THE ST. LOUIS MURDER. MAXWELL FOUND GUILTY. He is Convicted of Murder in the First Degree.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 163, 31 July 1886, Page 9

THE ST. LOUIS MURDER. MAXWELL FOUND GUILTY. He is Convicted of Murder in the First Degree.

St Leuis, June 5. When the jury in the Maxwell case returned last night to the jury-room, Martin S. Barnett was chosen foreman, and Davis S. Child, secrotary. Barnett was supposed by many to be the one who favoured the defendant more than any other juror, and when the first ballot was taken this belief was partially confirmed, for he was among the three who did not vote for conviction. A second ballot was taken after some discussion, which resulted in bringing Barnett over to conviction, and ten to two for conviction was announced as the vote. The succeeding ballots up to the time for adjournment' were identical with the latter, with no prospect for a change. When the Criminal Court convened at 10.15 o clock this morning the deputy, who had gone earlier m the day to see if the jury were ready to make a report, entered the room and held a short whispered conversation with Judge Van Wagoner, who immediately called- the next case on the docket. It became evident then that the j ury were not unanimous. The first ballot taken this morning showed the fact that one more had decided upon conviction. About noon the jury proceeded to take another ballot, after having argued with the obstinate members. The ballots were collected and counted by the foreman, who found that there .was 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 twelve 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, much 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, ho turned nervously in his chair to scan their countenances. He found no sign of encouragement there, and when the verdict was read his face blanched and his eyes sought the floor, where they remained fixed. The jury were polled, and each assented to the verdict, after which the judge dismissed them. The prisoner was taken to ma cell, where he will await the result of the motion for a new trial, which will be made upon the grounds of incom potency of the prosecution's witnesses and errors of the judge in his instructions to the jury. PREIiLER'S BODY SENT TO ENGLAND. The remains of C. Arthur Preller are to be shipped to England for burial, at the conclusion of tine trial. They have been exhumed three different times by the State's officers, and each time the body seemed to have decayed but little. The use of the embalming fluid upon it when it was removed from the trunk seems to have preserved it remarkably. There was considerable discussion at the time 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 July 5, 1855, in Bradford, England, his father, Emilius Preller, being a London silk merchant who met with reverses, and retired to a small store. Charles was the fortunate one of the family, and travelled all over the world. His brother Alfred ■works for his father. One sister, Amolia, is 'a governessat Moscow, Russia, and Francisca, another sister, is a 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 momber .of the Plymouth Brethren. In his trunks are many volumes of Bible commentaries, and letters of introduction to members all over the world. His memoranda, written more in the spirit of a recluse than of a man of the world, the music he had handled most, all testify to the falsity of the charges Brooks made against him.