
is suffering from a chronic aiIment and
That ne recently underwent an operation
at the Emergency Hospital.
Next to testify was Albert Ford Fergu-
son, local newspaper reporter. With sew
eral others Mr. Ferguson visited the
Brooks house about ! O'Clock the evening
of the murder. The witness made an ex-
animation Of the rooms. Maggie Brooks
was in d hysterical condition and Sophie
Brown, while i little excited. was TO all
intentS and purposes, composed The wit
ness could discover no blood in the front
room Of the house or in the dining room.
According to the witness, Sophie Brown
that time stated that no one had called
at The house during the day; that she mad
intimatej that suicide was the only way
the crime could be explained. and that
she had referred to the fact that her
mother when counting her money would
hurrledly gather 1t up when she approached
her.