The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-10-31
BROOKS IS NOT CRAZY
Two Physicians Employed by the
Condemned Mans Counsel
Examine Him.
PLANS FOR SCAFFOLD
Are Here-Is to Be Simple Structure
But Will do the Work All Right.
Rope from Red Lodge.

lD6IG SGeulS III W u 1uONo OH VIC pnAO
Of Brooks attorney to keep the con.
demned man from meeting the death on
the gallows to which he has been SEN
fenced on Nov. a.. That Brooks is not
insane, as commended by his counsel and
which has been made the grounds for
All attempt to secure a new trial by the
supreme court, has been testified to by
at least two competent physicians from
the board of three appointed by the
court to examine the defendant. These
doctors are firm in the belief that
Brooks is Stimulating insanity. OF
course, no one can blame him for so do
ing, as he is playing for the biggest
stake in a mans life-his wi neck.
When Brooks trial came up at the
January term of court his attorney
pleaded a defense of temporary insanity
at the time the murder was committed.
The jury sitting on the case was only
ont twenty minutes, returning with a
verdict Of guilty Of murder in the first
degree, thereby declaring that it was
the opinion Of each juror that the de-
PENDANT was not insane at the time Of
the murder. The convicted man was
sentenced to hang on March II, but the
execution wal stayed pending an appeal
of the case to the supreme court. Up
to that time and from then on until
about July lst, Brooks had always rec
ognized visitors to the Jail, with whom
he was acquainted, and did not make
himself 80 obnoxious and overbearing
with his singing, praying and exhort-
ing. But jnst as soon al news came
that the supreme court had refused to
grant him a new trial, he became much
worse, as he probably felt that nothing
any longer stood between him and the
gallows. The affidavit of Jailer Hard
ing. who has had entire charge OF
Brooks, would not impress one that the
condemned man acted as an insane per-
son but more like a stubborn one, and
a portion of it is given below:
1.-The defendant wv. G. Brooks) after
conviction and sentence was very con.
slant in reading the bible and singing
and praying but that there was moth
ing peculiar in his actions until about
the LIST Of July, or about the Srd Of
July this year, when the defendants
motion for a new trial was argued by
his counsel in the supreme court of this
state; that about that time and ever
since then the defendant has kept up
his singing constantly that at times
the defendant is louder in his singing
than at other times; that since the de-
PENDANTS attorney last visited the de-.
PENDANT, which was about the 18th day
OF July, ut the time the supreme court
OF this state refused to give the defend
ant a new trial and upon which occas.
ion the defendants attorney had gone
to the Jail to notify the defendant of
the action OF the supreme court. the de-
PENDANT has refused to talk to anyone,
except nee in awhile, to answer in
monosylables, no or yes, the questions
put to him, and has refused to battle or
wash himself or to wash his dishes after
he has eaten his meals. or to sweep his
cell, or to do anything that a prisoner
is supposed to do for himself when con.
fined in the Jail; and defendant also,
since that time, has been more violent
in his demonstrations and singing;
affiant has never noticed anything pc.
culiar IN the eyes or appearance Of the
defendant during his confinement in
the jail, but that they are the same as
when affiant first took charge Of said
Jail in January, 1899; that the defend.
ants counsel, just shortly before going
to Helena to argue defendants case be.
fore the supreme court. called upon the
defendant at the jail, and when he was
about to leave said to the defendant
Nov Brooks at Ga certain hour was
mentioned but this afflant now forgets)
on the third day Of July. I will be be.
fore the supreme court arguing your
CASE. and you want to pray for Christ
sake at that time." or words to that
eject; that this afiiant demonstrated
with the aaid counsel. telling him that
the officers had ennugh trouble with de-
1endant without puttinR any nonsense