Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-08-15
MAXWELL HANGED.

MAXWELL HANGED.
The Murderer OF Arthur G. Preller Pays
the Full Penalty for His Crlme.-He AS
serts HIS Innocence to tho Last-Land-
graf, = Woman-siayer, Dies on the Same
Gallows.
ST. Louis, Mo-, Aug. 11.-Hugh M.
Bro ks, alias Maxwell, the murderer of G..
Arthur Preller, was hanged in the Jail
yard Friday morning a. $3.50 o'clock.
Shortly after telegram was received
from Mr.. F0untleroy announcing that Gov
ernOr MOrehouse had received another dis
patch from the British minister, but re-
fused to take any action.
Shortly after o'clock Sheriff Harrington,
preceded by detail of police, entered the
inner yard of the jail and the sheriff en-
tered Maxwell's cell, where he and Land
graf had been placed together, and an
nounced that the final moment had arrived.
Maxwell paled and pulled his fingers
nervously. His was the first death
warrant read, and he stood up and heard
his doom calmly, though he was plainly
growing weaker all the time. While his
arms were being pinioned, Maxwell bit his
lower lip and gulped several times. Land
graf received the warrant and pinion-
ing as stolidly as man well could
The procession to the scaffold was
then formed, Father Than walking
between Maxwell and Landgraf, preceded
by Sheriff Harrington and deputies and
followed by the police. As Maxwell
passed through the inner yard he walked
firmly but slowly: There was wonderful
change from the apparently unconcerned
man putting cigarette, and the one en-
route to his death. His face looked
pinched and drawn, OF ashen. hue. and
his eyes were swollen He glanced about
him piteously, his lips twitching, and his
appearance was calculated to awaken the
pity Of even those who were firmly con-
WINGED he ought to die. Landgraf looked
and moved like log, with half smile
and half sheer on his face.
There was no time lost in reaching the
scaffold, which the condemned ascended
without assistance. Maxwell was placed
under the moose next Twelfth street.
Father Than read prayers. Maxwell was
then asked if he had any thing to say, and
in an almost inaudible tone responded
''No." Landgraf merely shook his head.
The black caps were being drawn when
Landgraf slipped backward, but promptly
recovered. There was an awful look of
despair on Maxwell's face as the cap hid
it from view, and his knees showed weak
ness. The nooses were adjusted quickly.
and at :56 the drop fell. Landgraf never
moved nor did muscle twitch. Not so
with Maxwell. When he fell his breast
heaved cOnvulsively and his limbs
were drawn upward, while the spec
tators were shocked to see stream Of
blood pouring down the right breast of
his coat, Which was afterward found to
have been caused by cut On the nose in
ficted by the rope in some mysterious
way. Landgraf was pronounced dead
in eleven and one half minutes. Max
wen's struggles continued for four
teen minutes, when he, too, was
pronounced dead by the attending ply
sicians. Landgraf was cut down at 9:l2;
moved to the morgue Office and photo
graphed, after which the post-mortem
commenced. It was stated by the ply
sicians that the neck Of each man was
broken.
The result Of the post norton was that
the necks of both Maxwell and Landgraf
were broken. Maxwelrs nose was broken,
and it is presumed he struck some part of
the gallows in the fall. Several OF the
smaller bones in his neck were fractured.
Early III the morning Maxwell furnished
document which he called his dying
statement In it he reasserts his innocence
Of the willful killing of Charles Arthur
Preller, and then gives an epitome of the
statement of the case as hereto
fore published, beginning with the ac-
quaintance formed in Liverpool with
Preller, detailing the death of Preller, his
own terror and flight, the pursuit, capt
ure, trial and conviction, and closing
with bitter denunciations of those whom
he asserts have been instrumental in
dragging him out of the highways of
justice into the by-paths of mob-law, and
making his execution an infamy and dis
grace to the United States
After the post-mOrtem the remains were
taken to the undertaking establishment of
George w. Lynch, embalmed, and pre-
pared for burial The casket was quietly
conveyed to Calvery Cemetery and placed
in vault for interment at later day.
Mrs. Brooks and daughter, mother and SIS
ter of the deceased, and John L Martin.
Maxwelrs attorney, accompanied the re-
mains to the city.
THE story Of Maxwel1s cruel murder of his
friend Preller, the pursuit OF the murderer,
his capture in New Zealand, his trial and siren
uous efforts to escape the halter have been re-
hearsed too often to require repetition.
The crime for which Henry Landgraf suf-
fered the death penalty was committed on the
night of March 5. 1885. The victim was his
sweetheart, Annie Tisch, beautiful girl Of
less than Ii years OF age. Jealousy
prompted the deed. On the day OF
the murder he took the girl out walking, with
the revolver with which he killed her in his
pocket. He suddenly turned and upbraided
her for keeping company with other men. She
merely laughed but with an oath he pulled out
his revolver and shot her through the head
He. was convicted and sentenced to be hanged.]
MANY LIVES LOST.
Chattanooga, Tenn, Visited by q Fire
Which Aecoinplishes u Sickening Work