Evening Star Newspaper, March 17, 1893, Page 2

PUBLISHED PAILY, EXCEPT SUND4Y, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 2101 Peazsyivania Avenue, corser 11th St., by ing Star Rowse f = et et iN, a sonensprsraarates Sew York Ofion 8 Potter Building RUPLE SREKT ST. $5.00. ‘AB $1.O0peryear {Entered at the Post Office at Ws second--lass mail matter. | eitagten, Di C... 00 Che Evening Star. §2~ Ail mail subscriptions must be paid in sdvance. Rates of advertising made known on application. Vor. 82, Na 20,522. *. WASHINGTON, D. C. FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1893, ing chain. READING THE DEATH WARRANT. ‘The warden entered the corridor at twenty minutes to 11 to read the death warrant. He interrupted the services which were being conducted by Rev. Mr. Parson. He stood at the head of the cot. Schnéider looked up ina dazed, dreamful way, as if he did not fully appreciate the awful doom approaching. ‘The warden removed his hat and said | “Howard, as warden of the United States jail, | it becomes my duty to read to you this death HANG EDS He then took the official paper from | his breast pocket and commenced to read, when he arrived at that portion reading “Hanged by the neck until dead.” Schneider bowed his head quickly and allowed the warden and his assistants to adjust the noose and pinion his arms. Meanwhile Mr. Parson was speaking words of consolation. Then the | scene in the cell was closed. THE PRISONER WALKED FIRMLY. At 10:40 the warden and his assistants came out of the cell and passed into the roturfda. The prisoner walked firmly with an officer on either side. Rev. Mr. Parson walked behind him. As soon as they passed into the rotunda the police first, and then the others present, fell in behind him. ‘The distance across the stone paved rotunda was quickly traversed and the crowd swarmed down behind the condemned man into the | gloomy court of death. As they passed down the court toward the | scafford Schneider walked almost without | a tremor. His face was of @ leaden color, ashy in its paleness, but his two hands, which were bound behind his back, seemed not to tremble in the slightest. BEGINNING OF THE END. Scenes at the Jail in the Early Morning. Around the jail this morning there was but little going on to show that there was anything ——.__. Howard Schneider's Death on the Scat. —_—-__- LAUNCHED INTO ETERNITY The Fatal Drop Fell at 10:52 O'clock. THE LAW VINDICATED through which the procession was to move stood | the family and he was with the condemned man clasping each other's bands so as to form a liv- | until the end came today. He walked with him to the scaffold and spoke prayer for the soul of the man who was about to come to an un- timely end. For several hours this morning Mr. Parson sat with Schneider upon the cot in the narrow cell. SCHNEIDER WEPT BITTERLY. Schneider wept bitterly and showed signs of a complete collapse. From a Bible that he had brought to the jail with him the minister read number of selected chapters that were ap- propriate to the occasion add that held out «| hope of salvetion in return for repentance com- ing even at the eleventh hour. Mr. Parson also brought with him a letter of farewell to Schneider that came from the mem- | bers of the distressed family. It was not a long letter, but it was infinitely ead and had a marked effect upon the young man. It wasa last word of good-bye from mother and brothers to the youngest of the family, whom they were | never to see in life again. ‘There was word of consolation, a word of hope, and yet the ones who wrote that last note knew when they were writing it that the next time they saw Howard Schneider it would be as a cold corpse. In response to request from the family Warden Burke ordered that no autopsy should be held over the dead body, and that as soon as the doctors were sure that death had come it should be turned over to the undertaker who was to prepare it for burial. THE UNDERTAKER AND THE COFFIN. At 10 o'clock the undertaker appeared in the rotunda with the coffin. It was carried past within few feet of where the living man still sat in his cell, It was a plain rosewood box with no inscription upon the lid. It was placed in the adjoining corridor near the scaffold, and im- mediately after the body’ was cut down it was laid 1m the coffin and shortly after was re- moved from the jail. THE PROCESSION TO THE SCAFFOLD. The procession to the scaffold was a small one. Mr. Burke went to Schneider's cell and All Eforts to Secure Clemency Unavailing, SCENES AT THE JAIL ree How the Contemned Man Met His Fate. HIS LAST MOMENTS ONEART 4 | | Eforis to Aimivister tie Consolation of unusual on for the day. As the sun rose over the river and broke through the haze of early | Then he turned and Schneider was led out dawn it fell through the high windows of the| from his room. They started on their corridors and brought intostrong relief the out-| short and distressing walk. First came the lines of the scaffold against the background of | warden of the jail. Beside him walked Mr. binek cloth. Strong, the guard who adjusted the rope about The scaffold was a ghastly but businesslike | Schneider's neck. Then came Schneider him- arrangement of wood. iron and rope. It was self, staggering along and supported on either painted brown, and but for the unpleasant uses | side by one of the guards of the jail. Then to which it is put would look very much like an came the minister, followed by two guards in ordinary platform. It was way atthe end of | case their services might be needed. This | the northeastern narrow corridor, the brick | was ali. i | floors of which were colored a brilliant red, in| The line of marc: was from the southeast |contrast to the glaring whitewashed walls | Corridor through the big rotunda and into the |The scaffold was eleven feet high. ‘The ‘orthwest corridor, in which the execution |rope which loosed the drop ran over! took place. A squad of twenty-six policemen, a pulley on the platform into an Under command of Sergt. Acton of the fifth | adjoining cell, the window of which Precinct, maintained order and cleared a pas- opened directly upon the seaffold, only a foot | *#geway throngh the crowd for the little group or two distant. The window was curtained off of men to pass along. and through it ran the rope. It was impossible| About an hour before the execution Schnei- to see into the cell from the corridor. and within der was given a milk punch. sat the unknown man who, at the given signal, | Dourichment he had been able to take during pulled the rope and released the 4 by 5-foot the day and he swallowed it with an apparent drop, upon which stood the condemned man. | relish. The whole act was stariling in its simplicity. | During Schneider's last hour upon earth Rev. With the mere pulling of a cord the soul of | Mr. Parson and the colored evangelist, Mr. young man was sent back to its Maker to| Roberts, were with him. Mr. Roberts sung a jesus Save Me.” and endeavored to Schneider repeat the words after him, his | efforts being crowned with some measure of | success. The two men prayed earnestly and exhorted him in stirring words, but to the end their advances were met in only a haif-hearted manner. Schneider went to his doom as be had REFUSED HIS BREAKFAST. During the early hours of the morning hneider sat upon the edge of his cot and at rvals conversed with the guard who was sit- | outside the door of the cell. It was the Religion. STS3Y OF HIS CRIME. ‘The Incidents of the Double Tragedy Ke- eal'ed—The Long Tria!—Fruitless Attempts of His Counsel to Save Him From the Death Penalty. eh Dre arene Howard J. Schneider, the convicted mur- dexer, paid the penalty of his crime upon the scaffold this morning. “Petween the hours of 8 and 12 o'clock. said th> sentence of the court. It was at 10:40) HOWARD J. SCHNEIDER. @elock this morning that the man whose crime hasattracted more interest in this city than any other since the murder of a President, mounted the scaffold. At 10:52 the drop fell and @ young man who might have been an honor to the community and a credit to his family euffered an ignominious death. A SCENE OF DEEP INTEREST. ‘The scene about the jail became of deep in- terest. Shortly after 10 o'clock there were ‘erowds on the commons outside and every high point on the north side of the jail had its group of spectators. . Inside about 150 people were gathered in the totands of the prison. There wasa group of people about the end of the corridor whe Sebneider was confined, listening eagerly for jurcrs after the body was lowered in the coffin: | Wasa tremendous demand from sll sides for | every word of news that came out from the cell . ‘As the hand of the clock spproached the ka!f hour the ©" eisis formed the line, extending across the rotuads to the doorway of the court, at the end of which stood the gallows, grimly waiting Yor its vietim. A fearfal silence fell yarch. 1898. to witness the execution of How- | It was 4 quiet assemblage. There is some- it was known ard J. Schneider, and we do further certify that | thing awe-inspiring in death of this sort im-| ever the crowd, as a ee for the man so soon ‘This silence was broken in s weird way by « dol- erous wail of = score of voices raised by the prisoners in the north corridor, who seemed to be under some excitement. lived for the past year, apparently oblivioye final death watch, that had been maintained for | 4.9 carctess, ‘out intermission. A light | re: of tea and toast was taken to| the cell, but Schneider refused to touch | it. The sentence of the court named the time of execution as between 8 | o'clock and noon, but it was known that the banging would not take piace within the first | two hours at any rate. Warden Burke was | determined there should be no undue haste. | He would wait until it was certain that there was no chance of a respite being granted from the White House. This was not looked for. however, and it was thought that the execution would take place | about 10:30 o'clock. ‘The decision of the Presi- , dent last night not to interzere was looked upon | as final and beyond all recall. REV. MR. PARSON RETURNS. Alittle after So'cléck Rev. Mr. Parson ar- rived at the jail and was at once taken to Schneider's ceil. The reception he met with | B. Scaffold. A. Rope trouch. C. Cell where trap is was practically the same as he has had on the | : occasion of his other visits. By this time the | sun was obscured by the haze once more and the jail corridors looked gloomy in their bare- dramatic in the extreme. Up to the last ness. Everything was neat and clean in the minute it was believed that the President aateieen would grant at least a brief respite to the con- | All through the morning the telephone bell ‘demned man. This he refused to do. Yester- | im the warden’s office kept up @ constant ring- Ay every effort to save the man had been ex- ing and the officials at the jail were kept busy bausted and the President came to the conclu- answering questions of every description from *!0n that the sentence was a just one, and that people who wanted to know just what hour the | if capital punishment be right Schneider justly execution would occur. The carriages and deserved to suffer the extreme penalty of the cabs began to arrive up to the west door of the 2. jail to deposit their loads of those who had re- _ There was nothing left but to carry the sen- DRAMATIC SCENES IN THE PRISON. ‘The scenes in the prison this morning were hanged in the northeast corridor of the the corner where so many other crim ‘They stood about the rotunda in the office waiting for the word to be given that Warden in tend Os Gal wee scaffold was erected in the northeast corner of SuVAik Udictalind @ Sie Mem. the building and was the same structure that ‘The scaffold is that erected shortly after the Ws used for the execution of Guiteau, present structure was opened and the first vic- Schneider was the tweifth man to die upon it. tim was James Madison Wyatt Stone for the Death upon the scaffold hasever been looked murder of his wife. It was then’erected out- “ponas shameful, but rarely. if ever. has it side of the jail and Stone's head was cut off by been surrounded with more of ghastly interest the rope. Since then it has been used in the | than was attracted by the death of this man to- execution of the following: day. The crime was one of the most sensa- Edward Queenan and Bebe Bedford, Novem- ‘inal in the annals of the city. The sequel to ber 19, 1880; Charles Guiteau, for the assassina- *e horribie tragedy was no less remarkable. tion of President Garfield, July 30; Charles THE WITNYSSES OF THE Last ACT. Shaw, June 19, 1883; John Seangster. alias Hud- | Would Schneider maintain air of stolid son, May 15, 1885; Louis Sommerfeld, April indifference that be has kept up so long and go 90, 1886; Richard Dee, April 30, 1886: Antonio to his denth like an ox to the block? Would he Mardello, alias Frank Roses, May 23, 1886; Nel- Struggle and do ail in his power to avert the son Colbert, May 1, 1839; Benj. Hawkins, May awfulend or would he give out utterly and 29, 1890. | then be carried to the scaffold like a log? These CERTIFICATE OF THE JURORS. and many other such quesgions have been dis- The following certificaté’was signed by the cussed by every one for weeks past. There Waapes’s Orrice, Uxirep States Jam, admission to the jail to witness the closing City or Wasntxotox, March 17, 1898.—We, | scene in the tragedy, but Warden Burke kept the undersigned citizens of the District of the attendance down within the limits pre- Columbia, hereby certify that we were i thin as jurors at the said jail on the 17th day of | the hall this morning was by no means the said Howard J. Schneider was hanged by | Doeed upon man by man and each one realized the neck until he was dead, in our presence, | that he was in the presence of the grim angel | within the walls of the said jail; between the coming in its most awful and solemn form. | hours of 8 o'clock post meridian and 12 o'clock ‘THE FINAL PREPARATIONS. | meridian of the sald 17th day of March, A. D.| ‘This morning all the prisoners who were con- | 1898. As witness our hands and seals the day and | fined in ceils that opened upon the corridor in | year above written. which the execution took place were removed ‘THE DEATH WaRmaxt. | to cells in another corridor, whére they could While all this was transpiring in the more | not see the execution. The long windows in public part of the jail Rev. Mr. Parson was sit-| the corridor that run up almost to & standing by the door read the death warrant. | It was the only | [ceived invitations to attend the execution. tence of the court into effect. Schneider was | shave | Burke had gone to the condemned man’s ceili P#id the penalty for their misdoings. The | sides of the building and divided in the penter | by the big rotunda. It was in one of these corridors, within the walls and beneath the roof | of the jail, that the execution of Howard Schneider took place this morning; It was the first execution that has taken place at the jail since Mr. Burke has been the warden of the institution. It was not the first time thet be has had under his charge men con- demned to suffer by the rope, but in; the other cases executive clemency has been extended and the men have had their sentences commuted to imprisonment in the penitentiary | in aseemly and proper manner and the warden and bis men performed their hard and unwel- come task in a very ercditable way. It was simply a matter of duty with them. Another | name has been added to the list of those who within the grim stone walls of the jail have | proved that the way of the transgressor is hard, and that he who takes life must expect to forfeit his own. THE FINAL EFFORT FOR CLEMEXCY. Last night the men who have interested them- selves so deeply in their efforts to secure a reprieve for Schneider were at the White House again and had a conference with the President. Once more he refused to interfere with th course of justice. With the announcement of this as his final decision the last thread of hope for the condemned man was snapped. The fact that there would be no commutation or re- prieve was at once made known to the officials at the jail and the final preparations were pushed to completion. There was little left to be done. For days past the death watch had been kept up, and at all times a man kas sat just outside the door of Schneider's cell. Any effort on his part to cheat the gallows, if he has ever entertained such an idea, could have been instantiy frus- ! trated, The death watch was kept up for the last time. LAST NIGHT ON EARTH. Everything was managed | Apparently Some Kestful Sleep—Efforts of Sehneider’s Spiritual Advisers. The story of Howard J. Schneider's last night on earfy was an uneventful one in most re- spects, for it was passed as are the last nights on earth of most condemned criminals—in sleep and in conversation with relatives, clergy- | men and the dreaded death watch. j As the light of day gave way to that of night | Schneider threw himself down upon his narrow cot and at 7:15 dropped asleep, sleeping for forty minutes. After this short rest Schneider awoke to remain awske until shortly after mid night, when he again threw himself, withou! removing his clothing, upon his cot, soon fall. ing into apparently restful sleep, which lasted | until just as the clock struck 3, | I APPARENTLY RESTFUL SLEEP. His slumbers were apparently peaceful. he dreamed it must have been pleasant dreams, | for his chest moved regularly and easily and he gave no sign of the thoughts of his last to- | morrow and its horrible ending by the fatal rope. Perhaps he was again a lover at the side ot that sweet, gentle girl who gave him her young love and heart, and who, though dis- carded, shot to death by him, had, when giving up her life, remembered him and had whis- | pered to those about her: ‘When I am dead let my husband see my body, for it may be the means of reforming him.’” But though his sleep was rest, though his dreams were of peace and happiness, bis awak- ing.was the taking of another s:ep toward the ing scaffold and the plunging into eterni Yet, horribie as was the awakening. almost | total unconcern and indifference marked bi conduct. But as the hours remaining to him ly passed away, that unconcern and indif- terence grew less marked and it was whixpered: “He is breaking dorn at Iast, Soon he will throw aside the mask he has worn so long.” THE COLORED EVANGELIST. Shortly after Schneider awoke from his short nap the colored evangelist, the Rev. John Roberts, who had been requested by Schneider to cal! to see him. arrived at the jail and spens the night there. On bis arrival he went almost immediately to the man’s cell, and for quite awhile talked rayed with him. Mr. Roberts also rey a number of hymns and read several selections of Scripture to him, ‘A SOMDER PICTURE. | Thegreat prison was shrouded in almost total darkness, the immense retunda being dimly hghted by a few flickering gas jets, All else was darkness, a darkness which was intensified by the aimost utter sileuce prevailing. A single gas jet burned at the entrance to the corridor | in the roath wing, in which Schneider's cell was ed, and just outside his cell doora !antern placed on the floor, but so situated a: to throw its light into the cell, in a email rocking chair in the corridor, just opposite the cell door, sat the death watch. placed there to preserve until the fata! hour the life sought to | | Vitfdicate the majesty of the law. THE PRISONER'S BROTHER WILL. The Rev. Mr. Roberts remained at the door of Schneider's cell doing what he could to con- sole and bring the condemned man to repent- ance until about 8:30. when Mr. Wiiliam Schneider, the prisoner's brother, arrived in company with Mr. A. W. Wishard of Indian- | opolis, 1 Both went to Schneider's ceil door and conversed with him for a little while. Then Mr, Wishard left the two brothers together, the officer officiating as the death watch stand- ng beside them. The brothers remained in | if | conversation until 10:30, when th Mr. Parson, coming direct from ihe White House, ince.ligence that the President had for che last time . ‘The y affected by the ed by ‘THe Sta sto Mr. Parson pie time before he could Limself to bid his unfortu- i ED MIS POSITION. Schneider undoubtedly realized nis position, for he not only snook hands with his brother, but also requested him to kiss him good-bye and give his love to their mother. The then appar- ently hopeless men pathetically beseeched his brother to bring his mother down to see him in | the morning, and the grief-stricken brother left, unable to inform him that their poor mother would probably never look upon him again in ‘ore leaving the jail for the night William Schneider complained bitterly of the President's action and of the course of the prosecution, saying that the case had been railrcaded throngh and that they bad been chance whatever to save Howard. | | “No chance?” inquired Mr. Parson, but Mr. | Schneider made no reply. TEV. MR. PAESON TALKS TO SCHNEIDEM. Mr. Parson then visited the condemned man, remaining nearly an hour with him conversing | with him upon his spiritual welfare. ‘The min- ister left the prisoner at midnight, promising | tosoon return. Before leaving he siatedto Tax | Stam reporter that he had not told Sebneider of the President's final refusal to interfere. He | said that Schneider bad listened attentively to | all be bad eid to him, and thathe had more hope than eyer before of bringing the miser- able man to & proper realization of his position. Early in ev Guard H, H. Smith, acting as the death watch, read several selec- tions of the Seriptures ‘to Schneider, one of them being the story of the son. The prisoner paid marked attention to all he heard | and, at the suggestion of the officer, repeated the ontreaty, “God, have merey soul,” number times, bis i isl | of Taz Sram that ee | Dowea tia end. "Sa. ton, when tos divine repeated the “Bock of Agel” : and “‘The Home of the Boul.” i ‘THE DAWN OF Day. — ‘When Schneider awoke at 8 o'clock this ‘morning from his second nap, after resting | three hours, the Bev. Mr, Parson, who hed re-~ turned to the jail an hour before that, at once went to the cell and drew him into éonversa- tion. So engaged was the faithful man of God and the trembling man beside him when the rising sun first brightened the eastern “horizo and the dawn of the young murderer's last day on earth. ‘The first sign in the prisonof the approach of day was the from their cells at 4 o'clock of the prisoners who do duty in the kitchen. They first prepared a substantial breakfast for the officers of the prison, of which the representatives of the daily press of the city also partook, and then the cook began the reparation of the prisoners’ first meal of the Vv. By this time, 6 o'clock, it was quite light, and one by one the lights were extinguished in the prison. Still the minister and his charge held their whispered conversation through the grated iron work of the cell door. So they con- ) Yersed until 6:30, when the clergymen left the doomed man with his death watch. A few minutes before this the steward of the Jail prepared a piece of toast and a cup of tea for Schneider and carried it in to him. Mr. | Parson asked him if he would not like to take it, but he declined, saying that he did not care tor it. A TALK WITH DR. PARSON. Upon leaving Schneider's cell door this morn- ing Tae Sran reporter mquired of Mr. Parson if the man had evidenced during his Inst ex- AS HE WOULD SIT FOR HOURS. tended conversation with him any change what- ever. “Tfound the man,” the clergyman replied, “just about as I had heretofore.” “You mean to say,” inquired the reporter, “that he gave no response to your entreati “Ihave already stated,” answered } son, “all I care to all I feel I should . Par- say in | the matter.” ill you state whether or not Schneider made a confession to you respecting the crime, Mr. Parson?” inquired the reporter. “Thave, as Ihave told you, nothing to say. T feel that it would not be proper for me to do even if I had anything to say,” was the non- ommittal reply of the clergyman. Mr. Parson then left the prison for his honie, saying that he would return in an hour's time. The colored minister, Mr. Roberts, went to Schneider's cell when Mr. Parson left, and, after shaking hands with him, sang the hymn: Savior, more than life to me, I'm clinging. clinging, clo:e toTheo; Let Thy precious blood applied Keep me ever, ever, near Thy side. As the minister sang Schneider reclined upon his cot, apparentiy deeply moved by the grand old hymn. HIS LIFE IN JAIL. Apparent Indifference to What Transpired Abont Him—Alleged Hallucinations, In some respects the case of Howard J. Schneider has been one of the most remarkable, if not altogether the most remarkable, in the aunais of crime in the District of Columbia. Schneider was either insane, practically devoid of all reason, or else he was one of the most consummate shammera that have ever come within the ken of jail officials. Anumber of well-known specialists on the subject of insanity had testified that Schneider was insane and entirely irresponsible for his acts, In the hearing to decide whether or not he was a responsible agent. held so recently as to be fresh in the minds of every one in Wash- ington, Dr. Godding, the superintendent of St. Elizabeth's Hospital for the Insane, Dr. Brush and Dr. Rosse, aa well as a number of lay wit- nesses, testified that in their opinion Schneider was not responsible for what he did and should not be pun:sied with the punishment that ix meted to a man in the possession of his full senses, Other experts, equally well known, give it as their opinion that Schneider was malingering, and that he was as sane at the time of the recent hearing as he was when he committed the two murders, or at the time when he was tried for the murder of his wife. One set of men or the other was in the wrong. LITTLE INTEREST IN HIS SURROUNDINGS. Atany rate, in his bearing and attitude throughout his confinement in the District jail that lasted for over = year he has shown less interest in his case and less appreciation for his condition than one woul possible under the circumstances. For month; past he has been morose, gloomy and sullen, taking but little interest in his eur- roundings or in what went on about him, All efforts on the part of the jail officials, the mem bers of his family and the ministers who hav interested themselves in him to bring bim to a realizing sense of his position were entirely fruitless. He had shown up to the last not the slightest eare for himself, apparently not the least feeling or interest whether he lived or died. Yesterday Dr. Parson called at the jail to see him and endeavored to awaken him toa sensé of the fature. He was unable toobiain axy signs ef recognition from the condemned man, who even eemed unable to tell the day of the week or to understand that #0 far as he knew or had any reason to believe it was his ust day on earth. Dr. Parson told him that today would be Friday, and that to- ¥ he would be hung by a rope until dead, and that there would be no more days for him in thi life, ‘This awesome statement hud not the slizhtest effect upon Schneider and all that he would say was some:hing about believing that they were going io kill hia. This he said ina much less interested way than one would have spoken of the death of a stranger. ‘Throughout his long confinement, with the exception of one or two outbreaks of violence on his part, Schneider's actions were those of a model prisoner. He gave but little trouble to the keepers and no annoyance. For the most part he would sit in his cell smoking and ap- parently lost ina brown study, For hours at a time he would sit on the edge of his cot in a rocking chair, but rarely was he without a pipe’ or in his mouth, Until the time of the in- sanity hearing he was ailowed practically unlimited supply of tobacco, and this fact was bronght forward to show that it might have ‘HIS EMOTION aT ¥inst. Directly after the shooting, when Schneider was first lodged in jail he seemed to be over- come by his feelings and wept much of the time. After the death of his wife, on the Sat- urday following the Sunday on which the shoot- occurred, “*the death,” as of the suppose to be | long confinement and be would conve: ‘her sometimes at some length, but never with the slightest show of feeling. ‘Toward the last he showed less and less interest in her visits and her evident grief had no effect upon him. CARELESS OF PERSONAL APPEARANCE. | As time passed on after his trial and convie- | tion Schneider became more taciturn than ever. His hallucinations, feigned oz real as one may regard them, were more marked. He refused to change his garments and was perfectly care- Jess ax to his personal habits or appearance. His hair and beard were allowed to grow un- trimmed and when he was bronght into court on the occasion of the recent insanity hearing he presented a most uncouth figure. Hix long hair fell in a mane to his shoulder and wa- thrown back carelessly from bis forehead, as though it had not been touched by brush or comb for months. A straggling black beard hung below the collar of bis coat, which he had turned up and buttoned close about the neck. He had apparently fallen away in flesh. and as he vat inthe court toom,ali scward | in his chair, he looked more like a rough, un- kempt tramp of forty than like the spruce | Young man he was a year ago. The bailiffs in j the court room, howeyer. and others who had been familiar with the case throughout were of | the opinion that if he had been given hair cut and shave and was dressed as he used to be ‘he would look very much ashe had done be- fore. ‘They believed that the change was an with through the volition of the man himself. (#38 OUTBREAKS OF VIOLEX On one or two occasions Schneider gave vent to his wrath in a most sensational manner. His attack upon Judge Ccie when he was asked what he bad to say why sentence of death should not be pronounced was one of the most sensational events that ever transpired im a court room. Only a few days ago he made an- other and equally vicious attack upon one of | the under wardens of the jail. Another attack | was made by him upon Deputy Warden | man, who throughout the different trials was } his constant attendant, going with him to and |from the jail. Mr. Springman had | treated Schneider with unvarying courtes) had sympathized with him as well, 60 tha: attack upon him would seem to have been with: | out caure and as the result of unreasoning raze On occasion of each of his attacks Schneider was prevented from doing any serious harm, and after each ontbreak he seemed to sink back deeper into his slothfuiness and air of dull stu- pidity. REFUSED SPIRITUAL CONSOLATION. All along Schneider had refused to receive any spiritual consolation from the ministers who called at the jall or from others who wer interested in his welfare. Every effort | made by them to bring him to realize what his ion was.but in every case he rejected none of their realize true con their advances, and would hat jeounsel. Schneider either did not | What death meant or else he didn else he thought that by pretending | he could bring about the idea that h | mentally unsound condition and he to be punished for his acis, as a man of sane {mind would be. For hours at a time would stand at the window of iis cell loo! out past the corridor and througu the window at the open world ax he could see it through | that narrow ay e. As the number of days | allotted to him on earth grew steadily less his bearing did not change and be kept up the | Same appearance of uster obliviousness that be | bad maintained all along. it was undoubtedly a remarkably clever piece of work, and kept up almost beyond what one would expect from powers of human endur- ance, HIS QUARTERS IN THE JAIL. Up to within a few days ago Schneider occu- pied the cell which was used for the confine- ment of Guiteau. Wednesday afternoon be | was removed from this cell and placed in cell | No. 3 on the opposide of the corridor. Before | and given an entirely different outfit, his bed- ding being, changed also, in order that there might be no chance of his having a weapon or posons about him. His hair was also cut, but his beard was allowed to remain, | The death watch on Schneider was begu: | last Tuesday evening. This watch was kept up constantly trom tien to the end. Wai | Burk the death Schneider to be interviewed only in the pres- | ence of an officer of the jail, and the privilege of holding such interviews in the prison ofice | Nas also refused, no exception being made | even in the case of the members of the Schnei- | der family. SCHNEIDER'S CRIME, Incidents of the ouble Tragedy—His Trial and Efforts to Save His Lit | The crime for committing which Schneider | forfeited his life today on the scaffold was the murder of his wife, Amanda M. Schneider, by | shooting her. The shooting was done on Sun- day evening, the 31st of January, 1892, death | resulting a few baled before 1 o'clock the | following Saturdf# afternoon. At the same | time that he shot his wife Schneider also shot | her brother, Frank Hamlink, a young man of j twenty-one years of age, killing him almost instantly. ‘The double tragedy suocked the ity as much as any crime ever com- mitted in this District, and it and the trial, to- gether yith all-the proceedings incidental and subsequent to it, aroused the interest of the people as no other tragedy and trial have. with perhaps the exception of the shooting of Presi- dent Garfield by Guiteau and the assassin’ | trial and execution, The murdered wife a young girl of twenty-two, handsome, refined jand lovable, Her murderer was some dive or ; Six years her senior. | HIS COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. The Iatter part of April, 1891, Howard J. Schneider became acquainted with the gentle who less than two months later became bis wife. He lived at that time with his family at 1739 Q stree: northwest and she. who was af- fectionately known us “Amie” Hamtink, | resided with her parents at 1738 Q street, Tae acquaintance of the young soon developed into a strong friends! into a more tender and stronger feel: | visited places of amusement together and Amie accompanied her admirer on drives about the city and into the adjoining country. | On the evening of June 2, following one of | these drives, Mirs Hamlink was taken to Hratts- ville, Md. 'Schneider produced marriage asked the girl to marry him then Naturally the girl refused. jored end insisted, and the startled girl | from his pocket and told the girl that unless she married him then and there he would blow his brains out. ‘The effect of this threat caused the frightened girl to reluctantly consent, and ' the couple were married a few minutes later in ™ | the shooting was that when he requested his Hyattsville by a minister whose name, as gi on the witness stand by Schneider, was Ander- son, THE MARRIAGE MADE KNOWS. ‘The young people kept the marriage a secret. until the $d or 4th of the following month, | when the young wife informed her sister. | Jennie Hamlink, of it. Among other reasons | given by Schneider for it on so hasty a | was his belief that, having shot a col- 7. and being stele ey sheeete § i} artificial one and was brought about solely | If be was shamming | he was removed he was stripped of his clothing | ig. They | refusing, he pulled a revolver | “TWO CENTS. with an cath threatened to shoot them. The Hamlink family entered the home and awaited Sebne.der's return with the marriage certificate until 2 o'clock in the morning. He did not re- turn, however, and no couversation was bad with him by Mr. Hamlink until the latter part Sof the following week. The next day Mrs. | Howard Schneider received a note from her husband asking her to meet him at a neighbor's ef roducing the marriage certificate Mr. Hamlink gave bis consent to Schneider taking up his residence in bis (Ham- link’s) home. ‘The young couple continued to live together until about the 19th or 20th of the January fol- lowing, when Schneider was locked out of the house at the instance of his wife because of his misconduct. The next Sunday morning be sent @ message to the house saving that be wished to see Mr. Hamiink and his eon Prank at the front door. Upon going there Schneider complained that his brother Frank had caused him a good deal of trouble of late and re- quested Frank Hamlink to accompany lim to his (Schneider) brother's house. Frank Hat link declined to do so and Schneider, after cal ing Frank Hamlink damned liar, threatened to shoot him. No more was seen of Schneider by the Hamiink family until the following Sun- day, the 3ist of January, the night of the tragedy. ¢ THE FATAL sioTs, | *A few minutes before 8 o'clock on that even- | ing Mrs, Howard Schneider, accompanied by her brother Frank and sister Jennie, started out for church near by. Finding that there Were xo be no services that night they stopped at a drug store, got some cigars for their father and then started home down the north side of Q street. Whea within a short distance of their home Schneider was seen approaching them, being first seen when in the middie of wu He was in front of th walking direction, and when within the Hamilink residence he came them, caught his wife by the right wrist said: “Amy, I want to speak to vou. Frank Hamlink being nearest ple. Miss Jennie Hamlink bi Frank advise his sister to com: and have nothing to do with her husband. “She is my wife Almo: Schneider said | right to speak to her. folowing Miss Hamlix ol shot and four more in rapi ession. Turning she saw Schneider ran as the last shot was | fired tows 17th «treet, Her brother Frank | followed after him, but had ran only a short distance when he fell about in the middle of the street. Mies Hamlink first ran to ber brother's body and cpoke to him, but received no answer. Sue then heard her sister scream, and runming back to her Mrs. Schneider ‘said : meider has shot my brother, and be swere tiled with church-goers, and the «attracted avery large crowd, among being the father and mother of Frank Hamlink and the bro’ and sisters and + of Howard Schneide at twenty seven that even- -Piease let me know bow h Lowe your father fur board balance. I ect to go away early in the morning and muel wil never see you again. Good-bye. Do you intend to go with me or not? Answer. “Your loving husband, Howarp.” Schneider's wife replied as follows: “Dear Howard—Father does not want any money from you. Of course, Howard, you | know that I could not go with’ y I wish you happiness and success in che i “Sincerely, | In answer to this Schneider wr: y Dear Amie—Don't vou intent to live with me, or not? I would like to know whether you care anvthing for me or not, “Sincerely Howaxp.” “If you do not intend to live with me, say | re. Amr.” £0. ‘This last note was received af*er the voung ople had left the house for church and it was ver read by the young girl to whom it was dressed. APTER THE sHooTINe. After the shooting Schneider ran down Q Street to 17th and was next seen at Scott's Circle, 16th ard Rhode Island avenue, where he was met by two colored men. To these men he stated thai he had been shot at and attempted to show them holes in his clothing, made, as he | said, by bulivts from Frank Hamiink’s pistol. ‘The'colored men, however, found no holes in the clothing und so told hin. Scneider then made his way to the K street police station, where he gave himself up, stat- ing that he bad shot Frank Hamtink in an at- tempt to protect his own life. A revolver was found near the body of Frank | Hamlink. ‘This revolver, Schneider claimed, was ured by Frank Hamlink in an attempt to kill him. And. after his arrival at the police | station, Schneider remarked, when his brother | Brank ‘called to see him that evening, that if THE DEATH WATCH. they would go back to where Frank Hamlink was lying they would find a revolver there. Schneider claimed that in running from the scene of the shooting he ran dowa Q street un- tilabout midway between 16th and 17th, when he ran through an alley to the south, and at the corner of the alley, about midway of the square, where it is intersected by another alley, be had pistol was found ty of police offi- | cers, accompanied by Tf. F. Schneider, a brother of Schneider. Schneider's theory’ of wife to speak to him Frank Hamlink interfered | and almost immediately fire on him, | Schneider alleging that not until then did he draw his revolver and shoot in self-defense. | Poth the revolver found near Frank Hamlink’s | body and the one which Schneider claimed he {bad thrown in the alley were found to be emptied. The former one. however, was con- clusively shown had been examination recently fired, but an E i i | i l 2. fr i if G af | ¥ i | ting occurred at a time when the, lunerder sent the following note to his | a | ‘TRE PROSECUTIONS THEORY. The theory of the prosecution Schneider, natarally a bad, desperate tired of bis wife and desired to get rid of ber. Ti was shown that almost at the very bour that be had written the endearing noes to bis wife om that fatal Sundar evening be had mailed « letter toe most estimable young Indy in Virginia, im which his wife was characterized as “s living devil,” and informing the young lady that be had ‘taken steps to secure a separation. The introduction of this letter was one of the most Memorable events of the trial and no other dence was so vigorously and persistently op- ax wasit. The letter was addressed Gerald Lightfoot, Culpeper, Va. It was postmarked Washington, D, C., January 31,8 | p.m., 1892, and on the back of the envelope | Calpeper, Va, February 1,11 am., 1892 Tae | letter was as follows: axvaRY $1, 1892 2, Darling Gerald: Arrived home all safe at 10 o'c Tcertainly will bear from him tomorrow without doubt. Ttold him particu- larly to auswer at immediately. However, we will have to wait until [bear from him. I was talking to my mother this morning, and she mentioned Mr. Campbell Carrington, a lawyer here who gets ali the divorces throngi in Wace ington, and he is a smart man, ar those lawyers who don ( care ‘arc through when he get waiting to hear from my tomorrow morning the first thing to ir. Carrington immediately And my motber said she bad not the elightest doubt bat be could do it on the grounds that I have. id some ove else said the same thing. So, my darling, I will get away from this living devil read ta as soon as it 1s possible to do so. You know I am the most miserable wretch on this earth until I do My little darling. I miss vou so much today. And ob, I would love tobe with you this b I day. It is so pretty here this after: now im my room, writing this to my dear darling, who I know loves me asdeariy as I do ber dear self. 1 will lie down soon think of you, Gerald and dar- ling. Soon as I hear’ from anybody in |the morning, I will write to tell you all I |hhear. My darling sweetheart, answer this as soon as You receive it I will know how youare. Give my reg: vour mother and all of my love to you! ng Gerald, i Howann. | pt to whom this letter was r ofa lady residing ome in this It was shown ider had visited ber a few weeks previous at the home of this Indy, until his own mother informed the Indy that he was a married man. Waere Schneider, The girl was then defense conte unable as com ‘om @ marned man, dno hoss nition against his wife, it being contended by them that Schneider merely ittended to assure Miss Lightfoot that be desired a legal separation from his wife, but the government ended that in it was shown to be Schneider's real motive, the re- moval of bis wife by violence. POINTS IN THE TESTIMONY. Schneider in testifying in his own behalf at his trial stated that he merely wished to per- suade his wife to live with him when be ap- | ans. SCHNEIDER. proached her on the evening of the shooting, and that bad it not been for Frank Hamlink s interference and bis him (Schneider) no curred. ‘The clothe ing of the suooting w | hoies in them were «: have : revoly 5 alleged holes not ma¢ *, Unt bY come sharp-pointed instrament. The revolver found m Hamlink was shown mse! 0 have been t ashe ran away d the great he jury in finding chat but 4 during the shootin e alleged throw wn there irom the by Schneider scene of sh of evi | one rev that b Twas © Schneider, ‘alver in the alley bei by the prosec of his wife ai er used no pistol a: 3 of adicted The ic > showed that her 1 that her husband aid all tie shoo ‘On the 9th of April the jury, after being out one hour. returned a ver- of guilty 4. 7 art room way crowded almost to suffoca . on every other day of the trial, almost the ma- jority of those present being women. Outside the court room was congregated a throng of one or two thousand people and the jury's verdict was conveyed to them by aman who shouted from one of the court room windows, “He is guilty.” A wild ery of approval went up and as it reached Schneider's ears he bowed his head in his hand while bis frame trembled and the perspiration flowed from his ashen . features. Counsel at once gave notice of a mo- | tion for a new trial, which motion on the 7th | of the following’ month was overruled. Schnei- | der was asked if he had anything tosay why | the sentence of death should not be pronounced | upon bim. i A STARTLING SCEXE. ‘Then occurred one of the most startling scenes ever witnessed in this or any other court. The convicted man, with an exclama | tion of rage, sprang from the chair and, raising it above his head. attempted to wrain the dis- trict attorney. Inan instant he was grappled | by Bailiffs Springman and Jovee and thrown back in the chair. He struggled for several utes before he was overcome, cursing and swearing and making every effort to free him- self. Finally, at the suggestion of Judge Brad- | ley, be was handcuffed and firmly beld in his jcbair. After he had somewhat recovered bim- self the handcuffs were removed and he was held up between the two officers while the sen- | tence of death was pronounced against him. | Schneider was then taken back to jail ands long legal battle to save him was beguh. | EFFORTS TO SAVE SCHNEIDER. A voluminous bill of exceptions was pre | pared and an appeal to the Court in General ‘Term taken, This appeal was set for hearing in November last, but was postponed until the following month, when it was argued by Messrs. Jere M. Wilson, A. A. Hoehiing and William F. Mattingly on ‘bebalf of Schneider, and by Judge C. C. Cole, then district attorney, representing the goverment, After a week's argument the ease was eub- mitted and on the 9h of last January Judge Cox announced the decision of the court man elaborate opinion, affirming the judgment of | the trial court. On the 17th of that mowib Schneider was brought up from jail and Judge McComas made an order postponing execution from the 20th of that month until the 17th of last month. Counsel for Schneider, having al- | i g Ls ult i tH | fi if Ff i i | BLE i cn } i | i | i i } f i .