St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-08-18
THE END AT LAST.
Brooks Alias Maxwell Finally PAYS
the Penalty for Killing Preller,
And is Launched Into Eternity In Com.
pany with Henry Landgraf, the
Murderer OF Annie Tisch-
Maxwell's Crime.

ST. LOUIS, Aug 1.-Hugh NJ. Brooks,
alias Walter H. Lennox Maxwell, the
murderer of Charles Arthur Preller, and
Henry Landgraff, who killed his sweet
heart, Annie Tisch, are no more, the
sentence of the law having been executed
upon them at nine O'Clock yesterday
morning.
Maxwell spent his last evening on earth
smoking and talking with his guards. A
few minutes before midnight both pris-
oners retired and Landgraf slept until
morning. Maxwell awoke at two O'Clock
complaining of being cold. He drank a
cup Of coffee and spent the remainder of
the early morning hours reading Belassy' 8
True Virtue".
1t was half past FIVE O'Clock when
Father Than administered the sacra-
ment to Maxwell and Landgraf in
Maxwelps cell. Maxwell had given up
all hope and seemed resigned, but when
Sheriff Harrington granted delay unth
nine O'Clock to give the fullest oppor-
tunity for further respite, he frightened
up only to become resigned again when
the last hour came.
The hours Of vigil during the long night
waiting for the fatal approach Of dawn
were agonizing enough to the doomed
prisoners, but they were as nothing to the
short respite of three hours. Every
moment was an eternity, and yet the Sec
onds, the minutes and the hours few by
with terrible rapiditv. Doubtless the de-
lay was ordered by the sheriff in the
spirit of mercy and fair play and with
the intention that if Governor Morehouse
should change his mind about the respite
the reprieve would not come too late, but
nevertheless it meant the prolonging of
MaxwelPs agony.
When the postponement Of the execu-
ton was announced the deputies, by or
der of Sheriff Harrington, placed both
prisoners in MaxwelPs cell and shielded
them from observation. The contrast
between them was great indeedl Land
gratis phlegmatic nature bore him up
well in the terrible ordeal. His all
nights sleep had visibly refreshed
him, and he appeared cheerful.
Maxwell looked on the other hand as
though nine -tenths of his vitality were
gone. His hands were as cold as ice.
The relaxation to his overs trung nerves
caused by the unexpected delay left him
trembling like leaf. He managed to
force down a couple Of cups of
hot, strong coffee, which inspired
little warmth in his blood
less frame. His features, however,
still retained their haggard look; deep
lines were drawn about his mouth as he
had already in imagination suffered the
horrors Of thousand deaths. But twas
a physical rather than mental weaken
ing. the collapse Of the body rather than
Of the mind and heart. His voice did not
tremble, though it was lower and huskier
than Usual.
At S:46 a. m. squad OF police, in charge
Of Sergeant Campbell, marched into the
jail and formed a line from the gate to
the cells of Maxwell and Landgraf. who
had been rated by the guards few
minutes before. Through this lane then
marched a procession, Sheriff Har-
rington first, then Deputy Sheriff
Joseph Harrington with the death
warrants, then Deputy Sheriff Mike
Fortin with the pinioning ropes, and then
several other deputies. The death war;
rant was read by the sheriff to Maxwell
and Landgraf, and the arms of both were
tied behind them by Deputy Sheriff For
tin. Then there was cry of "back!"
and the crowd surged away from the cell
doors.
The procession left the cells at 8:53
a. m. In two minutes the deputy sher-
ifs and the doomed men were on the
scaffold.
The black caps were placed over their
heads neither saying word, the nooses
placed around their necks, and in another
minute the trap was sprung. Landgraf
fell six feet and Maxwell seven feet, and
the fall broke the neck of each. The
bodies hung motionless without jerk Of |
the limbs, as Doctors Priest and Jacob
son announced the varying pulsations.
Maxwell held his crucifx for six |
minutes, when it dropped from his nerve
less fingers. In thirteen minutes Land
graf was declared dead by DR.. jacobson,
put itswas four minutes after when DR..
Priest released his hold of Maxwell's
wrist saying: "He's gone"
Even in death Maxwell surprised OBJ
servers. The medical men had all pre-
iicted that his vitality would be found to
oe less than Landgraf's and he would die
Jooner.
Deputy Sheriff Michael Fortin stated
hat both Landgraf and Maxwell had
hown great bravery and fortitude, but
he calmness and control of Maxwell sur
,assed any thing of the kind he had ever
Witnessed. lit is not every man that
would exhibit nerve enough, when he lost
tep with me in the procession to catDh
lp with a trip as If he were leading lady
own Fourth street." said he.
The -sfice arrangements were perfect,
nd G lief Huebler and Captain, Joyce
eserN great praise foI the 1g1Af main
aimed. - y
Crowds gNhered outspe the principal
ntrance taAthe K'yourts about FIVE
'clock in taaHnaaorniAg and remained
atiently waiting u,sm after the drop fell
q the hope of cat Ming stray bits of in
a brief resume o., this most remarkable case
] Missouri jurisprudence may not be out OF
lace at this time. Hugh Mottram Brooks,
las w. II. Lennox Maxwell, alias Theodore
ecil d. AuQuier and G. "A PreIler, his victim |
ecame acquainted on the passage over from
'ngland on the steamship Cephalonia in the ,
arly part OF 1885. Brooks was endeavoring to
lake his way to New Zealand, where he ex-
ected to meet q profigate English acquaint-
nce-a curate named Evans-with whom he |
ad become involved in some shady transac-
on in the neighborhood OF his home at HYDE
.ngland. It transpired that Preller was head |
lg In the same direction ON business trip for
he firm for which ae was representa- |