New-York tribune., 1886-05-27
Directors deem necessary Mr. Matthew stockhoder,
opposed the increase.
MIA WELL MAKES 4 CONFESSION.
WAS PRELLERS DEATH AN ACCIDLNTf
TIE PRISONER ASSERTING THAT HE WAS ASKED TO
PEREORM A sIrEGICAL npERAIInN

TIE PRISONER ASSERTING THAT HE WAS ASKED TO
PERFORM SURGICAL OPERATION.
ST. LOUIS. May 26 tSpccan.- Maxwell was placed
on the witness stand at o'clock to-day still
undergoing torture when the adjourned this
ming. 1t discovered that the Goor of the court
| room showed signs of weakness and the sheriff was
directed to enforce the rule prohibiting the crowding
OF the room. This morning handsome bouquet
tencered TO Maxwell by an unknown woman. At
tached TO 1t was card with the words Trust in God"
Mr. Fontleroy occupied On hour in the opening state
ment of the defence promising to show that the
killing accident due to the over-conGdence of
the defendant. The story of the meeting the
Cephalonia and the subsequent incidents retod
and all the points favorable to the prisoner were
brought out and emphatically commented There
general craning of necks in the room when the
prisoner stood up to be sworn. He pale and sat
With comp essed lips and an evident determination not
to break down. The first two hours were consumed
in the account of his meeting with Preller and the
events which occurred in Boston. He was evidently
acting under instructions and his short;
lie offered no explanations. His story corroborated
the States evidence to the Sunday of the tragedy.
Wien this point reached the witness 81 owed signs
of nervousness and his voice began fail. lie gave
the following version OF Precrs death:
He had been suffering from complaint for several
months and when in Boston | advised him
to place Himself under physician he aid not
like the idea aud asked me 10 prescribe for him. DID
prescribe Tor him several times in Boston and enclosed
rro scriptiOn~ in the letters wrote him. did not rep
resent myseli to ny lend lrcicr as man of means.
We had general understanding before left Boston
that II did not dispose o my screoptcon he was to
pay my expenses TO New-Leaiand and was TO refund
the TIo!cy there. lie promised also to hls ihflu
with The Pacific Mail Steamship Conn any TO yet
position Is surgeon hoar1 Ot the vessel.
VI hen arrived IN St I.oui,. / had about $50 and
VI~i' al FeInow's drug store and other places and
bought Articles. When Mr.. Prelier arrived on FRIDAY
| az. I'M. FtluIf str #
very painful II grew worse and On sunday aiteInooh
be rcqut scd me To undertake operation for his re-
lief took out several mcoicl works and turned to
the portions relating I" the administration oi clorO-
form and told hm that if painless operation was To
be performed lie would have 10 take chloroprn. lie
said that he Was willing and we both read over the
dIhcTcnt nodc OF administering The drug. ABOUT ha
past he lesl my and returned ttlc later in
his d,.s.iup Gown lie did not have on his coat and
vest. lad four bottle of chloroform in the
room which had prOcuIeI "a couple of hours before
Mr.. isciicr lay down the he'd ana took pIrcc OF
lint and doubled it up so: here the witness doubled
his bandkeicnci into three .o.d- and exhibited Il To-
the jury then ! saturated il ritl chlOfOiotn and
hclo about >ix inches from Mr.. Pielc nose held
il al that distance that the air would with the
chlOrJiOim vapor. We talked while he was inhaling
il ana | told him To breathe natura,ig and have
! fears. in short tine he showed signs 'oi uncon
and began the opcrai iOn. ln the m>t OF
it, Mir trclieI gave several groan~ and WINGED Think
ing the coroioIm had not taken proper effect re
turned 10 the Wa>htand ior the bottle oi chOrOlom m
and found II overturned then went 10 ferno"
again and told him was performing an operation and
Lad overturned The chloroiOrin lho cfid. asked
Inn Tor fOui more ounces. but lie only gave me lWO
stafug that II was hal of what was IN the store.
returned to the room and poured an Jut drSc'n out
on the lint and a. sin held it under Mr. rclcr- nose.
While doing this. noticed that be began To hIc the
hard ana made peculiar noises bee mt frigl tened
and cut l- shirt and uld rclohe from his bocy aud
beat him with vet towels did this 10 stimulate the
circulation and | also worked his arms ny and down
to supcrinduce arthcai respiration. worked for an
hour. nnt'i was entirely exhausted and could hot
change the result. My friend was dead
dId not know the laws Of the county. and believing
that the law a. same i'll this country as ii is i'll
England and that u man charged With crimes cannot
testify III his own behalf, made up NY mind to leave.
had no friends and VAS undec"i"d for thrty-six
hours that much time elapsed before left the city.
/ became frightened and went out and drank to ex.
c,ss. Before leaving tho room, tonk everything out
Of my tIunk and dragged IT mp to the bed rolled
the body into the trunk and then closed the cover and
left. don't know what ! said or did that night. |
drank great deal and wandered amle>sly about the
of the city still Eliminating the situation.
About midnight went back TO the room. opened the
trunk and of Mr. Prcllcrs must ache and wrote the
placard found in the trdnk. also made the super
hcl cuts on the breast with scalpc ana placed
pair of Iny drawers the body. did these things
while under the influence Of choroiorm and liquor
and after had finally made up my mind to NY. did
them in order pune the police but thought that
the facts would come out when the post-inoten KAN
ination made.
did tell some of tie stories on tn tram which the
related but they were in reply 10 storics Just
Is prepostcrous related by of the pa--eugers.
When / reached Sau Francisco was swinGlcd ort OF
MI. Fontleroy-IIow did you get the money
MaXwcl,-I took it from the pockets Of my friend
Prcllcr did not connt il. but SHOULD Judge there
about $500 1t this that induced me to
become a fugitive.
In reply TO n series of questions the witness said that
be had 10 elonous designs against Preer and that
the operation for his benefit. The direct eXami
nation still progress when the court adjourned
Besides several hundred ladies. the MayoI members
Of the city government and about a dozen clergymen
took in the proceedings. Maxwell made good nl-
preston as witness.