The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-01-21
HORRIBLE DOUBLE MURDER and SUICIDE
John Brooks while Cdzed with Wkey and Opium Kills Thop-
and Mrs. John Thompson and then Ended the Tragedy by
Killing Himself Mercer Mo-, last Thursday Noon.

lG was dlCof Cno Slrl naQ gone TO Cne
barn that Wilmington arrived.
Brooks then left the house and went
to the barn where the men were. He
was reloading his gun as he walked
He approached them with the gun in a
threatening manner. The men surmised
his intentions and all excepting S. r.
Hamilton, ran to some brush back of the
barn and hid. Brooks drew his gun on
Mr.. Hamilton and threatened to take
his life, but Mr.. Hamilton begged his
mercy. After inquiring as to the where
abouts Of John Thompson and the others
he returned to the house.
Frantic with grief over the death of
his brother, and with the thoughts that
his sick wife was at the mercy of Brooks
in the house John Thompson fastened
to inform the neighbors. He soon re-
turned with number of men from that
vicinity, and surrounded the house. But
knowing Brooks intentions, and that
he was no doubt concealed in the house
ready to shoot the first man who stepped
in the door, they hesitated some.
To All Gibler, young farmer of that
vicinity, belongs the credit of the day.
He showed much cool headedness and
bravery. Unaided and alone he entered
the house to meet, he thought the foe,
to kill or get killed. Taking Win
chester rifle he walked into the house
and upstairs where Brooks was.
AS Gibler entered Mrs. Thompson s
room a terrible sight met his gaze.
There, lying on the floor in pool of
blood, dead, we're Mrs. Thompson and
Brooks. His body was partly across
Mrs. Thompsons shoulders.
| There was much evidanco Of q ctruo
gle in the room, and that the lady put
up strong fight for her life was shown
by the fact that her hands were powder
burned from having grasped the gun
while Brooks was firing it. Both bones
of her right arm below the elbow were
broken. Bullet holes were in the bed
stead and furniture of the ROOM There
were seven bullet holes in Mrs. Thomp.
sons body.
| After completing his bloody work
| Brooks turned the gun on himself. He
, probably realized the seriousness of his
crime, and seeing that escape was i'm
| possible, he decided it was best to die
by his own hand. And in this he dis
played great nerve. He shot himself
twice. The first shot went in his right
breast and passed through the body.
This failing to do the work, he again
turned the gun on himself and sent a
bullet through his heart. He dropped
across the body of his victim, and there
lay until discovered by AL Gibler and
the men who followed him.
Brooks suicide no doubt saved fur
/ ther bloodshed, as men by the score
were gathering there heavily armed.
Had he chosen to use the house as a
barricade he could have made it warm
for his pursuers, and perhaps picked
off several of them before they could
have gotten him.
1t is said that Brooks threatened the
Thompson boys few days ago, and
knowing his character, they had been
watching little for him. Vern Thomp-
son remarked only a few days ago that
if he was ever shot to blame Brooks for
| it. In former times, however, Brooks
and John Thompson were quite friendly.
Thompson at one time went on Brooks
bond when he was in difficulty, and as
sisted him out of trouble. They were
neighbors and Brooks was employed
by Thompson occasionally to help in
the farm work.
| Brooks was painter, and it is said
that he first fell out with Thompson a
few months ago when Thompson en-
gagged another man to paint his house.
The flame was further famed by neigh
borhood gossip and it is said that Vern
Thompson recently ordered Brooks to
keep away from his house.
Vern and John Thompson were prom
inent young farmers. They are broth
! ers of Rit Thompson, deputy postmaster
here, and nephews of sheriff James A.
Thompson. They we're we'll known in
the vicinity and liked by all.
| Vern Thompson leaves wife, who
was at home at the time of the difficulty
sick in bed. He also leaves two chill
dren. Besides her husband Mrs. John
Thompson leaves two little children.
One is about three years old and the
other is a baby eight months old.
News of the tragedy reached this city
by telephone soon after it occurred.
Sheriff James Thompson and deputies
Joseph Bixler, Arnold Lowry and James
Ormsby left hastily for the scene. At
| that time they did not know that Brooks
had been captured and they went heavi-
ly armed, expecting fight to finish.
Brooks death occurred before they ar
rived.
Constable James Branam, of Madison
township, was soon on the scene and
did good work. Squire Bushong sum-
moned a jury and began an inquest.
Squire HadIey Alley of this city arrived
later and took up the work. They ex-
amined witnesses and the jury later re-
turned verdicts that Vern and Mrs.
John Thompson came to their death
from gun shot wounds inflicted by John
Brooks, and that Brooks died by his own
hand.
Evidence at the Inquest,
Following is the principal evidence
introduced at the coroner's inquest.
S. r. HAMILTON.