THE ST. LOUIS MURDER.

Kumara Times, Issue 2889, 8 January 1886, Page 3

THE ST. LOUIS MURDER.

THE FATHER'S INTERVIEW WITH . THE ACCUSED. A St. Louis paper of the 24th October, gives the following account of an interview of the father with the alleged murderer of Preller:— This morning, Samuel N. Brooks again met his son, Hugh Matham Brooks, alias Maxwell, the alleged murderer of Preller, the two coming together in the circuit attorney's office. This time the representatives of the press were allowed to witness their meeting. At sight of his father, the young man, whose face was pale with suppressed emotion, moved rapidly towards a chair, and, the father springing quickly to his feet at the same moment, they met and clasped hands The old man gave way, and flinging his left arm around his son's neck, he drew him to his breast. Maxwell's arms enfolded his father, and~ for a few moments they stood there silent. When they parted, each buried his face in his hands and wept bitterly. A chair was handed Maxwell, and father and son sat down, and, controlling themselves, finally entered into conversation, which lasted over an hour. The scene was devoid of sensational features, but the sight of the old and the young man meeting so far away from their home under such circumstances brought tears to the eyes of several of the bystanders. After the interview with the son was over, the old gentleman bade him an affectionate farewell, and left the building. He says—" Since I have talked with my boy I am more than ever of the opinion that he is not guilty of the crime with which he stands charged. He was always a good boy at home—a little wild, as young men will be, but uever displayed any disposition towards positive evil." During the course of further conversation Mr Brooks voluntarily made an allusion to the question of Prellei's life insurance, saying—"lt is known that Preller had an insurance on his life, and that it has not yet been paid."—"What was the amount of the insurance 1 ?" " Twelve hundred pounds (s6ooo)."—"And you know that is has not been paid ?■" " Now I cannot speak with absolute certainty on that subject. It is certain, however, that Preller carried the life insurance named, and that up to some weeks ago it had not been paid. Possibly it has been paid since, but I have not heard of such being the case."—" If you believe or know that your son had entered with Preller into a scheme to defraud an insurance company, would you advise him to tell the whole story of how it was doue]" " I would, most decidedly."—" Did vou ever know any of the Prellers?" "I never heard the name until it came up in connection with the alleged mur-der."—-The impression which the older Mr Brooks made upon all who saw him this morning v/as most favourable. His personal appearance is plain, but substantial, and his manner is so unpretentious and earnest and his conversation so simple and free that he enlists the sympathy of eveuyone who converses with him. The strong mutual affection which characterised the meeting between him and his son, and the old man's firmly-expressed belief in his son's innocence, have created a sympathy for the prisoner arouud the Four Courts building which no previous occurrence was able to call into existence.