The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-05-25
The Taking of Evidence Begun
Before Judge Van WACO
ner Yesterday.
Nothing New Developed, but it is
Not Encouraging for the
Defendant.

NUt LliCUul dSl uS lOl tHC
Defendant.
ST. Louis, Mo, May 1S.-The POst-Dis-
patck this afternoon prints a statement
made by II. NJ. Brooks, alias Maxwell, now
on trial for the murder OF c. Arthur Prel-
Ter. which will constitute the defence OF
Brooks, and which will be urged to the
utmost BY his attorneys In the trial.
The statement was made to John j. Jen-
nings. the present city editor of the Post
Disodtck, and it has been approved by
Brooks attorneys. Mr.. Jennings premises
the statement with some remarks, the chief
points of which are as follows: Maxwell's
explan alton of Preller's death is his only
defence. That explanation was made In
writing to lis attorneys, MesSrs. Martin q
Fauntleroy, many months ago, and Max
well will 60 on the witness stand and re-
peat it. In giving it, he said his desire all
along had been to
UNBURDEN HIMSELF
to the public and allow his actions previous
to and after the crime to substantiate his
declarations. These actions show that he
neither premeditated a crime nor tried
concealment from the moment of his arri-
val at the Southern hotel until his depart
ure for San Francisco. Every act and al
most every word OF his has been
the property Of the public, and
these acts and these words
from the strongest links in the chain of
circumstances which they have forged to
hold the culprit to his crime. "The only
act" said Maxwell, "about which there
has been any doubt at all has been the act
OF which am now accused. / recognize
naw as much as anybody that / made a
mistake in Withholding my defense, but
what could | do? | was here alone in a
strange world, with no one to advise me
but nv counsel, and followed the advice
they gave me to the letter"
"TRe attorney for the defense will not
DENY the identity of the remains, but will
acknowledge the death of Preller at
Maxwelrs hands and insist that the death
was due to sceident arising from circum-
stances which Preller himself had invited
Following is Brooks statement
THE DEFENDANTS STATEMENT.
Mr.. Preller was suffering from private
disease for which | had previously pre-
scribed, mixing the medicines myself from
the bottles In the medicine case L carried
with me. But his ailment had reached ;
stage when il was necessary for me to MAKE
certain investigation. Twas obliged to us
a catherer, and In using a catherer wheI
the parts were infamed ! had previousl,
applied chloroform in order to pro
Once condition Of naratocIsm
I used chloroform in thi
manner on man named Harrison In Liv
erpool without serious result. explained
the process to Mr.. Preller and told him
what ! should have to do. He was no
only willing, but was very anxious for M
to treat him in this manner. During tn
day / purchased four ounces of chloroform
which was standing in bottle on the edg
of NV washstand, when | was washing
some surgical instruments. This washin!
of instruments took place Sunday after
noon, and was intended as a preparation
for the operation. In washin!
the instruments | overturned tn,
BOTTLE OF CHLoRoFoRM,
md it went headlong into basin, the corI
oming out and all but about one ounc
md quarter, or an ounce and a hal
Soing down in the sink. This was probabl,
5 o'clock, and after getting my instrument
ready / went out to secrre some NOR
chIoroform. L went to the drug store
/ don't know where, but the store near tn,
hotel (Fernow's), and asked for the chloro
form. The clerks or some person
there have said that l was ex
cited and in a hurry. This wa
not so. sat down in a chair il
the store for more than quarter OF al
hour and was altogether very leisurel,
about NV business. for there was no huriy
/ am not mistaken. / had long CONVEX
sation with some one in the store. WheI
/ got the chloroform / repaired TO m,
room. Preiler had been In and out of m,
room and his own all the afternoon
About p N. We began the operation.
administered the chloroform in the usua
way, holding a saturated cloth to the nose
Preller passed through the first stage al
right. 1t took several minutes, | don
know exactly how long, then he entere,
the second stage and here
THE TERRIBLE RESULT CAME.
/ discovered too late that he was dying
Imaeide my horror when this fact dawne
upon me. was wild with fright, but ha
presence of mind enough to cut the shir
and undershirt from the body, and gettin
a wet towel, | beat him around the nee
for a half an hour or more. / did nc
give mp until was ready to drop from e1
haustion, and my efforts were not relaxe
until he had been dead for some time A
the clothes he had on at the tim
were his shirt and undershirt. He ha
stripped TO these for the operation. Wins
did do when saw my friend was dead
What could do? Ibid not know what
do except drink, and drank freely.
drank everything l could get-win
whnkey, everything. What were m