The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-21
THE KILLING OF PREILER.
Testimony Showing Brooks's Financial Con-
ditiOn Before and After the Murder.

~oSNo
able fate increases. Several prominent clergy
men were present at the court this morning, rs
were, also, large number of ladies, and these.
together with the many other spectators, packed
the room to the doors. The first witness was
barber, John B. Armo, doing business at 10
North Broadway, near the Southern Hotel.
Maxwell came to his shop between and
o'clock on the evening of April g. 1885. his hair
and beard were both very long, and he asked to
have the former trimmed and the latter shaved
of. The barber did this. and Maxwell then
asked him if ne could recognize him then if he
had known him when hin hair and beard were
long. The witness told him that such thing
would be impossible, and Maxwell seemed
pleased at his answer The prisoner had talked
like parrot all the time he was in the SHOPS and
told all sorts of stories about himself; he said he
was going into the country for day or two, but
would soon return.
The counsel for the prisoner in cross examin-
ing the witness, tried to show that Maxwell had
evinced no uneasiness, and seemed unconcerned
as to whether not his having been shaved
had changed mis- appearance, but the answers
to his questions resulted in showing that the
contrary had been the case; that the prisoner
looked nervously around whenever anyone
entered the room; that he was continually slip
ping down in his chair as if not to attract atten-
tion
Samuel Hughes, ticket agent for the San
Francisco railroad, was the next witness. He
identified the prisoner as the man to whom he
had sold ticket to San Francisco, on April 3,
1885: he identified the ticket which bore his own
signature and that of H. NJ. Brooks; the prisoner
had made no inquiry as to the price of the ticket,
and when he paid for it drew forth large roll
of bills of large denominations. The defense
waived cross examination.
George j. Hess, of Hess g. Culbertson, pawn
brokers' had met the prisoner on the Sd or Atm
day of April, 1885; the prisoner wanted to Dor
row $25 on watch chain; the witness refused TO
loan him so much, and the prisoner tried to sell
him other trivial articles, saying that ne must
have money On the Monday after Easter Sun
dav the prisoner called again. and purchased
flute for So, and a set of diamonds. paying for
them with 800 bill, which he selected from
roll of several Of the same denomination. The
witness noticed nothing unusual in the prison
er's talk or action on his second visit
Albert Saloe, an optician, succeeded Hess on
the stand. He testified that the prisoner, &C
companied by some one whom he did not Know.
called at his place of business and wished to sell
a magic-lantern outfit The gentleman with
Maxwell wore black mustache, and he thought
ne would recognize him if he should see him
again. He identified photograph of Preller as
the prisoners friend few days after, the
prisoner bought from the witness pair OF spec
tacles and manicure set rendering IN payment
for the same hundred-dollar bill. He drew
large roll of money from his pocket when he paid
the bill
James S. Johnson clerk of Mr.. Saloe's, was
next examined, and corroborated his employers
testimony.
Frederick Beiger a tent-maker, testified that
the prisoner had bought from him canvas
covered trunk, and in paying for 1t he GREW
from his inner coat pocket a large roll OF bills.
composed mostly of those of large denomna
tions. Some time later in the day he returned
to the store and bought two large
trunk straps. The straps taken from
around the trunk in which Prellers
body was found were brought in and identified
by the witness as those sold to the prisoner.
The witness was shown two trunk boards found
in the packing case. and asked IT they were parts
of the tray. He said they were not, but were
pieces of the top of another trunk; the packing
case, had no tray. The zinc trunk IN which
Prefers body was found was brought before the
witness. who was asked to tell an expert
whether the tray had ever belonged In it.
Mr.. Faunteroy. counsel for the defense, OBJ
jected to expert testimony on the point, but his
objection was oyerruled and the witness an
swered that it was Exception was taken to the
ruling. The point was an important one, as the
tray and partition were founc in the packing
case.
William Fruin, Southern Hotel porter re-
cognized the trunks bought from Begerl as
those he had carried to the prisoners room on
the same day they were bought. When he en-
die of the floor ana clothes were scattered about
and heaped in piles He lifted an end of the
zinc trunk to see If it was packed. aud thought
it weighed 20 or 100 pounds-a heavy weight for
trunk of thatsize. The occupant of the room, the
prisoner ordered him to take down the canvas
covered trunk The witness asked him if he was
going to take the other trunks, and the defend
ant answered no, he was going to be back In
day or two The witness carried it down to the
Office where Max well ordered him to place it on
ha hua yyh UNA t0 "a
depot Maxwell got into the omnibus and was
driven away. That was the last time witness
ever the defendant.
Fred Castle. who had charge of the cigar stand
at the Southern Hotel during the stay of Brooks
and Preller recognized the defendant and the
Preler photograph. On Easter Sunday both
were at the stand, and Preller bought box of
cigars and ordered them sent to Maxwelrs room.
The witness noticed that Preller had plenty of
money. The witness never saw him again. The
next morning Brooks bought some cigars of him.
He said his friend had gone into the country.
Louis f. Duff. dealer in hats, recognized the
defendant as the purchaser of peculiar kind OF
hat on Easter Monday, which he said he wanted,
for it wculd make him look like Yankee. The
defendant was very nervous at the time.
Charles Biegar, proprietor Of trunk store,
described how he had been called to the South
ern Hotel, the day the body WAS found; how he
had opened the trunk containing the body. and
| what the appearance and condition Of the latter
| was, and how it lay in the trunk
| J. A. W. Pernow owner of the drug store at
! the corner of Fifth and Market streets, one
| block from the Southern Hotel. recognized the
| defendant as DR.. MAXWELL; saw him in his store
several times prior to and also Easter Sun
day; he purchased several little articles said he
was a DOCTOR and thought of locating in St
! Louis he asked the witness where he
would advise him to settle; said be
expected friend from Canada, and
| day or two before Sunday he called and said his
| friend had arrived; the witness gave him some
prescription blanks, and during his visits treated
him like doctor. About P. NJ on Easter Sun
! day he came into the store and purchased four
ounces of chloroform and some carbolic acid. and
after little chat he went away. Here the wit
ness described the qualities of carboiic acid a
preserver and disinfectant The witness saw
defendant again about p NJ, when he returned
to the store and asked for another four-ounce bot
| tie of chloroform; the witness had only about
! that quantity left and gave him only two ounces;