Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-10-28
SELF DEFENSE URGED.
Counsel for Alsnso Brooks Outlines
Defense In Murder Trial.


Self defense will be urged BY counsel
for Alonzo Brooks, colorod. on trial ~
Marion. charged with the murder OF
Harry clippings, formerly OF thus ci.y
On opening the case County ATTORNEY
Lockwood said I'M state expected 10
prove that on Thursday morning.
April 10. Mr.. and Mrs. Flippinss, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Lee remnant, all colored.
met the defendant on tile railroad
tracks near the Cedar Rapids starch
works, at about s O'clock, and that
Brooks shot FlipplnEs without word.
clippings died two days later. He said
the state would show that Brooks fled.
went to his room ~ tho home of Mr.,
and Mrs. Joyce, packed his good
clothes in laundry bag, went to the
John jackson home, where he changed
his clothes. and then went TO the home
of Lucille Philips and, her brother. and
to them admitted the shooting He
then fled to Ellis park. where he was
arrested In the ladies' toilet by Of
ficer Mcclure. "
Brooks counsel. in his opening
statement said he expected to prove
several things which the state had not
mentioned. Brooks. he said. worked az
the starch works, and had to begin his
daily labors at O'Clock in the morn
ing, while clippings and Tennant, VINO
also worked there. did not go to work
until 7. The defense expects to prove
that Brooks and Flippings had pre-
viously met In the tunnel at the starch
works: that clippings had stopped
Brooks and began to upbraid him.
threatening 10 shoot him because of
his attentions to his, Flippings'. wife,
He made this same threat about
Brooks to others, the attorney declar-
ed, and these reports came back TO
Brooks.
The defense claims Fiippfrgs was hot
headed and Jealous Of his wife; that he
and Mrs. clippings and Lee Tenant
and wife. the night before the shoot
Ing, went to the Joyce home and
sought 70 get Brooks out Of the house;
that clippings was armed with a re-
volver at the time and Brooks refused
TO leave tho house; that Joyce ordered
the two couples away and they left
with the threat that they would way
lay Brooks the next morning.
Tho defense expects to show that
Brooks had an enga cement with girl
that night to 80 to dance. but he
cancelled the engagement and remain
ed In his room; he then debated about
going to work the next morning. but
finally decided not 10 risk losing his
Job and 30 started to the starch works,
but a. a protection went armed with
a revoiver:s that ne chose the most d.
rect way to his work. crossing the MIL
waukee railroad bridge: that at the
westerly end there was water tank,
where he was. accosted by the Flip
pings Acouple and Mr.. and Mrs. Ten
nant clippings grabbed him by the
coat, the attorney declared. and point
ed revolver at him. whereupon Brooks
pulled out his gun and shot clippings.
The first witness called to the stand
by the state was Lee Tenant At tho
request Of attorneys on both sides all
witnesses were ordered excluded from
the court room except when each was
giving his own testimony.
Mrs. Tenant and Mrs. clippings
followed Tenant on the stand. Each
told Of the events leading up to the
shooting and Of tie tragedy at the wat
er Iank. ne StOIy tOl0 ny lac I'll 60
witnesses was that Brooks had toid OF
paying Mrs Tenant to try to get Mrs.
F1ippings to look with favor on his at
tentions. They went to the Milwau-
kee tracks, near the water tank, the
morning Of the tragedy. in order to see
him about this story and when they
met Brooks as he came to work he
promptly whipped out q revolver and
fired at clippings. ...--.
Mr. and Mrs. Tenant and Mrs. Flip
pings ran away from the -scerie Of the
shooting. Mrs. Tenant running to a
nearby house to telephone the police.
She and Mr.. Tenant then helped
clippings to the. Tenant home. He
was removed later to q hospital. where
he. died the following Saturday. Mrs.
clippings said she had been married
two years preceding the crime, ano
had been living with her parents at
Des Moines since the death of her hus-
band. She expects, she said, to be-
come a mother next month.
Bring watches IN. Hodges.