The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-04-07
WOMAN TO BE
TRIED FOR MURDER.

WOMAN TO BE
TRIED FOR MURDER.
Fort Worth, Tex, March 3O.-For
the first time in many years a wo-
man charged with murder in the
first degree is to be placed on trial
in this city next Monday. The de-
PENDANT in the case is Mrs. T. M.
Brooks, wife of a prominent attor-
|ney, upon the charge Of having shot
land killed Mrs. Mary Binford, de-
partment manager Of a local dry
goods store, is to begin next Monday
in the Sixty-seventh District court.
The crime with which Mrs. Brooks
is charged, was committed on Jan
uary 10th of this year, and is be-
lieved to have been prompted by
jealousy. Neither Mrs. Brooks nor
her husband have shown any inclin-
alton to make a statement that would
indicate the cause of the tragedy, but
for some time there have been ru-
mors strongly limiting that Mrs.
Brooks did not live happily with her
husband, and that she believed that
her husbands affection had been all
ienated by Mrs Binford, who was di-
vorced about two years ago and was
considered rather facinating and
handsome woman. 1t is suspected
that at the coming trial some light
will be thrown upon the relations ex-
listing between the defendant and her
husband and between the latter and
the victim of the tragedy and this
prospect has greatly intensified the
public interest in the case.
Whatever may have been the mar
ital complications, whether Mrs.
Brooks jealousy was we'll founded
or based merely upon tissue of her
own imagination, is still mystery.
At all events, however, it seemed
real enough to the defendant at the
time of her desperate deed. Armed
with big old-fashioned revolver,
Mrs. Brooks on the afternoon of
January 16, made her way to the
dry goods store where Mrs. Binford
was employed. While she passed
through the whole length of the
| lower floor on her way to the eleva-
tor, Mrs. Brooks met many acquain-
tances. Smilingly she bowed and
stopped several times to chat pleas
antly with her friends, not one of
| whom expected that few moments
later Mrs. Brooks would be the chief
actor in tragedy.
Mrs. Brooks took the elevator to
the second floor 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 approached, Mrs. Brooks,
without saying single word or CIV
ing any warning, pulled her big re-
volver from her muff. Mrs. Bin
ford, realizing her danger, grappled
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 scuf-
lie the weapon was discharged. the
bullet blowing it's way through Mrs.
Binford's hand.
With her victim at bay, Mrs.
Brooks stepped back and fired four
times. The second ball struck Mrs.
Binford in the left shoulder, the
third one inch higher up, and the
fourth entered the base of the neck,
shattering the spinal vertebra. Just
before her victim sank to the floor
Mrs. Brooks fired again, the bullet
striking Mrs. Binford behind the ear
coming out through the top of the
head.
There were probably one hundred
or more witnesses to the tragedy.
Shoppers and clerks alike seemed
to be paralyzed by hysterical fright
and without hindrance Mrs. Brooks
passed through the crowd, and reach,
ed the office of her husband two
blocks distant. She handed the re-
volver to her husband, and with the
.murmured words "l'm sorry" she
sank to the floor Unconscious. Lat
er she was arrested and after waiy-
ing preliminary trial, was released
under $4,000 bail.