THE ST LOUIS MURDER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1299, 27 July 1886, Page 2

THE ST LOUIS MURDER.

A despatch fron St Louis dated July 5 says;—When the jury In Maxwell’s case returned last night to the jury boxes Martin 8. Barnett was chosen Foreman, and Davis S. Childs Secretary. Barnett was supposed by many to be one who favoured defendant more than any other Ju r or, and when the first ballot was taken this belief was practically confirmed, for ho was among the throe who did not vote for a conviction. The second bal'ot was taken after some discussion, which resulted in bringing Barnett over t) a conviction, and ten to two for a conviction was announced. The votes in the succeeding ballots up to the time of the adjournment were identical wHh the latter and there was no prospect of a change. When the Criminal Court was convened at 10.15 o,clock this morning, the Deputy who had gone earlier in the day to see if the jnry were ready to make their report, entered the room and held a short consultation with Judge Van Magoner, who immediately called the next case on the docket. It became evident then that the jury were not unanimous. The first ballot taken this morning showed the fact that one more had decided upon conviction. 4bout noon the jury proceeded to take another ballot. After having argued with the obstinate member, the ballots were collected and counted by the Foreman, who found that i here was inscribed upon each the word “Guilty.” The Deputy was summoned and he wav told that the jury had a communication to make to the Court The Sheriff took the twelve men in, and led them to their seats, whore tlfly remained standing while the foreman from a slip of papi r vead —“We, the jury, find the prisoDC" guilty of murder in the first degree as set forth in the indictment.” The prisoner sat in his accustomed place between his attorneys. As soon approached, and no communication was received from the jury his hopefulness seemed to increase, for he knew thatehouldthejuryhango.it no ;h !• iger the g eat ;r were his ohanct B tor acquittal. When the announcement was made, however, that the jury wished to report, and they were brought into Court, he turned nervously in his chair to J look at their faces. He found no sign of encouragement there, and when the verdict was read his face blanched and h's eyes sought the floor, when they tetralned fixed. The remains of Preller are to be shipped to England for burial at the conclus'on of the trial. They have exhumed three times by the officers, and each time the body seemed to have decayed bat little. The nee of embalming fluid when'it was removed from the trunk seems to have preserved it. There was a d gonsslon when the murder was discovered as to the failure of Ffeller’s folks to rend for the body, but had they done so the ends of justice might have been thwarted. Preller was born on July sth, 1855, in Hertford, his father being a London silk dealer, who met with reverses, and retired to a small store. Charles was the fortunate one of the family ,and travailed over the world. His brother Alfred works for bis father. One si to:, Amelia, is a governess at Moscow, Russia ; and Franclsca, another sister, is nurse at the Episcopal Hospital for Children, London. All the family are Christians of the strictest type, and the young man who was killed here was a member of iho Plymouth Brethren, In his trunks are many volumes of Bible commentaries, and letters of introduction to members all over the world. His memoranda were written more in the spirit of a recluse than of a man of the world.