The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-08-11
A Brief Statement of the Muir.
der OF Preller.
A DOUBLE HANGING BEE
Broke Their Necks I'm 4is
Last Statement Alleges Ris In
nocence-Yellow Fever.
Maxwell b anged.

|
which Hugh M. Brooks, alias Maxwell,
paid the extreme penalty of The law tbi.
morning, was the murder of Charles
Arthur Preller, at the Southern Hote
IN this city, on April 6, 1885. The 40.
qualntance between the two men began
in Liverpool, England, when both were
on their way to this country. Arriy-
ing On this side, they separated at Ros-
ton, Brooks coming to st. Louis and
registering as Walter Horace Lenncx
MaxWen. A few days later Preller ar
rived, and the two were thereafter 81
most constantly together. PreIler was
last seen alive on Sunday afternoon
April 9th, in MaxwelI's room, by the
bell boy. Twice that day Maxwell pur-
chased a large quantity of chloro-
form at drug store near by, telling
the druggist he was using in
in an experiment. The next day Max
well made number of purchases at
various places, spending money yerv
freely, although before ne had not an
peared to have an abundance of cash.
Among his purchases was a ticket to
San FRANCISCO. He left that night over
the st. Louis Il San Francisco road
Nothing was thought OF his sudden de-
parture until the l4th Of April. For
several days prior to that date chamber
maids nolced an Unpleasant odor
coming from room IA, and connected
1t Win Maxwells trunk. On the 14th
the smell became SO pronounced that
The trunks were removed TO a lower
door and opened. A BODY WAS found
which proved to be PreJier. On the
VTeast OF the body vas Il cross cur and
On the outside OF the trunk a card bore
the Inscription: so perish all traitors
to he great cause. TWAS an easy matter
TO trace Maxwell. In San Francisco he
rep tsented himself as +. s. Daugulre
as 4 french army officer. On Sunday
April 12tn, he sailed for New Zealand |
Oh the steamer Sydney. Detectives had |
been close on his track and when the |
steamer arrived ct Auckland be was
arr ested and returned 10 st. Louis.
The defence made at the trial was that
the death of Preiler was accidental he
having administered choroform pre-
TO an operation he was
about to perform. He fled because he
be would not be permitted to
testify In his own behalf. The most
damaging testimony against him was
That Of Detective Dingfelder, who be-
came his cellmate and confident, and
secured a confession Of the crime.
was found guilty and SEN
enced to hang. The history OF the {
many subsequent efforts to secure
lew trial or communication of sentence ,
re still fresh IN the public mind.
Maxwell's attorneys waited till the t
hn 6
dispatch from the British govern
nent which would induce further
aay OF proceedings. Maxwell received
he news OF two hours postponament
rom to 8 O'Clock calmly, though an q
Expression OF great relief wos plainly s
islble on his features. Lsndgrof paid =
o attention to it in any way. The /
rowds on the housetops surrounding .
be Jail yard where the execution was '
o take place remained patiently in ele- I
ated positions from am. until the !
our of the execution. The view was II
lear and unobstruGted from the roof
f dozens of buildings in the vicinity
nd hundreds of people took
dvantage of the same. The
lumber of spectators admitted Z
} the jail was unusually Q
mall. For the first time in the history Il
st. Louis -Four Courts, telegraph in d
were placed in the building
y the Associated Press for the prompt "
ansmlsslOn OF news to the public, I'M n
sual interest being manifested in the
lecution.
The crime for which Henry Landgraf
lffered the death penalty Yves COM
lltted on the night f March 5 1885, a.
he victim was his sweetheart, Annie c,
lseh, beautiful girl of less than Is T
ears. Jealousy prompted the deed. Il
The postponement of the execution T,
r two hours was made by the sheriff Il
the request of Maxwell's ATTORNEYS, h
ho hoped against hope for British in
rference. The announcement was
ade to Maxwell and Landgraf at
clock. Maxwell was nervous, pallid
Id i'll at ease in his last hours. He ate z
,aringly of breakfast, and shortly after Ia
O clock, having dressed himself in an h
ltire new suit and partook of the holy sc
Landgraf remained cool to
I'd collected throughout the night. to
g ate hearty breakfast and received
e sacrament soon after Brooks had
me so.
At O'Clock a telegram was received :.
0m Jefferson City, saying the Gov M
nor had received another dispatch Sc
om British Minister West In Brooks az
half, but declined to change his de- Fl
sion. At $40 the sheriff entered the m
II where Maxwell and Landgraf had bu
en- placed together and read the death
arrant. Maxwell paled perceptibly.
g showed evidence of increasing
,akness and as his arms were being
nioned lie bit his lips and gulped re
veral times. Landgraf remained !a'
Did. The procession to the scaffold ia
rmed with the sheriff and deputies in
ont, followed by the condemned men
tn priest between them; then the A
lice. then the reporters and witnesses. Tt
J they moved slowly Maxwell was or
teous sight, with an ashen pallor Or
his face, pinched and drawn, eyes m
'ollen and lips twitching. Landgraf Lii
owed like log, with half smile, half NJ
eer on his face. The priest read he
ayers. The men signiied they had +,
thing to say. Black caps were 81
avn down, as an awful look Of despair is
ssed over Maxwells face and his in
ees trembled. The nooses were ad- dr
sted and at Sc the drop fell. Land pt
af never moved a muscle thereafter. CIV
IT so with Maxwell. ne
When he fell his breast heaved con- Bi