Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-08-16

II. N; Brooks, alias C. Arthur PreUer.
MdrioeU.
Landgraf looked and moved like a log,
with halfsmile and a half sneer on his
face. There was no time lost In reaching
the scaffold which the condemned ascend
cd without assistance.
While his arms were being pinioned
Maxwell bit his lower lip aud gulped sew
eral times.
There was an awful look Of despair on
Maxwelps face as the cap hid II from view
and his knees showed weakness. Tbt
nooses were adjusted quickly, and at $50,
the drop fell.
Bandgraf was pronounced dead in eleven
and one-half minutes. Maxwell's struggle
continued for fourteen minutes, whom he
too, was pronounced dead by the attending
physicians.
Landgraf was cut down at 9:12H, Max
well at 9;lj. The bodies were removed Il
the morgue Office and photographed, after
which the post mortem was begun. II
was stated that the neck Of each man was
broken.
NAxwEII's CRIME
The crime for which Brooks alias Maxwell
was hanged was the killing OF Charles Arthur
Preller az the Southern Hotel 81. Louis. April
u lo7o. nuku NoltfAhl bronks tnAl ls MS true
name, was born In the little village OF Hyde,
near Man hester, England. his father teinp
Samuel Norton Brooks. a schoolmaster, OF good
family Young Brooks shaped under the
parental discipline and quiet life at Hyde. and
after tweniy-three years under the distasteful
restraint with only occasional gllmpses OF the
wider freedom he iohgud for, sliprud away
from home TO try life In America. His father
objected TO his venturiug into the great new
world, and NJ he got his trunks away by ste 18th
and left the parental roof at night. He made
his wuy 20 Liverpool, where he first met his
victim, Prellcr and where he first changed
his name 10 Maxwell - Walter Horace
Lennox Maxwell was the gaudy appella-
tion he fixed on. Charles Arthur Prel-
Ter was travelling man for London upholster-
ers-a man Of means, refined tastes and luxu-
rious habits. He and Maxwell sailed together
from Liverpool on the steamer Cephalonia and
on the trip became fast frieLds. Arriving in
this country they separated. but continued to
correspond. Toward the end OF March. ISIS
the Hyde schuolmaster's sou arrived at the
Southern Hotel In St. Louis, registered under
his assumed name and was assigned TO room
Ia Preller arrived shortly afterwards and the
two men. though they occupied sep, ,rate rooms
were continually together al meals, playing
pool m the billiard room and lounging about
the corridors. They agreed 10 go 10 Australia
together. discussed the details OF the trip ana
mapped out plans Of life together when they
should reach there.
On Sunday, April O. they we're seen together
In room ili by bell boy who was called there
by ring. " X Ross, travelling saicsmun.
w"o occupied the next roou- heard water run
ming IN No IA that afternoon and several times
heard groans. Twice that day Brooks bought
chloroform Of druggist named Fernon. The
eeond time be was excited aud impatient and
said that he had spilled that FIRST purchased
That evening Brooks appeared In the dining
room excited and distraIghL without his friend
He ordered a bountiful dinner but ate very lit
tie. To the head waiter he talked wildly. told
Of being in Turkey; said he killed a man there
once with his revolver and asked n one could
get on after killing a man. for $40 why &"
was the reply this is a civilized country. They
hang murderers here"
Next day Brooks bought trunk handbag
and two straps He went 10 Hart & Dun-s and
asked for bat that would make him look like
Yankee, saying his name was Tuwnk and he
was IN officer in the Turkish army. He got a
mouse-coiored slOuch hat. He went 20 q barber
shop and had his laard shaved on aud his ap-
pearanee otherwise altered. Here he said his
name was Maxwell and that he had taken part
In the RussO-Turkish war.
The Saturday previous Brooks had tried 10
raise money on hi, watch and two Woodbury.
stereopticon lanterns. On this Monday morn.
ing he had plenty Of money and after being
shaved he bought gold nmmed spectacles fnr
=, pair OF field glasses for 80, a set % mani.
cure instruments for fi5 diamond ring for -
and flute for g. He also purchased an un.
limited nrst class ticket TO San Francisco for
'ii6.
% The flight 70 San Francisco. thence TO New
Zealand, the discovery Of Prellers body Ia a
trunk, the pursuit, capture, return and indict.
ment OF the prisoner re already well j
facts.
A long trial followed, the details ~ ~
are familiar 10 the reader. II doat - rel.
Ter Was fully established. The p.i -r.t r tcsi4L
that lis Death wa the result Of o ciGeut iu a d.
minisierng ehlOr fun for disease. but on the
evidence was against this theory.
The jury found him guilty Of murder 10 the
hrst degree, and sentence Of death was passed
upon him
A motion for a new trial was denied and
fruitless appeal 70 the State Supreme Court
was made. Toe United States Supreme Court
was then petItlOned, also without effect The
prisoners lawyers then began 70 work on Coy
crnor horchOusc aud made strenuous efforts 10
enlist popu.ar sy.rpathY on behalf Of their
client The Ding'eldcr epls0 le Was played Tor
all u was WORTH but the impression remained
IN the public mind that however &c iiy "a piece of
work the prosecution had been gully ~ the
evidence WIS TOO strong Otherwise that Brooks
bad been guilty Of a d4sl..dly cr tc u the
murder ana robbery OF i,liOw c0untryman who
had be riended him Va o. strange land.
LAEpCRAFs CRIME
Henry LandFUit suffered &c de lth penalty
Tor crime committed on the rigit of March s
's3 The victim was his sweetheart. Annie
fisch, beautiful girl Of less than eighteen
Iears OF age. Jealousy prompted the deed