Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-05-27
The TRUNK MYSTERY.
The Court Doors Futilly Locked
Against the Public.
THE NEWS LEAKS oUTALL THE SAME
Maxwell on the Stand - His De.
fense---His Story of the
Murder.

OF. LOUIS, may Zo.-Long peIore u
time for opening the proceedings Of th
Criminal Court arri-ed this morning
crowds of men and women anxious to hea
the opening of the defense in the Maxwell
case, and the testimony of the defendant
had coUgregsted around the -Four Courts
ALI the space around the door Of the Grim
inal Court room was occupied, the corri
dors and passageways were packed with
curious, would-be. spectators. and there
were many standing on the steps and side
walks who we're to gain an entrance even
to the building.
The Deputies appeared at nine o'clock
aud with difficulty forced their way through
the throng and opened the doors. A rush
for seats and standing room followed, and
ths widest disorder prevailed for time
All who were able to enter, did 80, but
there was large majority who were forced
to remain outside, 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, aud that
no one, not even the officers of the Court,
De allowed to enter or leave the room. All
means of communication, therefore, with
those who were fortunate or unfortunate
enough to gain admission were cut off
and the outside will remain in ignorance
of the proceedings until the Court shall ad
journ, which will not probably occur until
late in the afternoon, for after the defense
shall have stated their side of the case,
Maxwell will be put on the stand and the
recital of the testimony and the cross ex-
animation by the prosecution will doubt
less consume s-versl hours
Although the doors Of the court room
Sere locked by order OF the Judge, the pro-
ceedings OF TIE Maxwell trial were easily
obtained Mr.. Fountleroy opened for the
defense, and said
God and the boyish defendant alone
knew how Charles Arthur Preller met his
death. Now, this young man proposes TO
disclose to the jury all circumstances sur.
rounding the death of Preller. You have
been told how Maxwell and Preller became
intimate on board ssip. We wish to prove
that the defendant said in the presence OF
Mr.. Warren that he Was lawyer and had
acquired come knowledge OF medicine.
Maxwell was anxious to procure some en-
plo7ment, and was anxious 10 go to AuCk
land. At Boston, as an inexperienced
youth, he attempted to practice medicine
Maxwell did MOI represent to Preller that
he had the necessary money &c go TO
Auckland. Before Prel!er's arrival here
We find the defendant tryiDgt to raise money.
When Preller csms the friendship between
The two was renewed up to Sunday, April
9TH, 1885. TIE two were constantly 10
gether.
'We will show that Bhen trsller was in
the defendants room defendant undertook
to perform the operation. We will show
tba, while the defendant was administer.
ing chIoroform he discovered that he had
UPSET it. be then went to Fernows drug
STORE. and procured sufficient quantity Of
chloroform 10 perform the operation. When
he came back be administered some more
of the drug and inserted the catheter. AS
he did so Preller groaned, and the defend
ant, seeing that he wss suffering, sdninis.
tered raore OF the drug. While perform
ing the operation he noticed alarming
SYMPTOMS in the breathing of Preller aud
Immediately cut off bis patients shirt and
drawers, and commenced to beat him
about the chest, and endeavorod to restore
him to consciousness. Alter working for
some time on the body he found that bis
friend was dead.
Mr. Fouulleroy ~ss sill speaking when
this report was closed.
MAXWELL TESTIFIED:
1--WE reached Boston, February ?, and a.
ter three or touI days krellpr started on a
business trip. l had conversations and
correspondence with PrelIer about going
to New Zealand We agreed 10 meet ia
St Louis and 90 there together. told
him about my financial condition, telling
him ,hst had SlOQ, 81! told. | treated
PrelIer several til4es, medically, in Boston.
and nv letter ne Saaao a!adgsd as having
rcce;y.d decided b.Left from the treat
mant He kneR never practiced medi-
cine regularly. | never Used any deception
with him in this regard" The witness
then des srihsG
YARIOCS EVENTS
about Prelic- leaving Boston Tor CaraIa
about mis- own and PcslIers arrival in St.
Louis and stopping st tue south6rl 1o'ei'
that he had $50 when he arrived here;
how he tried TO pawn his things before
Prelier came; mis- visits TO FernoW's drug
store and his conversations With Furuow,
his Purchasing various articles OF him,
among them chlorcIorm and carbollc acid,
gaich 10 combination he used himself IN
fronting g bad tooth that troubled him;
that Preler aT!sed On FRIDAY
nr;or 10 I.4steE; R9E they
vent to try to cell his nsgic lantern ana
vgr;ous other occurrences, which took
mace between Friday and Sunday, all OF
uhicb are familiar to nearly everybody.
I'VE Mr. Prsller and ne said, made
two trips between the Southern hotel and
the Union D=pot where We at,
tsmpted to discoSeF the cause Of
the detention Of my trunk, which contained
the lantern and we're told he the baggage
man there that il SSs probably detained IN
Port Huron, Can, by the customs officer
We visited also the cp'ican il the eudeavor
70 ascertain if be would purchase the Ian
tern and slides VIXEN they shosld arrive.
From the time thai II. Pfellsr arrived IN
| s.. Louis down TO Easter Sunday We say
ures, deal Of eschctler. Wewere ss g former
witness stated were simoa insepsrsoie AM
visited bis room several times, but when We
were not looking sround the city or playing
pool we spent most Of our time in my roor
We played pool a great deal and whoever
lost The gsne paid for it. We played sbou
sven 60 the expense YES equally divided
We drank so@e but n9t much. De paic
Tor most Of the drinks.
On Easter Sunday, before / went to th
drug store, be snd | hsd conversation
about the performance OF an operation
heretofore aliudsd to aud slso day or tv
{ before. On SUNDAY Preller described hi
, pymptoas. ana e6nciEded that he va
: suffering from a s'tietaTe aud the beE
,e,hoi of treating him vas BY passing