Arizona republican., 1914-02-10
U G1ze U Great Trials
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 History
TRIAL OF BROOKS
 FOR ASSAULTING

One of the most exciting scenes ever enacted in the United States Senate was the assault of Charles Sumner, of member of the house of representa- tives, in 1856. The attack grew out of the violent slavery agitation of the period. Sumner had made a powerful speech on "The Crime of Kansas" in which he went out of his way to abuse certain senators whom he did not like, especially Senator Butler of South Carolina, who was at the time absent from the city. and who had made no special personal attack on Sumner.
 Brooks was a relative of Butler and resented the imputations made against him. He lay in wait for Sumner for an hour or more at the Pennsylvania Avenue approach to the Capitol on the day following the inflammatory speech, but Sumner had gone in another way and he missed him. The following day the senate had only a short session, ad journing at 12:45. Sumner remained in his seat. He was leaning over his desk busily engaged in writing when Brooks approached from the rear The senator had not noticed his presence until he heard some one call his name, when looking up he caught the words:
 q have read your speech over twice carefully; it is libel on South Caro- lima and MT. Butler who is a relative of mine"-and while he was still speaking and apparently without fin ishing the sentence, the tall, powerfully built stranger raised a heavy cane and struck him with all his force over the head Sumner threw up his arms and endeavOred to protect himself but the first blow blinded him and Brooks con- tinued to rain blow after blow as hard and as fast as he could.
 Finally Sumner fell bleeding and senseless to the floor. Brooks arm was stayed at last and he was forced away from Sumner The wounds of the senator were dressed by physician hastily summoned and he was removed to his room still only partly conscious. So great was his injuries that he did not fully recover for four years; and
 
 the powerful, robust athlete that he had been before The physical condi- ton of Sumner and the masses of his full head of hair, which he wore long at the time. probably saved his life The following day the affair was taken up by the senate and a commit l tee was appointed to make an investi- | hat ho te had no power to arrest or punish a member of the house and that all they could do was to complain to that body In the house on the same day com mittee was appointed to make re port in order to vindicate that body This committee called for the expulsion
 of Brookes, but it was voted down Thereupon Brooks arose and said tha
 he was no longer a member of tn
 house, having already placed his res lignation in the hands of the gOverno of his state, to take effect when he an nounced it himself in congress. B
 this means he prevented any furthe action taken against him by the house Brooks was promptly reelected nOWeNer,' ana was Ddch III tIe nous within a few days. The criminal pun ishment inflicted was hardly less farce Sumner filed complain against Brooks and he was indicted b grand jury. He appeared in Wash ington at court attended by a coteri of southern friends, admitted the as sault and justified himself in a speec lt.t- T fend their wounded honor. The judg fined him three hundred dollars an discharged him without Imprisonment Sumner took no part in the prosecu tion, except when subpoenaed to ap pear and testify before the grand jur, Sumner disclaimed all respOnsibilit for the trial, realizing that any pun