The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-05-12
ASA BROOKS STORY.
The Only Eye Witness Of the Gehi'ards
Murder Tessifics-Theory OF the
Defense.

Manfato. Mimi. May S.-'fhe blu
ho< in Which, the state claims Il bottle
OF poison WAS mailed to pr. l-ouis y.
Gebhardt October 2s could not nave
been mailed between October ~ ana
November > This was the testimony
of Railway Mail Clerks I.ereh. Nelson
and Rhea. running between New tlni
aud Hanska, who were placed ON the
stand by the defendants this mona
ing.
The cancellation mark ON the BOX
was Identified ms one nude hN The
stamp belonging TO MIR Rhea. He MAS
not ON the route between October "A
and November >. and declared his
stamp was in his possession all OF the
time.
Asa p. Brooks. the New Tim editor
who, peering over the tranSonl. looked
the murderer in the face, was placed
on the stand the first thing this NOM
ing to explain answers he had made to
questions put to him by the attorneys.
III he was not confused n stuck to
his original statements.
Asa Brooks Story.
The story elected by the defense fron
Ara Brooks. the one witness of the muir
der. was of much interest. Senator SOM
erville devoted some hours TO ~cliciting
from Brooks the story Of his life. evil
IDENTIFY With Il view TO establishing his
reliability. Mr.. Brooks said that he WAS
Sc. and had been in the newspaper bust
ness in Brown county for fourteen years
ten wears in Sleepy Eye. as editor OF
two papers there, and tour years as edi-
tor of the New Tim Review. Previous
TO his residence in Brown county he
lived for three years ut Re9wood Falls,
the home of his parents.
Senator Somervine asked him if he
did not enlist in the Spanish war. Mr..
Brooks said that he had. in the Eff
,,,,,l, NfjnpaSntl f,oit1a,t and had
served until mustered out. While in
the army. he said, he had acted as cor
respondent for three Twin city daily
papers.
"And YOU Went to the front as far as
Won could set?' asked Senator Somer-
Vile. The witness smiled and said; Il
went as far as the rest of them did
Mr.. Brooks said he was much more in
timately acquainted with DR.. Gebhardt
than with DE-. Koch. They We're two
of four members of what they called,
the club" These four men, he said.
lived together as q family. and had a
h~ousekeeper. DIR. Gehhardt alone lived
the club" Asked about the friend
| ship himself and DR.. Gebhardt,
MIR. Brooks said.
Il do not believe that it is possible for
a closer friendship to grow UP than that
which existed between Or. Gebhardt and
myself"
AS to DR.. Koch. he said that they had
met lust as friends. sometimes for bust
ness. sometimes socially. He declared
that he was in no way related TO TIL.
Koch family.
Then answering questions by counsel
Mr.. Brooks started The detailed story OF
the evening of the Gebhardt murder. II,
told of the game of cards in Hoidale 4
Somsen's office: of the defendants coming
in hut taking no part i'm The game. ant
said thar the defendant and Dr. Noge
sang nopular songs while the Others PLAYED
cards. and tina, the defendant left ta'
office several minutes before the gam,
broke up at 9:h.
Brooks then described his return to hi.
nawspuucr office. by way of the post
office. where he stopped and got his mail
When he apnroachcd his office. he said. ii,
heard what he described as aa ''inarticu
late utterance which didn't sound like thu
cry of anyone in agony" He took ..ttl,
notice of IL at tn" time. but went into hi!
F, office and OPENED his mail. AS he sa
here reading he heard y noise directl.
* trh.ad. where Or. G"bilardt's oftic"
were located, as of TWO persons SQUIRTING
bu, he though. nothing OF tNat bccaus
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