The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-11
MAXWELL'S CRIME ATONED
The Murderer of Arthur Preller Suffers
the Extreme Penalty of the Law.
He Shows Great Mental Distress in His Last
Hours, and Repeats His Story that the
Killing Was Entirely U~nintentional.

daybreak Maxwell turned to one of the deputies
and said:
II wish shat telegram would come"
do you expect q telegram" was the re-
sponse.
II do. and know it will bring me good
news"
Soon after making the remark Maxwell threw
himself on the cot in his cell. but remained
sbsre only a few minutes. He then arose. light
sa a fresh cigarette and sat down at the table.
making q poor attempt tc read. He was plain
II i'll at ease, and occasionally glanced furtively
out through the ~eratings of the narrow window
of the cell and out into the inner yard of the
fail. At a few minutes before 5 o'clock Maxwell
performed his morning additions and donned
his funeral clothes. which were new from the
skin out, the outer Rarments being of plain
black. with a neatly lifting Prince Albert coat
At Sis Father Than arrived aud entered the
cell. the door of which was closed, and those
within the Jail moved away to give all the pri-
yacy possible. Father Than then administered
communion to the condemned. At the conclusion
OF the religious services IN Msxwells cell like
Offices were accorded Henry Lsndgraf by Father
THAN. Landgraf had occupied his cot a greater
portion OF the night after ll3O. and appeared
cool and collected He was neatly attired. but
his apparel was of coarser texture than that OF
the principal actor in the double execution.
While the father c~onfessor was administering
the communion to the condemned the deputy
sheriff s were engaged on the scaffold preparing
the apparatus for its work. At $50 Maxwell
and Landgraf sat down to their final meal,
which had bsen prepared by the jailsrs wife.
Each was served with like dishes, and the break
fast consisted Of fried oysters, fried eggs. hot
biscuits and pan cakes, with jelly. bread,
butter and coffee. Landgraf ate hear
lilly. while Maxwell 'partook of the
repast quite sparinely. AS he sat at the table
IL was plain to see that all of his assumed iudif-
ference had departed. and his face was blanched,
while a troubled, hunted look had taken pos
session of his keen eyes. He was evidently
growing weaker and had lost all hope Of staying
the executioner's hand. Landgraf maintained
the same old stolid look. At Cos Sheriff Har-
i~rington arrived at the Jail and announced that
the execution had been postponed two hours.
The only reason assigned was that the postpone
ment had been granted at the request Of Max
wells attorneys. Sheriff Harrington also stated
that under the law the men could be hanged at
any time between the hours of z and IL, and
that they would leave their cells at 9 o'clock.
Just across the street from the Jail, in the
Office of Martin 81 Fauntleroy, Maxwells attor-
neys, sat John /. Martin and A. j. P. Garesche.
the latter the attorney who voluntarily went to
jefferson City and made q plea for Maxwell to
Gov. Morehouse. To an Associated Press re-
porter Mr.. Martin said: ''We are waiting dis
patches from the British government, that is all
can say. Ii we do not receive them our last
hope is gone. have so informed Maxwell"
II don't hope for anything now said Mr..
, Garesche. 81 fear the worst must come"
When Mr.. Martin left the cell of his con-
demned client, after having notified him that all
hope wss Rore. Maxwell desired him to person
ally thank Mr.. Fauntleroy for him and gave him
following letter to Mr.. Martin for Mr.. Garesche.
The letter was written in q clear. bold hand.
ST. LOUIS. Aug. 8. 1888.
A. ). P. Garesche. Esq:
Dear sir-Perni me to express to you my heart
felt thanks for your assistance rendered to my attor-
neys in endeayoring TO obtain justice from Governor
Morehouse. 1 pray God that he may bless you for
The services you have rendered me. / am yours very
truly, HUGH Nj. BROOKS.
Maxwell received the news of the two hours
posrponement calmly, though an expression OF
great relief vas plainly visible on his features.
Landgraf paid no attention to it in any way.
The crowds on the house tops surrounding the
jailyard, where the execution 10 TO take place.
remained patiently in their elevated positions
from 3 A. n, until the hour OF execution. The
view was clear aud unobstructod from the roofs
of dozens OF buildings in the. vicinity, and hun
dreds of people took advantage of the Same. The
number of spectators admitted to the Jail was
unusually small. For the first time in the his
tory Of the ST. Louis Four Courts, telegraph in
were placed in the building by the
Associated Press and the leading papers OF the
city for the prompt transmission Of news to the
public, unusual interest being manifested in the
execution.
At $40 Mr.. Martin received the following tel
sgram which was delivered to MAXWELL
JEFr-RsON CRY, Aug. 10.
Hon. John I. Martin:
The Governor has received another telegram from
Minister West, but he persists in the same position.
Hold as long as possible, as we may hear in time.
Give my heartfelt sympathy to the accused and his
loved ones. Wire his father. P. w. FAUNTLERoY.
The receipt of this telegram created quite a
sensation, as it was the general opinion in and
about the Jail that the Governor would grant at
least a brief STAY. The message was immedi-
atsly conveyed TO Maxwell. He received it in
differently, the ashen hue on his face growing
deeper.
At SAT Sheriff Harr;gan, preceded by a de-
tail of police, entered the inner yard OF the jail,
and Landgraf had been placed to-
gether, and announced that the
final moment bad arrived. Maxwell
paled and pulled his fingers nsrvously. 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. Landgraf received
the warrant and pinioning stolidly. The pro-
cession to the scsffold was then formed, Father
Than walking between Maxwell and Langdraf,
preceded by Sheriff Harrington ana deputies
and followed by the police, the reporters and
witnesses. As Maxwell passed through the in
ner yard ne walked firmly but slowly. There
was a wonderful change from the apparently
uneorcerned man putting n cigarette and the one
en- route to his death. His face looked pinched
and drawn, of asheu hue, aud 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 a log, with a
half smile and half sneer on his face. There
was no time lost in reaching the scafold. which
the condemned assembled without assistance.
Maxwell was placed under the moose next
Twelfth street. Father Than read prayers.
Maxwell was asked if he had anything to say.
and in an almost insudible tone responded Mo-
Landeraf 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 MaxwelIs face as
the cap hiG IL from view, and his knees showed
weakness. The nooses were ad iusted quickly and
ut S:56 the drop fell Landgraf never moved.
nor did a muscle twitch. Not so with Maxwell.
When he fell his breast heaved convulsively and
his limbs were drawn upward, while the specta-
tors were shocked by a stream of blood pouring
down the right breast of his coat. WHICH was
afterward found 20 have been caused by a cut
on the nose inflicted bv the rope in some mystic
rious wav. Landgraf was pronounced dead in
eleven and one-hslf minuies. Maxwelrs strug-