The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1886-06-01
Tho Preller Murder.

ST. LOUIS, May 18th The Post-Depoted
publishes a statement made by H NJ
Brooks, alias Maxwell, now on trial for
the murder of c. Arthur Preller, which
will constitute his only defence and which
will be urged by his attorneys in the trial.
In word, he viii confess to killing Prel-
Ter by accident while acting as his physi
clan, and that being excited and frightened
he concealed instead of making known the
fact of the dead. 4e declares that he has
always wanted TO tell the facts and only
refrained by advice of his attorneys. the
following is Brooks statement: Mr.
Preller was suffering from private diseases
for which l had previously prescribed,
mixing the medicines myself from bottles
in the medicine chest which l carried
with me; but his ailment had reached a
stage when it was necessary to make GER
tain investigation. l was obliged to use a
cathoter, and, in using the catheter when
the parts were inflamed, / had previously
applied chloroform in order to produce a
condition of narcotism. l explained the
process to Preller and told him what L
should have to do. He was not only will
ing, but very anxious. for me to treat him
in this matter"
Brooks then tells of the purchase of
chloroform, which was spilled in the sink
on Sunday afternoon while he was wash
ing the instruments preparatory to opera
ton; Of his going to Fernows drug store
and buying more-denying incidentally
the statements that he there showed evil
dence of hurry and excitement, and con
tinues: about P. NJ. we began the ope-
ration. l administered the chloroform in
the usual way, holding saturated cloth
the first stage all right. 1t took several
minutes, don't know exactly how loag
Then he entered the second stage and
here the terrible result came. l discovered
too late, that he was dying Imagine my
horror when this fact dawned upon me.
l was wild with fright, but had presence
of marlborough to cut the shirt and under
shirt from, the body, and getting wet
towel, | beat him around the neck and
shoulders for half an hour or more. Ibid
not give up until was ready to drop
from exhaustion, and my efforts were not
relaxed until he had been dead some time.
All the clothes he had on at the time were
his shirt and undershirt. He had stripped
for the operation What did | do when [
saw my friend? What could l do?
didn't know what to do, except drink, and
drank freely. / drank everything l
could get-wine, whisky, everything.
What were my thoughts2 | had not any.
All L remember is / drew ON pair of
drawers, the first that fell into my hands,
and put the body into my trunk, from
which had removed everything. What
was done beside this have no recollec
ton of. Liquor and CONSERVATION had
possession of me, and / knew only that
my feelings were those of the utmost
horror. remainedIin my room that night
the same room in which the remains
were-and it would be a lie for me to say
l slept, for | did not, and / was glad when
came What did after leaving
my room you know, for it all has been
printed"
He says he supposed the postmortem
when the body was found would disclose
the nature of the operation and the cause
of death. According to his own story the
cutting off Prellers moustache, the in
scription about traitor found on the trunk
and all other queer incidents connected
with the tragedy are to be attributed to
his liquor and fear crazed condition after
the fatality.