Evening star., 1909-01-24

We're pronf of the old adage Truth Is
s.ranear than fiction still lacking, how
ever. the true stories Of interesting cases
actually ferreted out by the score OF
detectives commanded by Inspector ROD
ert Boardman at the central office would
convince Dealing entirely as they DO
with Iawless and desperate men, however
members of the detective force. shun no.
toriety.
Here are some of the experiences related
by members of the local force:
Interesting cases? They are all inter
esting while they are on hand saiu
INSPECTOR Boardman during a luli OIL
business in his office. Experiences uh-
pleasant. trying and amusing all go 10
make up the life of detective we
have all had them. OF course. had
nv share of them while on the street.
hut during the yeal ] have been IN
charge of this bureau 1 have practical
ly forgotten all of them rernem-
her those in which the men on the stan
did good work and those which gave US
the greatest trouble When anything
gives a man a great deal of trouble ne Is
more apt to remember that
.~The case which probably gave US the
Mos, +ro,,ble and mental unrest as Well as
awakened my interest and that OF the
whole force was the brutal muroer ol
William H Brooks at 914 I'd street
northwest by Frank w. Funk in july
1898
..That was a vexing case, and the cnase
vhiot1 ended with the capture of funh
IN Columbia, Mo-. In the spring OF 1850
was exciting and interesting.
Funk entered the home of BROOKS at
night. after making appointments 10
meet the old mans two daughters III
different places. In that way ne Hau
She girls father and mother al ms
mercy He had learned the old man had
several hundred dollars and knew 'fle
hiding place. Entering the house uhah-
nounced and unseen, ne procured an a. az
and with it murdered Mr.. Brooks. The
srnans of the old man attracted MS
aged wife When she appeared In the
dining room. where Funk was IN the acI
of stealing the savings or many years
he again picked up the AK and MURDER
onsIy assaulted her. Leaving her for
dead on the floor. he robbed the mousse
and made his escape.
I'VE quickly got on his trail and learn
ed he had left the city. Descriptive cir
culars containing the mnutest deialls
of his physiognomy. physique, personality
and habits We're printed and scattered
broadcast One OF his peculiarities was
20 pose as a prizefighter, and upon the
slightest acquaintance he would exhloit
his muscles and ask men 10 feel MS oi-
ceps and ascertain how hard they were.
1t was this practice which resulted in
his capture.
Shortly after the circulars were sent
out we received word from Altoona, Pa.
that the police there had arrested a man
for passing a worthless check. and he
answered the description OF Funk. De-
tectives Weldon and Phillips had been
assigned to the case. and arrangements
were made for Weldon TO go to AL
toona.
Funk was a clever and resourceful
man. We learned that when the police
interrogated him about the Brooks mur
der he denied any connection with 1t, but
declared he knew the old mans daughter
and she had given him a description of
the murderer. Funk then proceeded to
describe the slayer. and strange to re-
late he described himself. The following
morning he was taken 10 court in AL
toona but the man who had him arrested
did not show UP and Funk was released.
Before he could be rearrested as sus
pected murderer he had left Altoona for
parts unknown. When Weldon reached
Altoona his bird has flown, but he traced
Funk TO Pttsburg.
There lWeedon learned that Funk had
gone To Toledo. ONO. Before W eedOn
reached that city. however Funk had
been arrested for lettering about the
freight yards and fined for vagrancy. The
fine was paid and Funk left Toledo hours
prior TO Weedons arrival there.
''All tangible trace OF our man was lost
for some weeks. although we continued to
receive messages from the chiefs of po-
lice in small towns declaring they were
sure they had Funk under arrest
Meanwhile our much wanted man was
living his life as usual. and apparently
had changed none OF his habits. While
we were wondering whether Funk was
dead or alive there came message from
the chief OF police of Columbia telling us
he had the man in uStody and 10 send
detective and $500 reward at once. Weldon
hastened to Missouri He did not take the
reward because that could not be paid
until after the conviction of the mur-
derer.
funk. bold usual. rented A room in
the same house with policeman in Co
lumbia- In fact his room adjoined the
policeman's and a friendship quickly
sprung up. The policeman had one OF