Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-05-28

Ing the Courtroom to Hear the
Opening Of the Defense In the
Maxwell Case.
ST. LOUIS, May 26.-Long before
the time for opening the proceedings
Of the criminal court arrived this
morning crowds Of men and women
anxious to hear the opening Of the de-
Tense in the Maxwell case and the tes-
timony of the defendant, had congre-
gated at the "fOur courts" All Of the
spacs around the door of the criminal
room was occupied. The corridors and
passage ways were packed with curious
would be spectators, and there were
many standing on the steps and side
walks who we're unable to gain en-
trance even into the building. Deputies
appeared at 9 o'clock and with difficulty
forced their way through the throng
and opened the doors. A rush for
seats and standing room followed and
the widest disorder prevailed for
time. All who were able to enter did so,
but there was large majority forced
to remain outside, every available
foot of spacs being occupied within
Immediately after the opening of
court the judge ordered all doors closed
and locked and no one, not even officers
of Ethe court, be allowed to enter or
leave the room. All means Of com
munication, therefore, with those who
were fortunate or unfortunate enough
to gain admission were cut off, and the
outside world will remain in ignorancs
of the proceedings till late in the after
noon, for after the defense shall have
stated their side Of the case, Maxwell
will be put on the stand, and the recital
of his testimony and ross-examination
by the prose cution will doubtless con-
sumo several hours.
Mr.. Fauntelroy, for defense, after
routine business of the court had been
concluded, arose and commenced his
opening address to the jury. He stated
that he wished to impress them
with the fact that no one knew how
Preller came to his death, except the
defendant, and he proposed to disclose
to the jury all the circumstances
attending it. After stating the man
ner in which Prell9r and the defendant
became acquainted, and the closeness
of their friendship thereafter, he stated
the defense intended to prove that Mr..
Preller was suffering from a structure,
and the defendant foolishly undertook
to remove 1t. The defendant was uL-
willing to perform the operation al me,
but Preller did not wish the nature Of
his ailment to be known, and insisted
that Maxwell should perform it. To
lessen the pain he administered chloro,
form, but in too large a quantity, and
death resulted. He cut the clothes
from his friends body. and attempted
to resusitate him, but failed. He
said the defense would prove
that Pleller knew Maxwell had
no money and had promised
to pay his expenses to Auckland, rob-
berry therefore could not have been
motive for causing his friends death,
whi;h was at any rate accidental. The
remainder Of Mr.. Fauntelroy's speech
was devoted to an explanation Of his
clients action after the death of Prel-
ler, and assigning reasons therefor, all
of which was contained in Maxwell's
confession made few days ago. Max
well was then placed on the stand. He
showed little evidence of feeling,
although there was some degree Of
nervousness both in his face and hands.
There was rustic through the court
room and Judge Van Wagner in
brief speech demanded absolute quiet
in the audience. The witness then in
reply to questions of Mr.. Fauntelroy
stated as follows: My full name is
Hugh M. Brooks, l am twenty-five
years old, was born in Hyde Chester,
England; commenced to study with
Mr.. Brown at Stockport near Hyde
in 1873, and remained there four years;
| am lawyer by profession; l have
also studied medicine and surgery at
the collegiate school at Manchester.
but am not licensed physician; first
met G. Arthur Preller at the North
western hotel, at Liverpool, but did
not get acquainted until met him on
the steamer Cephalonia; l also met Mr..
Warren on the steamer; Mr.. Preller
and were both Englishmen coming
to strange country. and our acquain.
tance ripened into a warm friendship;
we talked much about our plans and
purposes for the future, and our ac
quaintance and friendship continued
after our arrival.
In this country we reached Boston
February the Sd, and after three or
four days Prtller started on a business
tip. had conversations and CORES.
pondence with Preller about gcing to
New Zealand; we agreed to meet iu
st. Louis and go there together; told
him about my financial condition, tell
ing in letter that / had 500 all told;
treated Prtller several times
medically in Boston and by letter, and
he acknowledged having received
decided benefit from the treatment.
He knew that l never practiced
medicine regullrly; | never used any
deception with him in this regard.
The witness then described various
events about Prsller leaving Boston
for Canada. ahonk hie nun ooA