Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-05-27
THE PRELLER CASE.
Maxwell Makes a Peculiar
Statement.
HE WAS ACTING AS A SURGEON
He Says that Preller Died from an
Overdose of Chloroform, Given
with Good Intentions.

with Good Intentions.
sD,ciat ~ n, Herald bvtne Assoefatsd Press
O. r ~. on p.u.,.. g.
'i'' 10y ~
tne defense In the FREEZER case com
menced bis opening address to the jury
| He stated that he wanted toimpress then
Iii. -, a.. - -. -, -.
"''a '-e 'aS' '..s NV oAo A"o"
Preller came to his death except the de
fendaut, and he proposed to disclose te
the iurv ALI Of the circumstances at.
.as:.;. At.....,;,a d. ,na.n., !,
'ehuing H. A'e. STAYING 'ne MANNER ~
which Preller and the defendant became
acquainted and the closeness OF theil
fe;s,dsb;n tbereaftar bs stated that tbs
49,, - m.
de'enSe in'enueo 70 pro'e ''ss e',e'
was suffering from structure and tnat the
defendant foolishly undertook to remove
n The defa,da;t was unwilling 10 ner
nI,,-.
form 'ne oPera''on aione' ou' ee'
did not wish the nature of his ailmenl
to be known, and insisted that Maxwell
sbouId nsrfo,m II tn lessep the oa;r
~ -, -
ne adnin'''ereu cnioro'o."' "a' - Wv
large quantity, aud death resulted.
Maxv ell was placed on the stand
He showed little evidence Of feeling, al
though there was some degree Of
nervo,, sna,s both in his face and hands
There was a rustic through the court
roum The witness. in reply to CUES
lions nv Fauntlerov. stated In substance
INV full name Is Il. AZ. Brooks. / am
25 wears aid was born In HYDE, Ches
tershire England. | studied medicine
and surgery AZ the Colleqians school al
Manchester. but / am not a licensed
pbvsician. I first met Preller at the
North western Hotel. at Liverpool, but
did NOT get acquainted with him until ]
met him on board the steamer Cepha.
Ionia Mr.. PreiIer and / were both
Enol;sbmen. COMING to a strange land.
and our acouaiuta.ce ripened into q
warm fr;andsbip- y
Maxwell testified: s,On Easter Sun
day. before went to the drug store.
Preiler and had a conversation about
the performance of the operatiou here
tofore alluded tn. and also a day or two
bafora. SUNDAY Mr.. Preller described
10 ma his svmptoms. and coocIuded
that he was suffering from structure. and
that the hest method of treating hin
was bv passine a catbeter. 1 tool
NV authorities on medicine and read
10 Mr.. Preller the directions as to the
nroper method of administering chloro
form, and refreshed nv own mind as tx
The precautions to be used. There are
MARGINAL notes on the pages treating or
the simplest and safest method Of using
the drue. After this conversation witt
Mr.. Preller went TO a drug store and
purchased four ounces of chloroform and
= quantity of absorbent cotton, We re-
turned 70 the hotel. and after smoking
awhile and discussing the proposed
operation. Mr.. PrelIer went to
his own room. returning shortly after,
having renewed his waistcoat and re.
placed his coat with a dressing gown.
fmmediateIy thereafter he began to
make preparatiops for the operation.
Preller removed his trousers and draw.
ers and laid down upon the bed. |
placed the four ounce bottle OF cbloro.
| form on the wasbstand and poured out q
| Amid oramme Of the LIQUID on a piece OF
| l;nt Which I folded three times. then
walked 10 the he'd and held the
| lint about six inches from INV
patients face 40 that the yapor
from the chloroform might become
mixed with the air and produce not toe
violent an effect. 1t all evaporated IN q
few minutes and I turned around to gel
more and found that the bottle which ]
had pjaced on the yashstand had fallen
;nto the basin and a large portion of the
contents had flowed out and not enough
was left 10 produce arastbesia. | then
went 10 Ferrow's drug store to get more.
telling Ferrow / had spilled what / had
frat bought. I wanted four ounces,
but he only had two, and
took that. then returned
to nv room. / placed about a aramme Of
the fiuid on the lint the second time
and again held il about six inches from
his face. / continued this some time,
until / thought inconsistencies, or
rather. insensibility to pain, had been
reached. then took up the catheter
and proceeded to insert IL Mr.. PrelIer
made a neculiar noise. winding as if he
felt main I came To the conclusion that
III had not administered a sufficient
amount of cbloroform. poured a
cramme or a eramme and a half Of chlor.
oform upon the lint. which / again
placed before bis face. Almost before |
knew IL MIR. Preller's breathing became
verv labored. and I at once suspended
he admin ration of the chloroform.
for knew that his condition was seri.
ous. I seized pair of nv surgeons
scissors and Al once cut his shirt and
nndersbirt from his body and tried all
the means Of resuscitation with which /
was familiar slammed him with wet
,owsJ. on the chest and neck. dashed
eold w.ter an bis chest and attempted to
rs 81. resnira,ion bv moving his arms
mn ana downn
The witness proceeded with a voice
;mnressiveIv husky: 81 continued these
efforts Ia revive NV friend for over hall
an hcnr Int n was useless entirely use.
Iass shortlv after NV friend ceased r.
breathe and b;s heart slammed beating
There was no breath on a mirror when
held il to his lips. Even after I was
satisfied be was dead I continued nv
efforts with him. did not leave
and cal, assisianee, All Of INV
eiforts were h restore him because when
cbloroforu takes hold ~ a man and bt
sInks In 4 few seconds the man il dead
| The time I tbouohf had batter he 90
on Med IN effort. IL restore him I wa,
convinced he was dead Int + continued
10 dash cold water on bis ebest f;nalls
decided ba was dead and past ali hone
hardly knew what 70 80. NV f;rsi
;mmIsa was to notify the authorities
Imao;ne nv feelinos' did not know
what 70 do. was IN strange land.