The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-05-26
H. M. BROOKS DEFENSE.
He Says He Neither Premeditsted Crime
Nor Tried to Conceal One.

ST. LOUIS, May 1s.-The Post-Dispatch this
afternoon prints a statement made by II. VI.
Brooks, alias Maxwell, now on trial for the
murder of C.. Arthur Preller, which will con-
stitute the defense of Brooks, aud which will
be urged to the utmost by his attorneys in
the trial. The statement was made to Mr..
John J. Jennings, the present city editor of
the Post-Dispatch, and it has been approved
by Brooks attorneys. Mr.. Jennings prefaces
the statement with some remarks, the chief
points of which are as follows:
"MaZwelPs explanation of the death of
PTeller is his only defense. That explana-
was made in writing to his attorneys Messrs.
Martin and FauntleTOy, many months ago,
and Maxwell will in the witness stand re-
peat it. Giving it, he said his desire all
along had been 10 uuburden himself to the
public, and allow his actions previous to and
after the crime to substantiate his declara
items. These actions show that he neither
pTemeditated a crime or tried to conceal one,
for from the moment OF his arrival at the
Southern Hotel until his departure for San
Francisco every act and almost every word
OF his has been the property of the public.
The only act said Maxwell. about which
there has been any doubt at all has been the
act of which l am now accused. / recognize
now as much as anybody could that i made
what could / do? / was here alone in a
strange world, with no one to advise me but
my counsel, and L followed the advice he
gave me to the letter."
The attorneys for the defense will not
deny the identity of the remains, but will
acknowledge the death OF Preler at Max
wells hands, and insist that the death was
due TO accident. The following le Brooks
statement:
Mr. Preller was suffering from private disease,
Tor which j had previously prescribed, mixing
the medicines myself from the bottles in the med
ieine case carried with me; but his ailments had
reached stage when II was necessary for me to
eatheter, and in using catheter when the parts
were iniamed had previously applied chloro-
form in order to produce condition of narcot-
ism. ! used ehlOroform in this manner on a man
named Harrison in Liverpool without any serious
result explained the process to Mr.. Preller, and
only willing, but was very anxious for me to treat
him in this manner, During the day purchased
iopI ounces OF cnioroiorm, which was standing IN
bottle on the edge OF nv waShstand. This took
place sunday afternoon and was intended
preparation for the operation. In washing some
instruments overturned the bottle of chlorO-
form. This was prObably3 o'clock, and after get
ting my instruments ready, went out to secure
some more chlorOfOrm. i went to the drug store,
don't know where. but the store near the hotel
(FernOw'sl, and asked for the chlorOform. The
clerks, or some persons there, have said that was
down in a chair in the drug store for more than a
quarter of an hour and was altogether very
hurry. II am not mistaken had long CONVEX
satiOn with some one in the drug store.
When ] got the chlOrOf0rm repaired to my
room. Preller had been in and out OF my room
and his own all afternoon. About 5 p. m. we be-
gan the operation. / administered the chlOro-
form in the usual way-hOlding a saturated cloth
TO the nose Preller passed through the first stage
all right. IL took several moments don't ex-
actly know how long. Then he entered the sec
SiscoTeged 10 late thai 70 was diving. Imagine
my horror when TINS tact dayned upon. me-
was wild with fright but had presence Of mind
enough 20 cut the sSirt and undershirt from the
oOuyi ana getting wet tOYl,l bathed him around
The Eeck and shoulders for a half hour or more.
did not give him uD until was ready to drop
Taxed until he had been dead some time. He
bad stripped to the shirt and undershirt.
What did l do when / saw my friend
know what to do except to drink.
and drank freely. I drank everything could
get. What were my thoughts? hadn't any. All
remember is that j drew pair of drawers
the first that fell into my hands. and put the
body into my trunk, from which had removed
Preiier's death What was done beside this
have no recollection Of. LIQUOR and cOnsterna-
ton had taken possession OF me. j remained In
my room that night-the same room in which the
remains were-snd IL would be lie tor me 70 say
that slept, for didn't and | was glad when
morning came. What did after leaving my room
you know, for il has all been printed.
Was eatheter found among your medical in
q don't know carried some of my instru-
ments away in valise and threw them into the
Pacific"
Had You any plans OF disposing of the body
None whatever. meant to leave IL there ex
pecting that il would be discovered sooner than
10 was, and thinking that post mortem would
reveal the true state OF factsthat Preller had met
bis death while undergoing such an operation as
have designated"
How about Preller's money!
81 know moth ing about Preller's money had
plenty OF money OF my own or | couldn't have
made the long trip that did make"
Mr.. Jennings tcloses by stating that this i:
only a synopsis of the full written statement
in the hands of Brooks counsel, which give
all the details of the Sunday occurrences il
Room IA Southern Hotel, but the attorney
refused 70 give the written statement and By
their advice Brooks declined TO say aay
more.
According TO his own story the cutting of
OF PrelleT's mustache, the inscription abOu
TRAITORS" found in the trunk and all tin
other queer incidents connected with tn
tragedy are 10 be attributed to his liquor anC
fear crazed condition.