The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-27
HOW PRELLER WAS KILLED.
Brooks Takes the Stand and Gives His
Version Of the Hotel Tragedy.
He Gives Details Of His Acquaintance with
Z Preller, and Insists that the Latter's
Death Was Entirely Accidental.

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 defense In the
Maxwell case and the testimony of the defend
ant. had congregated around the Four Courts.
All Of the space around the door Of the criminal
room was occupied, the corridors and passage
ways were packed with curious would-be specta-
tors, and there were many standing on the steps
and sidewalks who were unable to gain entrance,
even to the building. The deputies appeared at
o'clock, and with difficulty forced their way
through the throng and opened the doors. A
rush for seats and standing-roon followed and
the widest disorder prevailed for time. All
who were able to enter did SO. but there was a
large majority who were forced to remain out
side every available foot Of space being occupied
within Immediately after the opening of the
court the Judge ordered that all the doors in the
room be closed and locked, and that no one. not
even the officers of the court be allowed to enter
crleavs the room. All means of communication,
therefore, with those who were fortunate or un-
fortunate enough to gain admission were cut off.
Mr.. Fauntleroy, for the Defense after the
routine business OF the court had been conclud-
ed, 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 Prel
Ter came to his death except the defendant, and
he proposed to disclose to the jury all the cir
cumstances attending II. After stating the man
ner in which Preller aud the defendant became
acquainted and the closeness of their friendship
thereafter. he stated that the defense intended
to prove that Mr. Preler was suffering from a
structure, and that the defendant foolishly un-
dertook to remove it. The defendant was IN
willing to perform the operation alone but Prel-
ler did not wish the nature of his ailment to be
known, and insisted that Maxwell should per-
form it. To lessen the pain he administered
chloroform. but in too large q quantity and
Death resulted; he cut the clothes from his
friends body and attempted to resuscitate him,
but failed. He said the defense would prove
that Preller know that Maxwell had no money,
and had promised to pay his expenses
to Auckland. Robbery, therefore, could
not have been motive fox causing his
friends death. which was, at any rate, acct
dental The remainder Of Mr.. Fauntleroy's
speech was devoted to description of his clients
action after the death of Prsller, and assigning
reasons therefor, all Of which was contained in
Maxwells confession made a few days ago.
Maxwell was then placed on the stand. He
was some degree of nervousness both in his
face and hands There was rustic through the
courtroom, and Judge Van Wagner, in brief
speech, demanded absolute quiet in the
audience. The witness then, in reply to ques-
tions by Mr. Fauntleroy, stated in substance as
follows:
my full name is Hugh NJ. Brooks; am
twenty five years old; was born in Hyde, Ches-
Ter England; l commenced to study law with
Mr. Brown, at Stockport near Hyde in 1873
and remained there four years; l am a lawyer
by profession. / also studied medicine and sur
gerry at the collegiate school at Manchester, but
am not a licensed physician. first met c.
Arthur Preller at the Northwestern Hotel at
Liverpool, but did not get acquainted with him
until met him on the steamer Cephalonia;
also met MIR. Warren on the steamer; Mr.
Preller and l were both Englishmen, csming
to 4 strange country, and our &C
quaintance rpened into a warm friend
ship. We talked much about our plans and pur
poseg for the future and our acquaintance
and friendship continued after our arrival
in this country. We reached Boston Feb. g.
Vbusiness trip had conversations and CORE
~spondence with Prelier about going to New Zea-
land. We agreed to meet in ST. Louis and 60
there together l told him about my financial
condition telling him in letter that had 800.
all told. treated Preller several times, med
cally, in Boston, and by letter, and he acknowl-
edged having received decided benefit from the
treatments: he knew that had never practiced
medicine regularly; never used any deception
with him in this regard"
The witness then described various events
about Preller leaving Boston for Canada, about
his own and Preller's arrival in st. Louis and
stopping at the Southern Hotel; that he had $50
TO $50 when he arrived here; how he tried to
pawn some of his things before Preller oame
bis visits to Fernews drug store, and his con-
versations with Fernow his purchasing various
articles, among them chloroform, which he used
himself in treating a bad tooth that troubled
him; that Preller arrived on the Friday prior to
Easter Sunday; how they went together to try to
sell his magic lantern and slides, and various
other occurrences which took place between Fri
day and Sunday, all Of which are familiar to
nearly everybody. The court then took re-
cess.
After recess the examination of the defendant
was continued. "We Mr.. Preer and l." he
said, made two trips between the Southern
Hotel and the Union Depot, where we attempted
TO discover the cause of the detention of nv
trunk, which contained the magic lantern, and
were told by the baggagemar there that it was
probably detained in Port Huron, Canada, by
the customs officers. We visited Aloe, the opti
clan. in an endeavor to ascertain if he would
purchase the lantern and slides when they should
arrive. From the time that Mr. Preller arrived
In St Louis down to Easter Sunday we saw
great deal OF each other; we were, as a former
witness has stated. almost inseparabie. visit
led his room several times, but when we were
not looking round the city or playing pool we
spent most OF our time In my room. We played
pool great DEAL and whoever lost the game
paid for it We played about even, SO the ex-
penss was abou. equally divided. We drank
some but not much. he paid for most of the
drinks Mr.. Preller was accustomed to call at
my room early in the morning and we would go
down to breakfast together, return to my room,
converse and smoke for WHILE and then 60
down to the rotunda On Easter Sunday, before
] went to the drug store, he and had CONVEX
Sation about the performance of the operation
heretofore alluded to- and also at times before
that Mr. Preller described to me his symptoms,
and concluded that he was suffering from
structure, and that the best methed of treat
took my authorities on medicine and
read to Mr.. Preller the directions
as to the proper methods Of administering
chloroform and refreshed my own mind as to
tl.s precautions to be used There are marginal
votaa IN ~ hotfnvu Of the 0sa 20 @ho k,n.&