The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-25
THE MURDERER SCHOEPPE.

The Attorney-GeneraHs Report OH His Case.
The following is Attorney-General Brewsters
opinion upon the case of DIR. Paul Schoeppe,
convicted of the murder of Miss Maria Stem
necke in Carlisle, Pa, and convicted in Deeem-
ber last Our dispatches yesterday mentioned
the fact that the Governor had signed Schoeppe's
death-warrant:-
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OFFICE, HARRIsBURG
Nov. II, ,1S69.-Commonwealthv VS.. Paul Schoeppe
Oyer and Terminer of Cumberland county,
April Term, 1869, No. |. Murder of Maria NJ
June 3, 1869. Verdict, "Guilty of murder in the
first degree June s. 1869, motion for n new
trial. August 20, 1862 motion overruled, and
defendant sentenced to death by Hon. James H.
Graham.
To His Excellency Major-General John w.
Geary-Sir:-I have carefully considered the
points presented in the numerous petitions cer-
tifcates and other papers submitted TO you in
the above case.
have also given the able arguments presented
to you by the learned and skilful counsel of the
defendant most careful attention
have the honor to submit thereon the fol-
lowing report
On the morning of January 81, 1869, the de-
ceased (who was then boarder at Mrs. Burk-
holders hotel in Carlisle) was apparently in
good health. She breakfasted, went to bank,
signed check, and received the money thereon.
The defendant. who was her physician, visited
her at the hotel between 10 and II o'clock of
that morning, and medicine was administered to
relieve her, it is said OF some uneasiness, eX-
perienced from the supper of the previous even
ing. From that time Miss Stennecke seems to
have declined very rapidly. During the after
noon and evening the defendant paid her
number of visits. On the next morning Miss
Stennecke was IN drticalO nlOrtjS, and she died
the evening of the 2Sth OF January, about thirty
four hours after she was at the bank.
Her remains were removed to Baltimore and
buried.
On February 10 1869, the body was disinterred,
and post mOrtem examination was held. This
was thirteen days after the death. The eXamin-
ing physicians found no trace of disease likely
to produce death. A number of physicians
testify that in their opinion she did not die from
any natural cause, and that her death resulted
from the administration OF some narcotic poison.
The chemist who tested the contents of the
stomach and intestines states that he found
traces of prussic acid.
other facts to establish the corpus delict and to
connect the defendant with the crime, the fol-
lowing matters were alleged against hint
First The purchase by the accused, of prus-
sic acid ten or eleven days before the death, the
purchase having been made in Carlisle
Second. His purchase of the same article at
Harrisburg about five days before the death.
Third. That the deceased had stated in her
lifetime that the defendant had given her ''sOme-
thing to make her sleep" This remark was
repeated to the defendant, who became excited,
and said he had given her nothing to make her
sleep.
Fourth. Statements made by the accused to
DIR. Herman.
Fifth The presentation by the accused of a
paper purporting 20 be a check drawn by Miss
Stennecke for the sum of $50. This paper bears
date January ~, 1869, which was the day on
which Miss Stennecke drew money from the
bank, and the day on which she was taken sick
The defendant presented this check January 20
1869, the day after her death. Several persons
acquainted with the handwriting of Miss Sten