Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-08-28
MAXWELL'S HOME RECORD.
AN INTERVIEW WITH HIS PARENTS.
They Deny that he is Identified as Their
Son-A Talk 18th n Hyde Doctor
Seems to Make it Clcar-He Dccamp-
ed with Magic Lanterns.

LONDON, Aug. 23-ln order to settle
the question of MaXwells identity so far
rs possible here. i'm experienced man was
despatched to Hyde to investigate the mat
ter fully on the spot. He telegraphs the
following account: Clyde is dingy, red
brick town, devoted to hat and cotton
manufactures There is no excitement
about the Maxwell case here, The people
were much surprised at my coming. At
ter much difficulty ! succeeded in obtain
ing an interview with Mr.. and Mrs.
Brooks, the supposed parents of the prls-
oner in St Louis. They live in comfort
able home. The father has fat, benevo-
lent English face, typical of the old style
schoolmaster, and his wife is buNom
woman, with hazel eyes. Both were sub
dued and anxious and resolutely refused
to go into details except to say that their
son is twenty years of age and that
they cannot account for his flight.
They say he is Il good, humane boy and
would not hurt cat. He was fond of
electrical experiments, always slept at
Hyde, and had practiced there The
young lady to whom he was engaged is
named Whitaker. She is circumspect
girl of superior ability. Rev. Valentine
Evans, the curate here, who was a great
friend of Brooks, has gone to 1orkshlre,
leaving bad reputation. The parents are
much distressed over the uncertainty
of Maxwell's Identification and de-
ny the accuracy of the description: They
are clearly trying to make the best of
very bad case. They have placed the
matter in the hands of their solicitors,
whose names they refused to divulge.. The
latter have forbidden them to say single
word. | then interviewed DR.. Sldebotham
the medical officer at Hyde. He is Il cul
tured courteous gentleman, living IN the
best house in the town. He said the ac-
cused had been at his house twice. On
the second occasion he borrowed pair OF
stereopticon magic lanterns, made by the
Stereopticon Co., of Colbrook row, lsllng
ton. He said he wanted to give an entertain
ment to the Sunday schools, his own IAN
terms being disabled. The doctor lent them,
having the highest respect for his parents
and being one of the managers of his
fathers school Some days afterwards
Brookss father called to say that his son
had decamped.
The doctor went to the sons office,
which was vacant. He then heard that
young Brooks had been seen driving away
from Hyde with a case answering the de
scription of his lantern case. He heard
nothing more till the elder Preller sent
him an illustrated American police paper
containing several likenesses, and asking
if DR.. Sidebotham could identify any of
them. The doctor Immediately recoS-
nized the admirable portrait of young
Brooks. This portrait was described in
the papers as that of Maxwell. The elder
Preller asked also DR.. Sidebotham to de
scribe the purloined lanterns. The latter
sent the former photograph of them.
The discovery of the lanterns would be
damning evidence. The doctor says
Brooks Is a feeble, empty-headed young
man.
Contrary to his parents declaration he
asserts that the descriptions of the papers
are very accurate. He says Brooks's sweet
heart was II very nice girl, and was consd-
cred in Hyde much too good for Brooks.
The latter was fond of dabbling in quack-
cry. He also used to have in his office
any amount of liquor and cigars. DIR.
Sidebotham believes he was encumbered
with debt, though his parents told me they
always allowed him plenty of money. DR..
Sidebotham thinks Brooks guilty since
his assertion about an overdose of chloro-
form does not explain the cutting Of the
body. The silver lever watch bought by
the elder Brooks for his son has number
1862 on the movement and "H3lG' on the
case. The jeweller giving his Informal
ton is anxious that his name should not
appear lest he lose the parents custom.
The townspeople looked upon Brooks as
fool, and take little interest in him.
Maxwell Identified as Brooks.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 23-W. A. Shaw,
stenographer employed in the Office of
Wayne MacNeagh, has, through the de-
scriptions and newspaper cuts of Maxwell,
the alleged murder of Preller at St Louis,
identified the accused as Hugh Brooks,
former acquaintance of his at Hyde,
Leicester, England.