Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-05-26
BROOKS CONFESSION.
The Mystery Of the ST. Louis
Trunk Dispelled BY Tho Con-
fession Of Brooks.
The Killing Of Preller Claimed T.
Be Simply the Result Of an
Accident.

The st. Louis Post Dispatch prints
statement made by H. N. Brooks, alias
Maxwell, now on trial for the murder Of
Arthur Preller, which will constitute his
own defense, and which will be urged BY
his attorneys in the trial. In word, he
will confess the killing Of Preller hy acci-
dent while acting as hisphysician, and that,
being excited and frightened, he concealed,
instead OF making known, the fact OF the
death. He declares he has always wanted
to tell the facts, and only refrained by the
advice Of his attorneys. The following i
Brooks statement:
Preller was suffering from private dis
ease for which had previously prescribed,
mixing the medicines myself from bodies
in the medicine chest carried with mo.
But his ailment had reached stage when
ii was necessary for me to make certain In.
vestigations. was obliged to use ca
theter and in using the catheter when the
parts were inAamed, had previously ap-
piled chloroform. Iexplained the process
to Preller and told him what should have
to do. He was mot only willing, but was
very anxious for me to treat him In that
manner.
Brooks then tells Of the purchase Of chlo-
roform which was spilled ii b sink on Sum
day afternoon, while he was washing the
instruments preparatory to the operation;
Of his going to the drug store and buying
more, denying incidentally the statement
that he had there shown evidences Of hurry
and excitement, and continued:
About p. M, as began the operation,
administered chlor0fOrm IN the usual
way, holding saturated cloth to the nose.
Preller passed through the first stage al
right. II took several moments--l don't
know exactly how long-then he entered
the second stage, and here the terrible re-
suit came. discovered too late that he
was dying. Imagine my horror when this
fact dawned upon me. was wild with
fright, but had presence Of mind enough to
cut the shirt and undershirt from the body,
and getting a wet towel, beat him around
the neck and shoulders for half an hour Or
more. did not give mp until was ready
to drop from exhaustion, and my efforts
were not relaxed until he had been dead Tor
some time. All the clothes he had on at
the time were shirt and undershirt. He
had stripped for the operation. What did
do when saw my friend Was dead2 Whist
could do? didn't know what 70 do ex-
cept drink, and drank freely. drank
everything could get-wine, whisky
everything. What were my thoughtsg !
hadn't any. All remember ID that drew
on pair Of drawers, the first that fell into
my hands, and put the body into my trunk,
from which had removed everything.
What was done besides this have no rec
objection Of. The liquor and CONSERVATION
had hold Of me, and knew only that my
feelings were those Of the utmost horror. !
remained in my room that night-the same
room in which the remains were--and i
would be lie for me to say slept, for I
did not, and I was glad when morning
came. What did after leaving my room
you know, for it has all been printed.
He says he supposed the post mortem,
the nature Of the opsfxfl6n md ctdss 6f
death. According to his own story, tho
cutting of Of Preller's moustache, the in-
scription about traitor found IN the
trunk, and all the other queer incidents
connected with the tragedy, are to be A.
tributed to his liquor and fear-crazed condi.
ton after the fatality.