The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-13
THE SCHOEPPE CASE.
Letter to Governor Geary from Baron GerOlt
Another PleR for Mercy.

Another Plea for Mercy.
Baron Gerolt, Minister to Washington from
the North German Confederation, has addressed
Governor Geary the following letter.
LEGATION OF THE NORTH GERMAN UNION,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. 1S69.-Dear GOVERNOR
After my interview with your Excelency in
Harrisburg, on the 4th inst, returned to Wash
ington deeply impressed with the conviction
that the judicial proceedings in the case of DR..
Schoeppe, who had been accused of having
caused the death of his patient, Miss Stennecke,
by administering to her prussic acid, were con-
Quoted with impartiality according to the laws
of Pennsylvania, and that the statements in the
public papers, and in private letters addressed
to your EXcellency, against the integrity of the
jurors and the Criminal Court who gave their
verdict of guilty, are without foundation and
justice.
| am happy to say to your EXcellency that tho
great excitement of the German population in
this country against the sentence of death of
Dr. schoeppe was caused by the opinion, publicly
expressed, by medical authorities in Fhiladel-
phia, New York, Baltimore, Washington, and in
other cities by whom DIR. Aiken's chemical
analysis of the contents of Miss Stennecke's
stomach had been examined, that the evidence
of poison (prussic acid) presented to the jurors
and to the Criminal Court was insufficient and
doubtful.
This uncertainty of the symptoms of the prus-
sic acid in the aforesaid analysis, has since been
strengthened by all medical authorities in this
country who have been consulted on the subject.
On my return to Washington. took pains my
self in examining the numerous petitions and
opinions addressed to me from various parts of
the country, and they all agree that the evidence
of prussc acid or any other poison having been
the cause of Miss Steinneck's death is insult
fcent.
From the testimonies of distinguished medi-
cal authorities whom / consulted, / beg leave to
present to your EXcellency the inclosed opinion
of the Medical Society in Washington.
Upon go many respectable authorities, and in
consideration of the existing friendly relations
| and feelings between the United States and Ger
many, had taken the liberty of addressing your
| EXcellency personally at your residence on
| behalf of DR.. Schoeppe, with the consent and
| the kind introduction of the honorable Secretary
| of State of the United States. Having been
| kindly requested by your Excellency to address
| you in writing, l have now the honor Ito
| comply with that request and together with so
| many thousands of my countrymen in this coun-
| try, / beg your EXcelency to take into kind
| consideration their petitions on behalf of DR..
| Schoeppe and their appeal to your EXcellency,
| to the exercise of which privilege you are enti-
| tied by the constitution and laws OF Pennsyl-
| vania as Governor of that State.
| In expressing again to your EXcellency my
| sincere gratitude for the kindness with which
| you have received my visit and my verbal
| representation on behalf of DR.. Schoeppe, l beg
| to add that the information which l have re-
| ceived, since my return 10 Washington, of the
respectability of his family and of his profes'
sional education Mt the principal universities In
| Germany, seem to justify the sympathies mani
| tested under the circumstances by his country
| men and many American citizens.
| have the honor to be- with the highest con
sideration, your Excellencys most obedien
| servant, HR. V. GERoLT. t
To His Fxcellency John w. Geary, Governor o
Pennsylvania Harrisburg.
| p. S.--If your Excellency should deem 1t con
venient to make any use of this communica
sion should have no objection to It.
HR. V. GERoLT.