The St. Louis Murder.

Otago Witness, Issue 1751, 13 June 1885, Page 12

The St. Louis Murder.

Futtiset details regarding the Preller tragedy chow tbat tbe murder was committed on Eastet Sunday afternoon at the Southern Hotel, St. liouia, between 3 and 4 p.m. Maxwell is ascertained to» have purchaspd 6nz of chloroform from Fernow, a chemißt. The smell of ebloroform was found in the room whera the ramains of the murdered man wera. The trank was discovered Iby the bell-boy of theihotal, who had also endeavoured to purchased chlo«sform for a guest at the hotel on Saturday, and for Maxwell on Sunday, but both'wera refused. The bell-boy declined to give any explanation. The trunk in which the body was found was purchased by Maxwell on Monday afternoon. A man answering Maxwell's Hescription exactly entered 'he Fourth National Bank aud changed a bundle of Bank of England notes. Setting 1920d0l in exchange. It is proved laxwell was bard-np previously, and endeavoured to sell stereoscopic views, &c ; also, that Preller was in the habit of carrying large sums of money on hirr, which have disappeared. Preller'a father is » silk agerjt, carrying on business in Bond street, Cheap aide. At the inquest on the body, the post mortem showed that the internal were all healthy, but the stomach was infkmed and suspicions of poisoD having been administered are entertained. Preller was coming to New Zealand aud Australia. He had letters of introduction to B. Move, evangelist, care of W. li. Loea, New Zsaland, and John M'Grill, cara of A. Campbell, Napier, Maxvr«ll appears to hava known Preller in New To*&, Philadelphia, and Baltitr-'j.e, but avoided him there till Preller get out. Maxwell is said to bo connected with ■the fataily of Lord Farnham. It has "been aseartained that Maxwrll wsr a ■graduate at Oxford. Tha St. Louii police authorities are aornewhat exfrci-ed over tha fceavy expense which tho search for and pk'tradition order of Maxwrll will entail. The ■<>.able messages to Australia and Arcklar.d 4N.Z), consisting of lb'3 words, coat 3 10l 34 cents a word, or 4i4icJ, a&cJ it waa the most .explosive police nr-Bsapfo evnr sent out from a telegrcph-ofnco in this country. 'The secret snrvice fund of St Louis Ib Hxnall, barely sufficient to cover the cost of vhia message, alrhouph ex-Governor Critenden declares the Government can make use of the ■contingent fund of 25 J oCodol to hunt down criminals like thio. I" if proposed to fitart a publio subscription in St. Louis to defray the <axpenß6B of the capture of Maxwell. Oa May

6 the St. Louis autboiities loarnorl that Max well had buen ftmsted at; Auckland- 0> - i the 7tb the following appeared in ths S.in F.aacisco papora :: — *' Extradition payers wero prepared here to-day to be sent to Auckhml, Now Zealand, for Maxwell, the Southern Hotel rnurderar. No agent for the J3tal,o bvs yet boon appointed to go for Maxwsll, thnro Lieint: so mo doubt as to the manner of his bs'n T app> ; nt.ed. Tbern is no need for hurry, however, aa the) officoi 1 who goefi cannot 'civo San ±<'rancic-co before Juni 6 when ihßiitvct, Auckland steamer aaila. Tha Ciii->t of P >H;u telegraphed to Secretary Bayard ihi>i. an offi "ov will leave San Francisco for Mf\x\v&ll on .Tnao 6, am! iirging Mr Bayard, in coftj suoM m with the British Minister al Wa6h ; »s:f;oi J ,o -wo Maxwell ia uoc released on a tcrhnLalky until the officer arrived.

The New Zealand HoralcTß Luritlnu cwicjspondent writsa :— "There ir a r^jofu'. ppiwio conneeled with thianiurilor. Oo (ho ir»oi'«i»« \vhoD tbe inteliigonce of Ihe murder ay»iv.\ed in the London papers, the f.vthor uf l-'raUer was comiDg into the Cil-y by ti-;,lu r ro!ti his residence in one of the Bubr.rbf, iia'l optning his paper, Lis eye lighted on aa account o( a dreadful murder in tho United Stwios. H9 proceeded to read the accouat to bis fellow paeßßngers in the train, when ho suddenly atoppod as he came to the nwnp of the victim, and found that it was that of his u«-;n t.on