The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-08
CLAIMS THAT BROOKS
COMMITTED Suicide
Woman Says Her Sister Alice
Was With Him at Time.
LETTER TO CORONER BROWN
Detectives Investigating an Anonymous
Communication in Behalf CT Florence
BuTns-DeClares That Alice" Took
the Part Of the Buns Girl.

NEW YORK. April s.-Declaring that
Walter Brooks committed suicide, and
that her own sister-not Florence Burns
was with him at the time he took his life
a girl who signs herself "Alice's Sister
has written TO Coroner Brown long let
ter, which is being Investigated By Cap
tain Titus
My sister says that he committed sui
eide the writer says: that she could
not kill him-that he killed himself before
10 o'clock.
In my own sorrow I must state that IL
was my sister who was with Walter
Brooks that night she goes on 10 say
We realize the position she is in. and
cannot prove that he committed suicide.
Ny sister Is in possession Of the 30 cali
bre revolver. with one bullet out OF e.
and a letter addressed 10 Ny beloved wife.
Fl Burns Brooks. which can solemnly
say is W. BIS handwriting which would
show that my sister was with him after
F. left him
"Alice's sister" says that she writes in
order 10 fulfil a promise 70 Alice but
cannot disclose her own identity unless
Florence Burns life is IN danger With
great difficulty Alice" was prevented
from testifying in Florence's favor. &C
cording to the letter, and finally had to be
sent away.
BROOKS brought Florence Burns TO
"Alice's sisters house on January q
she says. The girl was very i'll. and she
had to send for a physician. After she
had been revived. says "Alice's sister.
Florence went down on her knees 10
Brooks and prayed to him; Walter. for
Gods sake give me AZ honest name; you
know that I was pure till I loved you"
Raising her gently from the floor.
Brooks said 10 her Sweetheart. yOuU
break my heart il you keep on. Do you
doubt that I love your You know that I
would not hesitate moment 20 make YOU
my wife II my mother was not opposed
to it"
Il was a scene that affected all who
were present. the writer says. Her sister
arose from her chair and gave Brooks a /
look Of scOrn and contempt and. turning
to Florence. told her she loved her as she
did her own sister and that II Brooks /
wronged Florence he wronged her and
would have 10 answer to her for II.
Il shall never forget her face; Il was as
pale as II Death had laid his hand upon
her" says "Alice's sister" After recall I
ing the years that they had been friends.
and telling him they could be frIeRds no
more until he had made Florence his wife.
Alice" warned him that no other woman
would call him wife IL she had to put
a bullet through his head.
Brooks promised her that II he could
not make Florence Burns his wife no
other woman should bear his name but he
could not alter "Alice's" determination
and thereafter she avoi-ed him. until
finally he came 70 the house 20 ask the
sisters advice He was told TO write a
letter. which he did. closing it by asking
her 10 meet him at the OF the Bridge
the following Friday as he had something /
10 say 20 her that he could not tell her
then.
To show that she Is not ignorant Of
the case. as she says. the writer enclosed /
in the envelope a cambria handkerchief
which she said had been left at her house .
by Florence Burns at the time she was
III there. The handkerchief had a large
F. embroidered in one corner Of it.
Until he has looked into the matter
Captain Titus viii rot discuss the letter
nor the possibility Of fl being from a
crank" or from one who is trying to
throw the detectives OF on a false scent +
He turned IL over 10 Detective Sergeant /
McCafferty-
There has been another adjournment in .
the inquest proceedings. this time 10
April %.