The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-06

|
on Newly Discovered Evidence.
The guards at the District jail have often
| stated that Frank W. Funk imprisoned
| there and under sentence to be hanged for
! the murder Of William II. Brooks, on June
20, 1898, is the nerviest man they have ever
| had to deal with. Thu statements OF the
i jail attendants on this point are fully cor
roborated by the prisoners actions and be-
havior since mis- arrest in August last.
| About six months after his arrest Funk
was put on trial and convicted of she muir
der of Brooks. Three times since then he
has been placed within the shadow of the
| gallows, but at no time did he express or
] 5iow signs of fear that he would be called
upon to pay the penalty for the crime of
which he stood convicted. On the contrary.
| he always stoutly maintained that he
would not be executed on the dates namsd
| by the court.
! Funk was seen at the jail yesterday and
he is apparently as confident as ever that
he Will one day be a Gree man again. He
stated that he has not the least doubt that
will reverse the judgments of the Supreme
Court OF the District, and the Court OF APP
peals OF the District, and grant him new
trial.
Funk states that he was not surprised
that al the time o3s:iisI tidal public ssnti-
ment was against him for the crime for
which he was called to answer was a hor-
| rible one. Now, however. since the people
of Washington have become pretty well
conyersant with the evidence In the case on
both sides. Funk says he believes there has
been great reversal of sentiment. His
only regret at present seems to be that the
Supreme Court of the United States when
ii congenes in October. Will rot Immediate
ly commence the consideration of his ap-
peal. That he will be granted new trial
Funk has not the slightest doubt, and after
that he feels that 1t viii only be a matter
of few weeks or months before he is ac-
quilted of the charge of murder
Taking II all in all, and considering IL
from every point OF view. the story of the
crime for which Funk stands convicted is
most interesting II furnishes excellent
material for a romance of the Gaborieau
type, or another sketch. by De Quincey, On
Murder as Fine Art" Certain it is that
no crime committed in the District has
been SO frequently discussed by lawye
and laymen as the murder of the aged w +
liam II. Brooks.
Hardly month has passed since the con-
vlction OF Funk for the murder Of Brooks
that some one has not been found who
claims to be able to throw new light on the
subject in the shape of testimony, corro-
borative of the story told by the accused.
1t will be remembered that the day Brooks
was murdered his wife, Martha Brooks, was
almost killed and robbed of a large amount
of money. 1t was stated that the sum
taken from Mrs. Brooks was s., 1910.
Funk when arrested, admitted having
gotten 81 $50 of this money. but claimed
that he grabbed it from Sophie Brown In
Washington Circle a few minutes after the
hour at which. it is said, the murder and
robbery were committed.
Sophie Brown. who is a daughter of
Mrs. Brooks. and who lived with her at
914 Twenty-second Street, denied this
story.
Within two weeks after Funk was con-
yicted two persons volunteered the infor-
nation that they We're in Washington Cir
Gle on the afternoon the murder was COM
mitted and saw man and woman quarrel
ling and further stated that the man
snatched something from the woman and
ran away. In their testimony, given at
the trial. both Sophie Brown and Funk
stated that the first time they saw each
other on the day of the murder was about
the Brooks home three times between
a. IN. and 1:30 p. m. 1t was admitted by
both, however. that they were very friend
ly. and 1t is said, were in the habit of
frequently meeting in | Street park, which
is about two squares from the Brooks
home.
A lady who resided near the Circle.
and who died about two months ago. before
her death, stated that on the morning of
the day on which Brooks was murdered
she saw Sophie Brown and Funk in the
park conversing. She knew Sophie Brown,
she said. to be Brooks daughter. but did
rot know Funk by name. She. however.
concluded that the man she saw with
Sophie Brown that day was Funk, because
he was the same person whom she had
often seen before with the girl.
When asked why she did not 90 to
court and testify at Funks trial this lady
stated that she thought it useless as both
Sophie Brown and Funk had denied being
together earlier in the day than D. IN.
Funk was asked about this statement
yesterday. and he said he really did not
remember meeting Sophie Brown In the
park on that morning. 1t might be true.
however. he said. that he did meet her in
the park that morning for he used to
meet her there very often.
The particular parts of the testimony
given at the trial which resulted in the |
conviction of Funk are in reference to his |
admission OF having taken money from
Sophie Brown; the leaving OF the clothes |
he wore on the afternoon OF the murder at |
downtown hotel, and the discovery
week or ten days later of the handle of |
a plumbers stock" with which 1t is be- |
lieved Mr.. and Mrs. Brooks were struck. |
This stock handle was found in the little |
little room in which the body of Mr.. |
Brooks was discovered, and although the !
place was searched by several persons 1t |
was not until several days later that 1t |
was found by Sophie Brown. The stock"
handle In question was proven to be part |
OF one of the tools of Funks brother-in-
law man named Clark.