THE ST. LOUIS MURDER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1275, 6 August 1886, Page 4

THE ST. LOUIS MURDER.

St. Louis, June 5,

When the jury in the case of Maxwell, charged with the murder of Charles Preller, returned last night to the jury boxes, Martin S, Barnett was chosen foreman and Davis S. Child Secretary. Barnett was sup* posed by many to be one who favored defendant more than any other juror ; aud when the first ballot was taken this belief was partially confirmed, for he was among the three that did not vote for a conviction. A second ballot was then taken after some discussion, which resulted in bringing Barnett over to a conviction, and 10 to 2 for conviction was announced as the vote. The succeeding ballots up to time for adjournment were idonti» cal with the latter, aud there was no prospect of a change. When the Criminal Court convened at 1015 o’clock this morning, the deputy sheriff, who had gone earlier in the day to see if the jury were ready to make a report, entered the room and held a short conversation with Judge Van Wagoner, who immediately called the next case on the docket. It became evident then that the jury were not unanimous. 1 he first ballot taken this morning showed the fact that one more had decided upon a conviction. About 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 there were inscribed upon each the word “ guilty.” The deputy was summoned, and he was told that the jury had a communication to make to the court. The sheriff took the 12 men in charge, and led them to their seats, where they remained standing, while the Foreman from a slip of paper read—“ We, the jury, find the prisoner guilty of murder in the first degree as set forth in the indictment.” ’ The prisoner sat in his accustomed place between his attorneys. As the noon hour approached and no communication was received from the jury, his hopefulness seemed to increase, for he knew that should the jury hang out much longer the greater were his chances for a new trial. 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 look at their faces. Ho found no sign of encouragement there, and when the verdict was read bis face blanched and his eyes sought the floor, where they remained fixed. The remains of Preller are to be shipped to England for burial at the conclusion of the trial. They have been exhumed three times by the officers, and each time the body seemed to have decayed bat little. The use of embalming fluid seems to have preserved it There was a discussion when the murder was discovered as to the failure of Preller’s folks to send for the body, but had they done so the ends of justice might have been thwarted. Preller was born on July 5, 1855, in Bradford, England, his father being a London silk merchant, who mot with reverses, and retired to a small store Charles was the fortunate one of the family, and travelled over the world. His brother Alfred works for his father. One sister, Amelia, is governess at Moscow, Kussia, and Francisco, another sister is nurse at the Episcopalian ' hospital for children, London. All ' the family are Christians of the strictj est type, and the young man who was 1 killed, hero was a member of the Ply- ! mouth Brethren. Jiff his trunks arc ; many volumes of Bible commentaries '■ and letters of introduction to members all over the world. His momor anda wore Written more in the spirit

of a recluse than as a man of .the world, and most all testify to the falsity of the charges made against him.