Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-07-18

civilized land and no power in the courts
or the authorities can save him. No, will
not believe it,"
STORY OF THE CRIME.
Hugh M. Brooks, alias w. H. L. Maxwell,
murdered c. Arthur Preller in the South
ern Hotel, ST. Louis, April ID, 1885.
On January 10, 1885, Brooks, who was Of an
adventurous turn OF mind apparently. left his
home IN Stockport Cheshire, England. and
embarked for America. On the steamer he fell
In with Preller, who was travelling
salesman for the firm OF J. b. Dixon & Co.,
interest OF his employers. A warm friendship
sprang up between them. Brooks first
misstep was in falsifying his name He gave
1t to Preller as w. II. L. Maxwell and repre-
sented himself as physician. He played the
flute charmingly, and his friend was an ardent
lover OF music. This, together with his varied
accomplishments of onversation-having .
smattering OF most modern languages and be-
ing dabbler In science In superficial way
Wove web of complete fascination round
his fellow-voyager. Both were aesthetic in
manner and disposition, and drifted to each
other naturally. From New York they went to
Boston, Prellers business calling him thither.
There they separated for the time Preller
making tour of several Eastern cities and
the Canadas in the interest of the firm. On
April 8 he arrived in St. Louis. Brooks
had preceded him. They had correspondent
regularly, and he was apprised OF his
companions whereabouts. He met him at the
train, and registering at the Southern Hotel
the pair were together until thereafter the
murder. On Sunday, April s, Brooks purchased
four ounces OF chloroform on q prescrip.
ton written by himself. On Monday he
bought new trunk. On the same day he
invested in ticket to San Francisco, shaved
OF his beard, and left the hotel that even.
ing, saying that his friend was out in the coun.
fVu IN TpNoc6 A~a~s11 <h@ 80
IA became so offensive that an investigation
followed. In the trunk purchased by Brooks
the body Of Preller was found, dressed only in
drawers, and pinned to them a scrap Of paper
bearing the words:
$50 perish all traitors to the great csuse''
Inquiry was instituted for Brooks (Max,,
welrs) whereabouts. He was traced to San
Francisco. He was found to have registered
at the Palace Hotel under the name Of J. C.
d'Auquer. April IL he bought q steerage ticket
to Auckland, New Zealand. and sailed in the
afternoon on the City Of Sydney. The vessel
arrived on May s. but cablegram from Chief
Harrigan, Of St. Louis, had preceded the fugi.
into port. He was brought back and lodged
behind the bars in St. Louis on August 16.
The work had been expeditions aud effective.
Meanwhile the body OF Prel1er had been iden.
t!led Notwithstanding the fact that his mus.
tache had been shaved OF. The drawers
found on the body were marked III. M.
Brooks" A scar on his forehead re.
ceived in New York barbcr.shop, and To-
routo photograph prove the identity OF the re-
mains. Besides, an undershirt, which appar
emily had been cut from q body. and number
Of collars and cuffs marked &C. A. Preller,"
were discoveredin Brooks effects when arrest
edat Auckland. Thus q chain OF circumstan.
tial guilt was woven about the murderer.
For long time Brooks maintained an air OF
Innocence, but finally was induced to make .
Quasi.confession. He had felt that his safety
lay in silence. but at last thought it was
mistake and to reporter told the story
Of Preller's death. The latter had been
suffering from disease, he said, and .
surgical operation was necessary. Chloroform
had to be administered. In the sec.
ond stage the drug did its deadly work. Hor
rifled, he did not know what to do If Giscov.
cred he would be accused of murder. He
dumped the remains into the trunk and tool
to drinking deeply. The cutting Of the mus.
tache, the inscription about TRAITORS" and ali
the other odd incidents connected with his &C.
tons he attributed to liquor.
The trial was . tedious one, the entire coun
try-the world, for that matter-watched the
proceedings closely. He was condemned
to death finally. An appeal was taker
to the Supreme Court, but that body
refused to disturb the rulings Of the
court below. The delay, however, post.
poned the execution Of the chloroformer In
the in terval his father came over from Eng
land to intercede in his behalf. He is kindly
old & entleman and sincere in the belief Of his
sons innocence On March Z Of the present
year he issued q long appeal ITO the Americas
People," asserting BELIEF in his sons
innocence. AS result q monster petition
for interpretation by the Governor Of
Missouri was gotten up. It was signed
by people IN every walk in life and by siz
OF the jurymen who condemned the man to
death. On June Chief-Justice Norton, at
Jefferson City, NO., fixed the date Of his execu.
ton July Is. It would have occurred on the Sd
OF last August had not an appeal been made to
the limited States Qnnranna