The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-03-31
Is Charged With Killing Another
Woman In Forth Worth
PROMPTED BY jealousy
a Sensational Trial to Come on In
Texas Next Monday Mystery Sur
rounding the Actions Of the Wife Of
Prominent Attorney Of That City
Crime Committed Last January.

Fort Worth, Tex, March 39- For
the flrst time In many years woman
charged with murder In the first de-
gree is to be placed on trial In this
city next Monday. The defendant In
the case Is Mrs. T. NJ. Brooks. wife
lof prominent attorney, and her
trial, upon the charge OF having shot
and killed Mrs. Mary Binford. depart
ment manager OF a local dry goods
store. is to begin next Monday in the
sixty-seyenth district court
The crime with which Mrs. Brooks
Is charged was committed on January
l6 Of this year and IL believed to have
been prompted by jealousy. Neither
Mrs. Brooks nor her husband have
shown any inclination to make a state
ment that would indicate the cause OF
the tragedy. but for some time there
have been rumpys strongly limiting
that Mrs. Brooks did not live happily
with her husband and that she be-
lieyed her husbands affection had
been alienated by Mrs. Binford. who
was divorced about two years ago, and
was considered rather fascinating
and handsome woman. II is expected
that at the coming trial some light
will be thrown upon the relations be-
tween the defendant and her husband
and between the latter and the victim
Of the tragedy. and this prospect has
greatly intensified the public interest
10 the case
Whatever may have been the mari
iai complications. whether Mrs.
Brooks jealousy was we'll founded or
based merely upon q Tissue Of her own
Imagination. is stiIl mystery. Al all
events. however. Il seemed real
enough to the defendant at the time
OF her desperate deed. Armed with
a big, old-fashlonei revolver. Mrs.
Brooks. on the afternoon OF January
i6. made ber way TO the dry goods
store where Mrs Binford was en-
ployed While she passed through the
whole length OF the lower floor on her
way 10 the elevator. hrs. Brooks met
many scquaintances. Smilingly abe
bowed and stopped several times TO
chat pleasantly with her friends. not
one OF when suspected for a moment
that a few minutes later Mr5. Brooks
would be the chief actor In a tragedy.
Mrs. Brooks took the elevator to the
second lioor OF the establishment,
where Mrs. Binford was employed. As
she stepped from the elevator Mrs.
Brooks inquired where she could find
Mrs. Binford. and as the latter APP
preached Mrs. Brooks. without saying
a single word or giving any warning,
pulled her big revolver from her nun.
Mrs. BInford. realizing her danger.
grapplcd with Mrs. Brooks and tried
TO wrest the weapon from her. Her
strength was no match. however, for
that Of Mrs. Brooks. and the latter
quickly freed herself and forced the
other woman against the wall. In the
scufiie the weapon was discharged,
the bullet plowlng its way through
Mrs Binfurd's hand.
With her victim al bay Mrs. Brooks
stepped back aud fired four times. The
second ball struck Mrs. Binford in the
left shoulder. the third, one inch
higher. aud the ioarth entered the
base OF the neck. shatierlhg the spinal
vertebra. just before her victim \k
10 the floor Mrs. Brooks fired again,
the bullet striking Mrs. Dinford be-
hind the ear. coming out through tho
top Of the head.
There were probably hundred or
more witnesses to the tragedy. shop
pcrs and clerks alike seemed 10 be
paralyzed by hysterical fright and
without hlndrance Mrs. Brooks passed
through the crowd and reached the
once Of her husband. two blocks dis
iant She handed the revolver to her
husband aud. with the murmured
words. y am sorry" she sank 10 the
floor unconscious. Later she was arr
rested and. after waiylng a prelimi-
nary trial. was released under $4,000