The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-05-20
STORY
HE MAKE ES A FULL STATE
MENT CONCERNING THE
DEATHO PRELLER,
IT WAS ACCIDENTAL
FROM PROFESSIONAL USE OF
CHLOROFORNI.

ST. Louis, May lS.-The Post-Dispstch this
afternoon, prints a statement made by H. NJ
Brooks, alias Maxwell. now on trial for the muir
der of c. Arthur Preler, which will constitute the
defense of Brooke, and which will he urged to the
utmost by his attorneys on the trial The state
ment was made John j. Jennings, present city
editor of the Post Dispatch, and it has been ap-
proved by Brooks attorneys. Jennings prefaces
the statement with some remarks, the chief
points of which are as follows: MaXwels expla-
nation of the death of Preller is his only defense
That explanation was made in writing to his at
torneys, Messrs. Martin 4 Faunteroy, many
months ago, and Maxwell will go on the witness
stand and repeat it. In giving it, he SAID that his
desire all along had been to unburden himself be-
fore the public, and allow his actions, previous and
alter the crime, to substantiate his declarations.
These actions show that he never premeditated a
crime, or tried to conceal ore, for, from the mo-
ment OF his arrival at the Southern hotel until his
departure for san francisco, every act-almost
every word of his-has been the property of the
public, and these acts these words, form the
strongest links in the chain of circumstances which
they have forged to hold the culprit to his crime
1.-The only act, he said, "about which there was
any doubt at all has been the act of which am
now accused, | recognize now. as much as any
body, that made mistake in withholding my de
Tense. itut what could do: | was here, alone in
strange world, with no one to advise me hut my
counsel, and followed their advice to the let
ter
The attorneys for the defense will not deny the
the identity of the remains, but will acknowledge
the death of Keller ut MaXwell's hands, and will
insist that death was due to an an accident arising
from circumstances which Preller himself had in
vited.
BROOKS STATEMENT.
The following is Brooks statement:
"Mr. Preller was suffering from private disease,
for which had previously prescr bed mixing the
medicines myself, from bottles in medicine case
l carried with me, but his ailment had reached a
stage when 1t was necessary for me to make GER
tain Investigations. | was Obliged to use cath
eter, and in using catheter when the par were
THn had Nlfn1p pll
order to produce condition Of narcotism. used
chlorofo.m in this manner on man
named HARRISON, in Liverpool, with
out any serious result. eX
what should have to do. lie was not only will
ing, but very anxious that | should treat him in
this manner. During the day | purchased four
ounces OF chloroform, which was standing in a
bottle on the edge of my washstand when | was
washing some surgical instruments. This wash
ing OF instruments took place Sunday afternoon,
and was Intended as preparation for the opera,
ton. In washing the instruments, | overturned
the bottle of choIofOrm, and it went headong inlo
the basin, the cork coming out and all but one
ounce and quarter, or an ounce and a half, going
down in the sink. This was probably 3 o clock,
and after getting my instruments ready, went out
to secure some more chloroform. | went to a
drug stTe--I don't know where, but it was neal
the hotel. | asked for chloroform. The clerks
or some persons there had said was excited and
in hurry. This was not so. | sat down in a chair
in the drug store for more than quarter of an
hour, and was very leisurey about my business,
for there no hurry. If / am not
Mistaken had long conversation with
some one in the drug store when | got the chlOro-
form. | repaired to my room. Preller had been
in and out of my room and his own all the after,
noon. About O'Clock we began the operation |
administered chloroform in the usual way, holding
a saturated cloth to the nose. Preller passed
through the first stage all right 1t took several
moments, | don't know exactly how long, then he
entered second stage, and here terrible result
| came. discovered too late, he was dying. I'm
agine my horror when this fact dawned upon me
| was wild with fright, but had presence of mind
enough to cut the undershirt from the body, and
getting wet towel bathed him around the neck
and shoulders for half hour, or 80. did not
give up until was ready to drop from exhaustion,
ana my efforts were not relaxed until he had been
dead some time. All the clothes he had on at this
time were shirt and undershirt had stripped
him for the operation. What were my thoughts
when saw my friend was dead! What could |
dot did not know what to do except to drink.
drank everything | could get. | drank wine,
whisky, everything; What were, my
thoughts hsr ia tb.t ara hadn't an any " All a.,
first that fell into my hands-put the body in my
trunk, from which | had removed everything. /
put it into the trunk an hour after Prelers death.
What was done beside this have no recollection
of. Liquor and CONSERVATION had possession OF
me, and know only that my feelings were those
of the utmost sorrow. | remained in my room
that night, the same room in which the remains
were found. 1t would be useless for me to say
that slept, for did not and was glad when the
morning came. What did after leaving the room
you know, for it has all been printed"
"Was catheter found among your medical in
struments?'
81 don't know. | carried some of my instru-
ments away in yalise, and threw them into the
Pacific.
"llad you any plans about disposng of the
bodyY'
"None whatever. meant to leave it there, ex-
pectng that il would be discovered sooner than il
was, and thinking that the post mortem would
rpvpa1 ha of fact that PraIIpr had
met his death while undergoing such operation
as | have designated"
SLOW about Prellers money!
81 know nothing about Preller's money, | had
plenty of money of my own or else | couldn't have
made the long trip which die make
Mr. JenniAgs closed by stating that this is the
only synopsis of the full written statement in the
hands of Brooks counsel, which gives all the de-
tails of the Sunday occurrence in room l44, of the
Southern hotel, but the attorneys refused to give
written statement, and by their advice Brooks de-
clined to say any more.
According to his own statement the cutting off of
Prellers mOustache the description about traitors
found in the trunk, and all the queer incidents
connected with tue tragedy, are to be attributed to
his fear and crazeu condition after the fatality.
OPENING oE THE TRIAL.
ST. LOUIS, May 18.--The anticipation that Max
wells trial would begin in earnest to-day attracted
a large crowd to the criminal court rooms this
mOrAing. The work of the morning was to have
been the selection of jury from panel of A.
who we're selected last week from those summon
ed as to their ability to impartialy try the case
All but one of the panel of A were present when
court opened, but the absence of this one deaye
the proceedings, and the court issued writ de-
manding his presence. 1t was placed in the hands
of deputy who Immediately went IN search OF
the delinquent. At 30 o'clock the deputy returned
with his man, The prosecution and defense made
challenges, the former demanding the withdrawal
of 20 from the total of A. le latter I5 thus leave
ing II who compose the jury which will try the
case. The court then adjourned until 2:3O pm
|