THE ST. LOUIS MURDER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1236, 6 November 1885, Page 3

THE ST. LOUIS MURDER.

Hugh M. Brooks, alias Maxwell, was to have had a preliminary examination on September 11 for the murder of C. A, Pre ler, but his lawyers asked for and obtained a continuance to October 19, which practically throws the case into the hands of the Grand Jury. It was whispered about that had the'examination proceeded the prosecution would have sprung a sensation. What that sensation was to be was only learned today. It was in the person of a witness who could positively identify the remains of the person found in the trunk in the Southern Hotel on Tuesday morning, April 14, as those of O. Arthur Prel ler. This witness was John A Frazier, junr., an artist and photographer, of Toronto, Canada. Mr Frazier became acquainted with the case in the following way:—About a month after the discovery of the murder at the Southern Hotel, Marshall F. Macdonald, Assistant Circuit Attorney, was called to Toronto on extradition business connected with a railroad embezzlement case. He stopped at the Rossin Bouse. He heard that Preller had spent some time in Toronto before coming to St. Louis, and thought he would inquire a little about his doings there. He so«n learned that while in Toronto Preller had stopped at the Rossin House, and that Mr Frazier had been his intimate companion while there. Determined to ascertain the extent of Mr Frazier’s knowledge on the subject, Mr Mac donald called at that gentleman’s photograph gallery. Mr Frazier was attending to his usual business. Drawing from his pocket a copy of the photograph of Preller, taken at the morgue iu this C'ty, Mr Macdonald said: “ I wanted to see if I could get this picture touched up a little. I understand that you do a little coloring of photographs occasionally.” “ Great heavens !” said Mr Fiazier, “ who are you, aud where did von get this pic tare 1 Whv, that’s Preller. who used to bo here, and was killed at St. Louis.” It was unnecessary to detail the conversation which followed, and which ended in Mr Macdonald’s belief that he had found a good witness for the prosecution in the case cf the State of Missouri v. Maxwell When it was thought that the time for the preliminary examination of Maxwell was at hand, Messrs Clover and Macdonald concluded that it would be well to secure the attendance of Mr Frazier. They sent for him, and he came, ar* riving here on Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning a very fine livery gig, drawn by two horses, and carrying four men, drove out to Bellefontaine Cemetery and directly to the grave of Preller, The four men were Messrs Clover, Mac Donald, Frazier, and a person in charge of some photo graphic apparatus, which lay iu the bottom of the vehicle. On the way to the cemetery Mr Frazier asked if anybody tad ever observed a small scar over one of Prellcr’s eyes—right or left—he could not remember which. Neither Mr Clover nor Mr Macdonald could remember an •• thing of this kind. “Well,” said Mr Frazier, “ the man I knew as Preller had a slight scar over one of his eyes 1 noticed it frequently when he wasplaying (he piano in the parlor of the Rossin House.” Half an hour after the arrival of the party at the grave the coffin was out of the earth, and tin re, sure enough, was a small scar perpendicularly over the left eye. It had been unnotice able in the photographs, but was plain enough to those who were toll to look for it. The coffin was set on end against a tree, the photographic apparatus was arranged, and a negative was taken, which afterwards produced better and more recognisable pictures than those produced at the morgue immediately after the discovery of the murder. The body was then re interred, and the party of four drove to the city. Mr Frazier, as related, was ready to take the witness stand yesterday, but the case was discontinued, and the Grand Jury will next take cognisance ol it.—* New Y ork Herald.’