Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-05-19
ne Admits Prelier's Death, but
snva A. was nv Accident.

ne Admits PreIier,s Death, bat
says it was by Accident.
ST.. LOUIS, May ls.-The Post Dis.
patch prints statement made by Ii M.
Brooks, alias Maxwell, now on trial for
the murder of C. Arthur Preller, which
will constitute his only defense, and
VIII CHI will be urged by his attorney in
the trial. In a word; he will confess to
killing Preller by accident. while acting
as his physician, and that being fright
ened and excited, he concealed instead
OF making known the fact of his death.
He declares he has always wanted to
tell the facts, aud only refrained by the
advice of his attorneys. The following
is Brooks statement:
s'Mr. Preller was suffering from pri.
waite diseases, for which had previously
prescribed, mixing the medicines myself
from bottles in the medicine chest which
/ carried with me; but his ailment had
reached stage when 1t was necessary to
make certain investigations. was
Obliged to use q catheter, and in using
the catheter, when the parts were in
famed, had
PREVIOUSLY APPLIED cHLoRoF0RM,
In order to produce condition Of mar
catism. I explained the process to
Preller and told him what should have
to do. He was not only willing but was
very anxious for me to treat him In this
manner"
Brooks then tells OF the purchase OF
ehloroform, which was spilled in the
sink on Sunday afternoon while he was
washing the Instruments preparatory to
operations; of his going to Fernow's
drug store and buying more; denying
incidentally the statements that he there
showed evidsnces of hurry and excite.
ment, and continues: about P. NJ.
we began the operation. Iadmini tered
chloroforfn in the usual way, holding
saturated cloth to his nose. Mr.. Preiler
passed through the first stage all right.
1t took several moments, l don't know
exactly how long; then he entered the
second stage, and here
THE TERRIBLE RESULT CAME.
l discovered, too late, that he was dy.
ing. Imagine my horror when this fact
dawned upon me. j was wild with
fright, but had presence Of mind enough
to cut his shirt and undershirt from his
body. and getting a wet towel beat
him around the neck and shoulders for
half an hour or more. l did not
give up until / was ready to drop
from exhaustion, and my efforts
were not relaxed until he had been
dead some time. Ali the clothes he
had at the time were his shirt and under
shirt. He had stripped for the opera
ton. What did | do when saw my
friend dyingf What could l do ?
didn't know what to do, except to drink;
and / drank freely drank everything
/ could get, wine, whi-key, everything.
What were my thoughtsf l had not
any. All remember was that drew
on him a pair OF drawers, the
FIRST that fell into my hands, and
PUT THE BODY INTO NY TRUNK,
From which had removed everything.
What was done besides this | have no
recollection. Liquor and CONSERVATION
mad possession of me, and knew only
that my feelings were those oil the ut.
most horror | remained in my room
that night, the same room in which the
remains were and it would be
LIE FOR ME TO SAY
] slept, for did not, and l was glad
when morning came. What did after
leaving my room you know, for 1t all
has been printed"
lie says he supposed the post norton
when the body was found would disclose
the nature OF the operation and cause OF
death. According to his own story. the
cutting off Of Preller's moustache, the
inscription about "traitor" found in the
trunk. and all other queer things cou-
neoted with the tragedy are to be sttrib.
uted to his use of liqnor and fesr.crazcd
condition after the fatality