Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-08-16

NJ" W
-acwhcn
"A delay until
- fullest oppor-
= sspite, he Frightened
up only signed again when
the last L.
The hours " the long night
waiting for roach OF dawn
were agon, ugh 70 the doomed
prisoners, but 10y were rs nothing 70 the
short respite OF three hourx Every
moment was an eternity. and yet the sec.
onds. the minutes and the hours few by
with terrible taplditv. Doubtless the de-
lay WAS ordered by the sheriff in the
spirit OF mercy aud fair play and with
the intention that IL Governor Morehouss
should change his mind about the respits
the reprieve would not come too late, but
nevertheless it meant the prolonging OF
MaxwelPs agony.
When the postponemeut OF tho erecu-
ton was announced the deputies, by or
der OF Sheriff Harrington. placed both
prisoners in Maxwsll's cell and shielded
them from observation. the contrast
between them was great indeed Land
grat's 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 tho other hand a.
though nine -teuths OF his vitality were
gone. His hands were as cold as ice.
The relaxation to his overstrung nerves
caused by the unexpected delay left him
trembling like a leaf He managed 70
force down q couple OF cups of
hot strong coffee, which inspired
hstle 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 q thousand deaths. But was
physical rather than q 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 huski1
than usual.
| At s:f5 g. 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 separated by the guards few
minutes before. Through this lane then
marched procession, Sheriff Har-
rington hrst, 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 $50
a N. In two minutes the deputy sher-
ifs and the doomed men were on the
scatold-
| 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. Landgrat
fell six feet and Maxwell seven feet. and
the fall broke the neck Of each The
bodies hung motionIess without jerk OF
the limbs as Doctors Priest and Jacob
sen announced the varying puIsations.
Maxwell held his crucifx for six
minutes. when it dropped from his nerve-
less fingers. In thirteen minutes Land
graz was declared dead by DR.. jacobson,
but IL was four minutes after when DR..
Priest released his hold OF MaxweI's
wrist. saying: "He's gone"
Even in death Maxwell surprised OBJ
servers. The medical men had all pre-
dicted that his vitality would be found TO
be less tn - randgrars and he would die
SOON
De sIchael Fortin stated
u aud Maxwell had
sh, sprtitude, but
tn Ill sur
passe- -~r
Witnessed. -
voGld exhibit nerve e.
. at. .xrffh In. fha
up with a trip as II he were leadfn. :. .s.ay
down Fourth street" said he.
The police arrangements were perfect.
and Chief Huebler and Captain Joyce
deserve great praise for the order main
tanned
Crowds gathered outside the principal
entrance TO the Four Courts about FIVE
o'clock In the morning and remained
patiently waiting until after the drop fell
in the hope OF catching stray bits Of in
formation
A brief resume Of this most remarkable case
N Missouri Jurisprudence may not BE- out OF
place as this time. Hugh Mottram Brooks.
alias w. II. Lennon MAXWELL. alias Theodore
Cecil a Auquier and c. A Preller. his victim,
became acquainted on the passage over from
England on the steamship Cephalonia IN the
early part Of fSs5. Brooks WAS endeavoring 70
make his way 70 New Zealand, where he ex-
pected 70 meet \ prob gate Engttxh acquaint-
anee-a curate named Evans-with whom he
had become involved in some shady transae-
ton in the neighoorhood OF his home At Hyde,
England Il trznspired that PreIIer was head
ing in the same direction on q business trip for
the nrm for which he was represeuta-
tive. and as PrelIer was well supplied with
funds aud Brooks was not. there arose the irst
incentive 70 cultivate PreIlers acquaintance
and friendship. This Brooks proceeded TO ac-
eomplish BY . course OF menfacfty and deceit
that would do credit to the most accom- pIished
American ouneo-steerer-
Arriving in America, Brooks remained Ia the
East while Preller iourneyed Westward. and by
appointment the two met At the Southern
Hotel. ST. Louis. about the beginning Of April,
1885 IL would seem that Brooks had BY this
time about reached the limit of his financial re-
sources. and desired 70 obtain assistance from
his friend 10 enable him 70 reach the destlna-
ton be had set cut f0r-New ZaaIand. PrelIer
though literally supplied with means for his
own needs. was not prepared 70 carry double,
And 50 intiuated 70 hls TREND, and then begza