THE ST. LOUIS MYSTERY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2073, 20 October 1885, Page 2

THE ST. LOUIS MYSTERY.

From inquiries nude in Knglund concerning tiic antecedents of the man calling himself Maxwell, who i-s now in custody at St. Louis on a charge of murdering a Bradford coninieicial traveller named Preller, it would appear that there is little doubt that lie is identical with a young man named Hugh Mottram Brooks, lately a solicitor practicing at Hyde, in Cheshire, and son of Mr S. M. Btooks, headmaster of St. George's Church Schools at tint place Btooks was formerly clerk with Messrs Brown and Ainsworfch, of Stoekport, and it is not more than eighteen months since that he passed his examination as solicitor, and commenced to practice in Hyde. He does not appear to have h.id much practice. In January last he announced that he had in hand a large law case in Dublin, which necessitated a \ isit first of all to London ; and one morning he left (Jodley by the London express, taking with him a bicycle or tricycle, a photographic apparatus belonging to Dr Sidebotham, of Hyde, and other things A month afterwaids Ins oilioe furniture was sold to his creditors. It was then runiouied that he had gone to America, but a& to tins there was no ceitainty. Shoitly after a cuiate at Hyde, who had been \cry intimate with Brooks, also left Hyde, and he and Brooks wcie subse quently seen in Paiis, by the employe s of a Hyde contractor— Biooka gi\ ing photographic cntei tamments, md the curate the description. It is established beyond question that Pi filer and Brooks weie acquainted in this country, and that they sailed together for America in the Cephalonia ; and it is equally ceitain that Btooks could not ha\e had a large sum of money in his possession .0 the time The couoboi itive testimony poiiK'.ng to 11. M Biooks as tin n imc of tli.-* .ill. yod murdeici is fin nished in this way: U lien Maxwell was aire-.tod be had in Int. po'-isxion a new watch, and that led the jutboutiiß to the conclusion that he inn'-t hd^e i'itht r sold or pledged an old Wrtleh Investigation led to tin- discoveiy of the mi-isin^ watch, the r .under ot which, 3,'2(>2 the name wiitten insuJe in ink, "H. M. Uiuuka, Inn l<'d to its iLcngmtion -xt J'<le the Mutch haxing been in the pours-ion, or one exactly tallying with it, ot M r Thomas Maddock, jeweller, Mniket place, Hyde, and was by him sold to Hugh Mottram Brooks some yens ago. Mr George Spencer, Hyde Lane, jeweller, has u\ n in his diaiy mi entry of the same watch having been eleaued by him for Brooks shortly before the latter left England. Brooks had on sex oral occasions taken part in diamatic pctfonnances at St. George * School, H^de, kept by his father, Mr S. M. Biooks, and curiosity brought to light the peculiar fact that "Maxwell" was one of the characters taken by him on one occasion, and that " D'Auguicr " was the name of a French tutor under whom he studied. Biooks's friends, while confessing that this is testimony of a remarkable character, still assort that it will conic out by-aud-by that his uami; has been most unjustifiably and cruelly used by the real nnuderer, Maxwell. The ticket taken from St. Louis by the alleged murderer, Maxwell, is said by the lailway authorities to have been "Hugh M. Brooks," and that they possess his signature. The endorsement on the ticket, and the name T. C. U'Auguier, signed on the hotel register, ore the same, according to the authority of American detectives. It iH thus trans parently clear thut D'Auguier is either Brooks, or Maxwell going under the alias of Books.

A notification ro tlie election of a councillor for Mir \V»ip,i County appears m|annthcr column Cl.ums for compensation for Und taken (or railway purposes trust be sent to the Public Works Oflice Auckland. Mr Jobn Knox, Hamilton, has beep appointed agent lor the s.ilc ot the Auckland Fro/en Me.it Company's manures, at Auckland prices, with fri'icht addrd. Air John Knox will sail at the Hamilton Auction Alart on !>aturday. a. large assortment ot drapery, clothing, product!, poultry, &c. He has fur prhatr ta ej a consignment of drapery, as per list, at 10 per cent, discount oil wholesale prices. Messrs W. J. Hunter and Co. will sell this day at Ohnupo Yards 300 good quiet steers from two to threo years old. Al»«« 40 choice brrd steer» turnip fed .nd off young grass. On Monday, No\cmb'r 2nd, they will s<-ll at tho Njruawahu sale, ona i ount of Mr Ihomas Pattorson, who has disposed of his farm, good d*iry cows, younpr calves, a number oi useful horses of all kinds, dray, implements, i.c. .Vr. Also, ul^er above, they will sell 200 head mixed cutlo. Intending sellers should communicate with thr nuctioqecrs, ift«r4cr tlitt <-att!o i\^y be %4?c(tise4«