Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-10
CASE OF SUICIDE.
Or. Weston, Coroner's Physician, says
Brooks Shot Himself.

New York, March 9.-JuSt AFTER
leaving the witness stand at the al.
TORMENT of the examination OF FLOR
ence Burns, Saturday, DR.. Albert L.
Weston, coroner's physician, declared
that the wound that caused the death
Of Walter Brooks was self-infilcted'
and that the Young man must have
shot himself with suicidal intent
DIR. Weston gave this as MS opinion
and he said that his judgment was
formed from study of the Woullu' anu
he had excluded from his nina an other
evidence in the case. he maze no at
tempt to explain the dlappeafance Oh
the woman who accompanied Bfooks
TO the Glen Island Hotel, ana ne hau
paid no attention TO the disappearance
of the revolver with Whlch the shot
was fired.
1t was a day of sensations, ana the
interest of the great crowd that nlled
the court room and extended out INTO
the corridors was held from early fore
noon until almost dark. Among those
present We're several clergymen gather
ing material for sermons. Mrs. Brooks
the mother of Walter, was in the court
room all day, and just at the close she
tainted.
Testimony of a damaging nature was
given by Detective Reafdon, VINO
showed that Florence Burns knew just
how much money Walter Brooks pos
sessed the night that he was shot me
witness said that Florence described
the bills that were found in BROOKS
pocket, and when she was told that
this money was missing she quickly
said: That coon must have taken It,
This remark was taken as showing
that the girl not only had been with
Books a sufficient time to learn now
much money he carried, but also that
she had been with him at the Glen
Island Hotel, where she saw George
Washington, the negro bell boy.
On the other side, Judge Mayer OPEN
ly declared that he would reject the
identification of Florence Burns made
when she was stood up in line with two
other women, each utterly dissimilar
to her appearance. Judge Mayer not
only rejected this identification, but he
expressed himself as opposed to such
methods. 1t was worthless, absurd and
Ridiculous said the judge.
He also, by inference, made plain
that he is far from satisfied with the
first identification of Florence Burns
by George Washington. Judge Mayer,
too, expressed some irritation at Rear
don. who at times assumed an argu-
mentative attitude while on the stand.
Harry Cohen, one of the partners of
Walter Brooks, in the firm of Brooks,
Wellss & Co., was the second witness
of the day. He told of the meeting of
Florence Burns and Walter Brooks a
few hours before the young man was
found wounded.
Cohen also related story of the trip
made by him and Brooks to Newark
the day before Brooks died, but his
testimony was utterly at variance with
the boastful statement made by the
witness Immediately after the tragedy.
Cohen denied having paid court to a
girl met by, chance in Newark, which
he. related Nth great detail when he
first entered the present case as pos
sible witness.
John Earl, night clerk at the Glen
Island hotel. was called to identify the
combination comb found in the room
occupied by Brooks and the mysterious
woman Mr.. Earl failed to make the
Identification.